ARLINGTON – After 10 years of committed service to UT Arlington, Director of Athletics Jim Baker has announced his retirement effective Sept. 1, 2022.
 
A respected and vital member of the University leadership team, Baker has led the unprecedented growth of staff and success of Maverick Athletics in competition, in the classroom and in the community since taking over at the helm of the department on Feb. 1, 2012 – the same day the College Park Center officially opened its doors.
 
During his time with UTA, the Mavs have won 22 conference championships and made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances. Baker was instrumental in navigating UTA through its only three conference affiliations, including the most recent announcement of the Mavs joining the Western Athletic Conference this July.
 
"It's amazing how fast the past 10 years have flown by, and participating in the growth of the University has been wonderful," said Baker. "I think the future for Athletics and UTA is endless, and great things are in store for both. I want to thank the University administration for its support during my tenure. I also want to thank the coaches and athletic staff for their engagement and assistance. Most importantly, thank you to the student-athletes for making my job incredibly rewarding."
 
Under Baker's leadership, just this past fall UTA was the recipient of the Sun Belt Conference's Institutional Graduation Rate Award and also the more heralded Student-Athlete Graduation Achievement Award. Possessing an 85-percent student-athlete graduation rate, UTA had the highest four-year class average graduation rate of any current Sun Belt school, as published in the NCAA Division-I Graduation-Rate Annual Report. Additionally, that four-year graduation rate exceeds the general student body graduation rate of the University.
 
During the 2020-21 year, the Mavs had 142 student-athletes named to either the Sun Belt Commissioner's List (3.5+ GPA) or the Sun Belt Academic Honor Roll (3.0-3.49 GPA), in addition to several individual and team national academic recognitions.
 
Community service has been a mainstay and focal point under Baker's tenure as well. UTA – which consistently performed more community service hours than any other Sun Belt member – claimed either the Sun Belt's Community Service Initiative Award or its Community Impact Award every single year from 2015-16 to 2019-20.
 
Furthermore, on the strength of its Operation Global Impact service initiative, UTA was one of three D-I finalists by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) for the 2019 Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
In a release to the University community, UTA Interim President Teik C. Lim had the following to say about Baker:
 
"Jim has led UTA Athletics with a continuous focus on achievement on the field of competition, in the classroom and in the community, while also upholding the highest standards of compliance and fiscal responsibility. His hard work and dedication delivered impressive performances and positioned UTA Athletics for continued success. He will be missed tremendously."

Prior to joining UTA, Baker spent 20 years at the University of Texas, culminating as Associate AD for Events, Operations and Sports Programs. Baker earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, and held positions with Gladieux Food Service at Ohio State University and the University of Florida before joining UT in 1991.
 
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