Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli

JIMMY BASS

Director of Athletics

Seasoned collegiate administrator Jimmy Bass begins his second decade as the leader of UNCW Athletics in 2021-22.

The second longest-tenured athletic director in the history of the program behind founder William J. Brooks, the energetic Bass took over the helm of the program in October of 2010 and has helped the Seahawks achieve tremendous success in the playing arena and in the classroom. The native North Carolinian introduced a comprehensive strategic plan during his inaugural year and unveiled another five-year plan in late July 2018. Under Bass' leadership, the Seahawks have captured 27 Colonial Athletic Association championships during his tenure. With a recognized expertise in marketing and fundraising, Bass immediately restructured the department's fundraising arm and orchestrated a $2 million renovation to venerable Trask Coliseum. The Seahawks also reached a sponsorship consulting partnership with IMG Worldwide. From 2012-14, he served as president of the CAA, assisting the league with its expansion and other key initiatives. He is currently a member of the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Committee.

Bass came to UNCW after spending three years as senior associate athletics director for external operations at East Carolina. He has had held previous positions at Mississippi State, NC State, Pittsburgh, UNCW and Davidson. Bass, 65, is in his second stop in the Port City after serving as UNCW's first full-time athletics fundraiser in 1986. As executive director of the UNCW Student Aid Association (Seahawk Club) and associate director of athletics, he bolstered the school's athletic scholarship efforts and pushed membership in the Seahawk Club from 250 to 1,100 during his three-year stay. Bass has had a wide variety of experience in his administrative career, including development, ticketing, marketing and fundraising. Bass earned a bachelor's degree in speech communication from NC State in 1978 before completing his master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University in 1980. He is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Bass is married to the former Sarah Ruark, and the couple has a son, Corey, daughter-in-law, Marianne, and two grandsons, Easton and Preston.

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JOSE V. SARTARELLI

Chancellor

Dr. Jose V. Sartarelli took office July 1, 2015, as the sixth chancellor and ninth leader of the University North Carolina Wilmington. He brings more than 35 years of professional leadership experience to the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Under his leadership, the university is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion; globalization; ethics and integrity; and excellence and innovation. He has announced plans to retire effective June 30, 2022. During Chancellor Sartarelli’s tenure, the university continues to implement its Strategic Plan; has set records for annual enrollment, graduation and philanthropic giving; increased community, military and international partnerships; enhanced online educational offerings; and added several new academic programs. The university also secured its highest gift in university history and supported the launch of the first satellite sent into space by a UNC System institution. Chancellor Sartarelli has guided the university through significant challenges, including the global COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricanes Florence and Dorian. The university’s growth includes about $450 million in planned and storm-related campus improvements. This includes renovation of Dobo Hall and construction of Veterans Hall, the University Film Center, the Central Parking Deck, new student housing and dining facilities, and other academic, athletic and administrative support facilities. UNCW consistently earns recognition in national rankings and was recently elevated to the classification of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UNCW is included among the nation’s Top 100 Public National Universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. More than 18,000 students were enrolled in fall 2021, a university record. A native of Brazil, Chancellor Sartarelli received a bachelor of business administration in marketing from the São Paulo School of Business Administration in São Paulo, Brazil. He then attended Michigan State University as a Fulbright Scholar, earning an MBA in marketing and a doctorate in business administration. The Chancellor previously served at West Virginia University as the Milan Puskar Dean of the College of Business and Economics and chief global officer. Before transitioning into higher education, Chancellor Sartarelli spent three decades in international marketing and management with Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Eli Lilly and Co.

LIVE! GAME ACTION AND HIGHLIGHTS

Marty Feurer and Mike Vaccaro

Tom Lamont and Joe Catenacci UNCW’s men’s and women’s basketball programs continue to grow with the development of television and internet coverage through the Seahawk Digital Network. Every UNCW game will be carried on live television or video streamed in 2021-22. All home games may be seen on FloHoops. Veteran broadcaster Mike Vaccaro will handle men’s basketball play-by-play duties for the 18th consecutive season and is joined courtside by color analyst Marty Feurer. Tom Lamont, Joe Catenacci and John Smist call the women’s contests.