Memphis deputy AD Jeff Crane leaving for South Carolina

Memphis deputy athletic director Jeff Crane is leaving for a similar position at South Carolina .

The Gamecocks formally announced Friday morning that Crane is rejoining their staff as senior deputy AD. Crane takes over for Chance Miller, who was named athletic director at Coastal Carolina last month.

Crane recently served as the Tigers' interim AD for almost two months as university president Bill Hardgrave conducted the search for a permanent AD.

On June 26, Hardgrave named former Virginia deputy AD Ed Scott as the eighth AD of Memphis. Crane, who came to Memphis from South Carolina in April 2019, was one of three finalists for the job, along with Scott and Tennessee deputy AD Ryan Alpert.

“I want to thank Jeff for his leadership and dedication to the University of Memphis over the last five years," Hardgrave said in a prepared statement provided to The Commercial Appeal on Friday. "He has been a tremendous asset to Tiger athletics. I am especially grateful for his recent service as interim athletic director, and I wish him well in his new position.”

Scott also expressed appreciation for the work Crane did while at Memphis and said he has enjoyed working closely with him in recent weeks.

“I want to assure Tiger Nation that we have a plan in place to make sure all projects, including the football stadium renovation, continue forward in a positive direction during this time of transition," Scott said in a prepared statment.

Crane isn't the only member of the Tigers' athletic department to leave in recent weeks . Michael Schroeder (associate AD for integrated communications and marketing), Josh Moore (assistant AD for marketing and game-day presentation) and Emily Hagans (director of athletic stewardship engagement) each left Memphis to reunite with former Memphis AD Laird Veatch at Missouri this month.

Since arriving at Memphis, Crane has been instrumental in a number of key initiatives. Most notably, he was heavily involved in the ongoing Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium renovation project , as well as the department's work to secure its funding. Schroeder was also a member of the athletic department's working group for the planning of the $220 million renovations to the stadium.

As the sport administrator for football, Crane also had a hand in promoting Ryan Silverfield to head coach following Mike Norvell's departure for Florida State in 2019. Crane also served as the men's basketball sport administrator for the 2019-20 season.

MEMPHIS ATHLETICS: New Memphis AD Ed Scott, eager to get going: 'We cannot do this alone'

Crane wore multiple hats previous stint at South Carolina (where he spent 13 years), including executive associate athletic director, which he worked his way up to from director of marketing. He went to South Carolina from his alma mater, TCU, where he held the same title from July 2004 to July 2006.

Crane spent three months in 2018 as interim AD at USC Upstate in Spartanburg. He led the search for both a permanent AD and a men's basketball coach during that time.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis deputy AD Jeff Crane leaving for South Carolina