Amherst College Athletics

Troy Tucker was named Director of Athletics at Northampton Community College on June 2, 2008.  One of the most highly decorated athletic administrators in the country, Tucker is a Five-time National Athletic Director of the Year (Cushman & Wakefield 2023, Under Armour 2020, 2017, 2013 and NSCAA 1998).  Tucker was honored as the recipient of the 2023 NJCAA George E. Killian Award of Excellence, which is awarded annually to individuals that have demonstrated the ideals of voluntarism, achievement, service, leadership, and excellence as exemplified by its namesake.  In 2022, Tucker was the recipient of the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrator's (NATYCAA) highest honor, the L. William Miller Award, which is presented annually to a member of NATYCAA who demonstrates excellence in leadership, service and integrity in an athletics program at a two-year college or organization.

Serving in his 34th year in college athletics, Tucker is the only two-time recipient of the Region 19 Augie Eosso Award, (2016, 2020), the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an administrator, for his commitment and dedication to Region 19.  Tucker is also a recipient of the prestigious NJCAA Loyalty Award (2019).  The Loyalty Award is given to an active athletic director in the NJCAA membership that has worked to uphold the ideals of the organization. Significant to this award is leadership in an athletic program exemplifying excellence both on the field/court and in the classroom.

Tucker was honored in February of 2023 by D'Youville University, as they inducted him into their Athletics Hall of Fame for his contributions as the Director of Athletics from 1996 thru 1999. In May 2018, Tucker was honored with the Richardson Award of Excellence, presented to a Northampton employee in recognition of their commitment to the betterment of the College.   In March of 2018, Tucker was inducted into the Allegany County (NY) Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions and commitment to athletics throughout his career. 
 

Upon Tucker's arrival in 2008, Northampton joined the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and became a member of Region 19.  Since that time the Spartans have captured a NJCAA individual National Championship (women's cross country 2015), 15 Region 19 team Championships, 26 Region 19 individual titles, have claimed 15 Region 19 runner-up plaques, 43 Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference titles, have had 269 student-athletes named All-Region, 203 named All-Conference, 41 earn NJCAA All-American honors, 30 named EPAC Player of the Year and 23 named Region 19 Player of the Year.  On the academic side, 598 Spartans have garnered Academic All-Region honors during Tucker's tenure, with 149 earning NJCAA All-Academic accolades.

Northampton's success extends beyond the playing surface and classroom, as under Tucker's watch, the Northampton Athletic program been awarded the Region 19 Champions of Character Award 10 times, (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, & 2025) for the program's commitment to community service, sportsmanship and character development of its student-athletes. 

At Northampton, Tucker has overseen the renovation of several facilities, including a digital scoreboard for baseball at Spartan Park, a wrestling room, women's volleyball team room, men's and women's basketball team rooms, a new softball complex and a strength & conditioning center.  He has also secured bids for Northampton to host the 2015 and 2019 NJCAA Division III women's basketball National Championship Tournaments, numerous Region 19 Championships, in addition to signing a deal to host the Lehigh Valley Senior All-Star Basketball Classic, which brings together the top high school seniors in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos.  Tucker initiated and oversaw the development and design of the Northampton athletic logo and word-mark in 2014 and the redesign of NCCSPARTANS.com in 2015 and the summer of 2020.  The Northampton Athletics website (NCCSpartans.com) has become one of the most viewed junior college athletic websites in the country. In addition, Tucker implemented new Spartan mascot in the summer of 2019 to supplement the word-marks and logos.  Tucker was responsible for signing the largest sponsorship deal in Northampton athletic history when the Spartans joined forces with St. Luke's Sports Medicine in the Spring of 2024. 

In addition to serving as the Director of Athletics at Northampton, Tucker has been involved both nationally and regionally.  From 2020 to 2023 Tucker served as the Chairman of the NJCAA Eligibility Committee and then was elected to his current role as Chairman of the NJCAA Board of Regents.  This Board of 39 individuals from around the country work to oversee the mission of the NJCAA and its 500+ member institutions.  Tucker is is also the Executive Director of Region 19, which oversees the operations of 27 NJCAA member colleges in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Outside of Region 19 and the NJCAA, Tucker serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA), a position he has held since June 2008 and served as the inaugural President of the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) from March 1, 2012 thru February 29, 2016. Tucker founded the conference and grew it to 15 members as of 2015-16, and currently serves as the conference treasurer. 

Tucker is involved with a number of other organizations; serving on the advisory board of College Athletics and the Law and the editorial board of Athletic Management, a leading publication for college and high school athletic administrators.  Tucker serves on various committees with Via of the Lehigh Valley, a non-profit human service agency benefiting children and adults with disabilities.

Prior to Northampton, Tucker served as the Associate Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland from 2004 to 2008.  During his tenure in College Park the Terps captured four NCAA National Championships (W. Basketball, M. Soccer, Field Hockey (twice)).  Tucker oversaw the Media Relations Unit, seven varsity sports, student-athlete discipline and the Facilities & Operations Unit which was responsible for the 18,000 seat Comcast (now Xfinity) Center and 55,000 seat Maryland Stadium, in addition to serving on several ACC committees.

Tucker has also served as the Director of Athletics at three institutions: Jamestown Community College (1992-96), D'Youville University (1996-99) and Herkimer College (1999-2004).

Under Tucker's direction Herkimer earned three consecutive top-10 finishes in the Region III Director's Cup and finished 2003-04 ranked 5th among junior college athletic programs in the nation by the NATYCAA Cup.  Three teams won five NJCAA National Championships and his teams earned eight NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Honors.  Tucker also served as the Head Men's Basketball Coach from 1999-2003, earning Coach of the Year Honors in 2001-02.

Tucker served as the Director of Athletics and Head Men's Basketball Coach at NCAA Division III D'Youville University in Buffalo, NY.  While there, he headed the expansion of the athletic program from 3 to 9 teams and was named National Athletic Director of the Year in 1998. During his tenure at D'Youville, Tucker founded and served as Commissioner of the Independent Small College Athletic Conference (ISCAC).  

A native of Scio, NY, Tucker began his collegiate career as an administrator at Jamestown-Olean Community College in 1992, where he initiated the college's athletic program.

Tucker is a 1991 graduate of SUNY Geneseo and a 1992 graduate of Springfield College, where he earned his Masters in athletic administration.  Tucker and his wife Rhonda have three children; Griffin, Haley and Mason.
 


Tucker thru the Years
2023 - Present - Chairman | NJCAA Board of Regents 
2020-2023 - Chairman | NJCAA Eligibility Committee 
2012 - Present - Executive Director | NJCAA Region 19
2008 - Present - Executive Committee | NATYCAA 
2008 - Present - Director of Athletics | Northampton Community College (PA)
2004-2008 - Associate Director of Athletics | University of Maryland (MD)
1999-2004 - Director of Athletics | Herkimer College (NY)
1996-1999 - Director of Athletics | D'Youville College (NY)
1992-1996 - Director of Athletics | Jamestown Community College - Cattaraugus Campus (NY)


Last updated August 3, 2025