Last week, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) announced that it had hired Tiffany D. Tucker as its new Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation.
Tucker will become the university’s sixth athletics director since it was founded in 1966.
“I am beyond thrilled to embark on this incredible journey as the new athletics director at UMBC,” said Tucker in a statement. “As an athletics leader, my mission is to create a vibrant, infectious atmosphere that empowers student-athletes, coaches, and staff to reach unprecedented heights. I am committed to fostering best-in-class excellence in competition, the classroom, and the campus community.”
Tucker heads to Maryland after spending three years as the Deputy Atletic Director at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). Before that, she served as UNCW’s Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator.
UMBC’s new AD has a lengthy and impressive resume in college athletics. She held administrative positions at HBCUs Elizabeth City State University, Hampton University, and South Carolina State University and also coached basketball at Allegheny College, Radford University, Francis Marion University, and Claflin University.
While at UNCW, Tucker was involved in multiple aspects of athletics administration, including leading the searches for the head men’s basketball coach, head volleyball coach, Director of Sports Performance and Senior Associate AD for Internal Operations. She also served on a wide array of committees and boards, including the Community Engagement & Applied Learning Advisory Board, Emergency Planning Committee, eSports Steering Committee, and Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Program Committee.
Tucker’s experience, drive and success earned her a slew of appointments.
In March 2021, she was appointed to a four-year term on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee where, per UMBC’s release, she became “one of 13 members responsible for guiding member schools in implementing experimental and permanent rules for the sport.”
She also chaired the Colonial Athletic Association’s CAA Family: United for Change Committee, which helped tackle anti-racism and social justice issues and provided institutions with resources to help address them.
Tucker was also active in the community, organizing the National Girls & Women in Sports Day Leaderships Summitt in February 2021.
Her accomplishments earned her recognition and awards from many groups.
In 2020, the Hampton University Office of Alumni Affairs honored Tucker for her inclusion in the Forty Under 40 Alumni Recognition Society. A year later, Sports Illustrated recognized her in Elle-evate: 100 Influential Black Women in Sports. In 2022, Tucker was named Nell Jackson Nike Executive of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports.
It’s that experience and success that attracted UMBC.
“Tiffany is a visionary leader and change agent with a demonstrated commitment to the well-being and overall development of student-athletes,” said UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby. “She has an impressive work ethic and a track record of promoting equity and supporting student-athletes in all areas of their lives. Throughout the search process, Tiffany distinguished herself by consistently placing the physical, mental, and emotional health of student-athletes at the top of her priorities. I am excited to work with Tiffany and look forward to the great things to come for UMBC athletics and our community.”
Tucker, a UNC grad in philosophy, earned her master’s degree in sport administration from Hampton University. She begins her new role at UMBC on August 15th.
