What's next as UNCW announces athletic director Jimmy Bass will retire in April 2023

Jimmy Bass, whose tenure as athletic director at UNCW began in 2010, will retire in April 2023, according to a press release from the school sent Monday.

Bass also was the school's first full-time athletics fundraiser in 1986. He returned to Wilmington after serving in athletic administration at several schools around the country, including his last full stop at East Carolina before finishing his career in Wilmington.

“With Jimmy Bass at the helm of UNCW Athletics, our Seahawks have consistently achieved excellence in the classroom and in competition,” outgoing UNCW Chancellor Jose Sartarelli said in the release. “His steady guidance, combined with his strong commitment to the success of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, have propelled UNCW Athletics to new heights since he joined our team in 2010.”

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Bass has been a member of the NCAA men's golf committee since 2019 and will be honored as the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics as its AD of the Year for Division I-AAA for schools without football programs.

What did UNCW do under Bass?

UNCW teams have won 31 Colonial Athletic Association championships during his time and received 32 NCAA team tournament invitations, including two coveted trips to the men's basketball championship in 2016 and 2017.

Another 37 individuals participated in NCAA regional or national competitions.

Yet, early on, Bass needed to right a ship that had listed dramatically under his predecessor. 

The school was on the hook for a significant buyout of previous basketball coach Benny Moss and had to readjust its scholarship allotments for out-of-state athletes. A fundraiser by nature, Bass restructured the department and unveiled a strategic plan to help address goals for the next five years.

Bass later was tasked in 2013 with making adjustments after UNCW nearly cut five programs, only to have them saved at the last minute by then-chancellor Gary Miller. The department also had to wade through scandals in the women's soccer program and baseball program in 2018. 

What's up next?

The press release from UNCW doesn't mention a search for his replacement, but the vibe around the program is that person is already under the same roof.

Tiffany Tucker joined the department in 2019, was promoted to deputy athletic director in August 2021 and is considered a rising administrator. The former University of North Carolina basketball player was recently profiled in Sports Illustrated.

No matter who is chosen, the new athletic director will have to make a decision on a full-time women's basketball coach for the school after Karen Barefoot was fired in January, and lead assistant Tina Martin agreed to be an interim coach for the 2022-23 school year. 

That person will also be the lead author of the department's next strategic plan for growth. UNCW put out a five-plan in 2018 that runs through 2023. It'll be presented to a new chancellor as well: Aswani Volety will take over that role starting in July.

Dan Spears is the sports editor for the Wilmington StarNews, and Southeast Regional sports editor for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at Dan.Spears@StarNewsOnline.com or on Twitter @DanSpears.