UNCW hires new Seahawk Club director

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — UNCW has hired a new leader for its athletics booster club. Derek Denton has been named development director for athletics, the university announced today. In this role, Denton will serve as executive director of the UNCW Student Aid Association (Seahawk Club).

Denton comes to UNCW from LSU, where he served as assistant director of development for the LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation since July 2010. He replaces Rob Aycock, who announced earlier this year he would step down as head of the Seahawk Club at the end of June.

“Derek’s expertise in athletics fundraising focuses on several key areas for UNCW, such as building alumni chapters and student clubs while also generating significant private support for scholarship endowments and capital projects,” Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli said in a news release. “Our athletics program continues to achieve great success in competition and our student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom. Under Derek’s leadership, we’re eager to create new connections with Seahawk fans and friends of the university to capitalize on our program’s momentum.”

Denton will start at UNCW Aug. 22. He will report to Eddie Stuart, vice chancellor of the Division for University Advancement.

At LSU Denton focused on major gift development, raising more than $8.3 million for LSU scholarship endowments and capital projects, according to a UNCW news release. His previous experience includes serving as assistant director of the East Carolina University Educational Foundation, where he was responsible for managing 16 Pirate Club chapters as well as the ECU Student Pirate Club.

Denton’s responsibilities will include managing all Seahawk Club fundraising activities and day-to-day operations as well as directing donor recognition and stewardship programs. He will work in collaboration with Stuart and Jimmy Bass, director of athletics, to enhance the educational mission of UNCW Athletics, the school said.

“I am excited about the opportunity to join the Seahawk family,” Denton said. “I respect the commitment and dedication that UNCW student-athletes and coaches bring to their teams, and I look forward to working with Chancellor Sartarelli, Eddie Stuart and Jimmy Bass to increase philanthropic support and the fan base for UNCW Athletics.”

Denton has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in sport management from ECU.