East Carolina Pirate Club

Pirate Nation:

Back in July of 1990, I received a phone call from ECU Athletics administrator Jimmy Bass that forever changed my life. Fresh out of the University of South Carolina, young and eager, I was in the job market.

Jimmy offered me an opportunity to join ECU Athletics as a marketing assistant, working under athletics director Dave Hart. Then four years later, Pirate Club Executive Director Dennis Young asked me if I would consider transitioning into the Pirate Club.

Taking those jobs ended up being two of the best decisions of my life.

For the past 36 years, I’ve truly lived out a dream as part of Pirate Nation. I’ve never looked at it as a job, just an opportunity every day to serve the great people of this community, region, and state plus the many Pirates across the country.

The time has come for me to step back a little and enjoy retirement beginning in March. And yes, the key word there is little. I’m not going anywhere. This community means so much to my wife, Laurie, and me, and there’s a good chance if the Pirates are playing, you will see me there.

It’s impossible to put into words what being a part of ECU Athletics has meant to me. Serving this University, our student-athletes, and most importantly, you -the Pirate fans- has been the greatest privilege of my life. I’ve been fortunate to witness unforgettable moments and historic wins with Pirate fans.

But what I will always cherish are the relationships. It’s about the people and always has been. That’s why coming to work every day never felt like a job. Like any organization, we’ve faced adversity over the years. Change is inevitable. You don’t win every game. But Pirate Nation has always stuck together and always will.

I’d be a fool to try and list all the individuals who have impacted me for the past 36 years. My friends are all of you. We have so many loyal and passionate Pirates, and I always look forward to seeing you at events and games. That isn’t changing.

College athletics continues to evolve, and I’ve learned to adapt along the way. I’ve been blessed to work with tremendous people - from chancellor’s and athletic directors to Pirate Club executive directors and staff members. One of the hardest parts of saying goodbye (for now) is I believe strongly in the current leadership we have in place today with Chancellor Rogers and Jon Gilbert.

As for the current Pirate Club staff – these past five years have been some of my most enjoyable. The energy and passion in our office are special and Ryan Robinson has done a tremendous job building a unique culture where voices are heard, and people genuinely care about each other. While our staff may be smaller than it’s been in the past, the Pirate Club has more responsibility than ever, but it’s a tight group that enjoys working with each other.

We’ve moved mountains, even when it wasn’t easy. They’ve taken great care of me and have even managed to keep the old man up to date on the latest trends.

It really hit me in December on our trip to Annapolis for the Military Bowl. Our real boss, Macy Gladson, drove the entire staff up in a van for the second year in a row - trips I won’t ever forget. A true adventure! We spent a lot of time talking about the history of the Pirates and my time here. After the win, I quickly reminded everyone that despite being here a long time, back-to-back bowl wins were even a first for me. Seeing the excitement on their faces and hearing from longtime Pirate Club members made everything feel full circle.

You get in this business to make an impact. We have incredible people in our building, and I’m looking forward to assisting them in any way I can moving forward.

Pirate Nation is unique. We are different - that is what makes us special. Every time I get introduced to a new staff member or coach, I try to explain what they are about to experience. The passion and loyalty of Pirate fans are second to none. Win or lose, you’re always there.

Our staff won’t allow me to use the word retirement. Just know that I’m not going far. I’ll still be around, cheering loudly, enjoying a few cold beverages with Pirate fans, and attending as many events as I can.

ECU is home. And YOU are our family.
Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.

Thank you for the friendships, the support, and the memories over more than three decades. It’s been an absolute privilege and pleasure.

Love you all!

Big Guy