UNC Pembroke Launches National Search for Next Athletics Director, Building on 13 Years of Championship Leadership

UNC Pembroke announced today that after 13 seasons at the helm, Dick Christy will step down as director of athletics at the conclusion of the spring semester. A national search for the university's next athletics director will begin immediately.

Christy will remain in the role through the end of the academic year to ensure continuity within Braves Athletics before transitioning to deputy chief of staff and special assistant to the chancellor.

Since joining UNCP in 2013, Christy has led Braves Athletics as a comprehensive enterprise, overseeing 16 varsity sports, more than 400 student-athletes and 65 full- and part-time staff. He guided the development and execution of multiple athletics strategic plans, advanced a department-wide gender equity plan aligned with NCAA and institutional priorities and led the department through conference affiliation transitions into the Conference Carolinas.

“Dick has built a championship culture at UNCP rooted in student-athlete success, academic excellence and integrity,” said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings. “The next athletics director will inherit a Braves program with strong competitive momentum, institutional support and a clear commitment to continued growth.”

During Christy's tenure, UNCP Athletics navigated significant headwinds and transformation, emerging as one of the most successful Division II programs in the region. Under his leadership, the Braves captured 30 conference championships, recorded more than 40 NCAA postseason appearances across multiple sports and elevated the university's national profile through sustained competitive excellence. That success has spanned nearly every sport sponsored by the university, reflecting a program-wide commitment to competitive achievement rather than isolated accomplishments.

Recent seasons have further underscored that momentum. During the 2024–25 academic year, UNCP teams captured multiple regular-season, division and conference tournament titles. The department earned the Conference Carolinas Joby Hawn Trophy for the third consecutive season and the sixth time in program history, recognizing overall success across all sports. Six teams advanced to NCAA postseason play, highlighted by the men's basketball program's first-ever Sweet 16 appearance, continued national representation by the wrestling program and consecutive NCAA appearances by women's basketball.

Academic performance and community engagement have remained central to the department's success. Between 2019 and 2024, student-athletes posted four of the highest cumulative GPA averages in department history, while UNCP placed 100 or more student-athletes on conference academic honor rolls for 16 consecutive seasons. Student-athletes have also contributed tens of thousands of hours of community service across southeastern North Carolina.

A defining feature of the department's success has been stability within the coaching ranks. Many of UNCP's head coaches have served the university for a decade or more, reflecting a culture of trust, continuity and deep connections between coaches, student-athletes and the communities they serve.

“UNCP is home, and serving as athletics director in this community has been the privilege of my career,” Christy said. “The foundation in place is strong competitively, academically and financially. I am excited to support the next leader as they build on that momentum.”

Fundraising and external support for athletics expanded significantly under Christy's leadership, highlighted by the continued growth of Cash Bash, UNCP Athletics' signature fundraising event benefiting student-athlete scholarships. Cash Bash shattered fundraising records in 2025, raising nearly $190,000 in a single year and surpassing $1 million raised over its 12-year history, reflecting strong alumni engagement and sustained community support. Corporate sponsorship reached an all-time high during the past academic year, with 28 corporate partners collectively contributing over $500,000.

The university has made significant investments in athletics facilities during Christy's tenure. Recent projects include a $10 million outdoor sports and recreation complex featuring indoor hitting facilities, lighting, fencing, wall padding, new student seating sections and press boxes for the baseball and softball programs, as well as a new softball facility housing concessions, storage and restrooms.

Together, these achievements reflect the role of Athletics as a powerful driver of student success, campus pride and community connection at UNCP — a foundation the university is building upon as it looks to its next chapter of leadership.

The national search for the next director of athletics is being led by Coach4Aday, with founder Dan Kenney serving as lead consultant. Kenney previously served UNCP as both chief of staff and director of athletics, uniquely positioning him to guide a search grounded in the university's mission, culture and championship expectations.

“This search is about identifying a leader who understands the role athletics plays in student success and institutional impact,” Cummings said. “We are looking for someone who will support our coaches and student-athletes, steward our resources responsibly and help position Braves Athletics for continued success in the years ahead.”