On September 4, Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreations, Special Projects and Programs Charlie Titus appointed Tracey Hathaway as the school’s new Compliance Officer and Assistant Academic Adviser for student-athletes here at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Hathaway will work with students and coaches from the school’s 18 sports teams, as well as the rest of the athletic staff, via the Athletic Academic Counselor. She will provide them with support and assure compliance with the rules put forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
A native of Worcester, Hathaway arrives in Beaconville with a strong background in sports. Prior to arriving on campus, she attended the University of Rhode Island on a basketball scholarship. She graduated in 1986 with a degree in urban affairs. Unsure about where to go upon graduation, she decided to serve her country in the Navy.
After four years of service, Hathaway became the head girl’s basketball coach at a local high school until she moved on to Clark University to become an assistant coach. After eight years at Clark, she was named the compliance coordinator and the head coach of the women’s basketball team at Roger Williams.
After the stint at Roger Williams, Hathaway went on to Northeastern University, where she earned a master’s degree in sports leadership. She stayed on as a Compliance Assistant at the school.
Once Hathaway departed NEU, she became an assistant athletic director and senior women’s administrator for Concordia University in Austin, Texas, for two years. There, she worked with the NCAA Track and Field Committee as a regional representative. But she “missed the east coast weather, four seasons, and most importantly, her family,” so she decided to return to New England.
Luckily for her, a compliance position opened up at UMass Boston. She liked “the direction and growth of the institution,” so Hathaway decided to apply. After meeting with Titus, she knew that his “foresight and vision has caused tremendous growth within the Athletic Department.” She remembers that she “could see he is creating a winning atmosphere under the Division III philosophy, and wanted to be on the ‘winning team.’”
As for her roles here, Hathaway will be developing a compliance presence in order to help both the institution and the Athletics Department grow. She describes herself as a “resource to the student athletes, the coaches, the administrators, and the institution in reference to all NCAA Bylaws.”
She hopes to “stay in alliance with Coach Titus’s vision,” adding that she will “offer my knowledge pertaining to the NCAA’s rules while developing a comprehensive compliance program.”