ANCHORAGE (June 23) – The University of Alaska Anchorage will welcome a new leader for its 13-team athletics program next month as Chancellor Cheryl Siemers announced Tuesday that Michael Bazemore has been hired as Director of Athletics.

For the past five years, Bazemore has been the director of athletics at fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference institution Montana State Billings, where he oversaw 14 NCAA Division II varsity sports. Prior to that, he was the assistant director of Academic and Membership Affairs at the NCAA in Indianapolis.

Bazemore has held multiple positions in college athletics throughout his career, including at Metropolitan State University, Truman State University and the University of Sioux Falls. Throughout his career, Bazemore has been an advocate for student-athlete well-being, while working to ensure the success of his programs as a whole.

"Michael's vision, leadership and breadth of experience at all levels of intercollegiate athletics make him an outstanding choice to lead Seawolf Athletics," Siemers said. "His familiarity with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and his deep expertise in compliance position him to make an immediate impact at UAA. As a former student-athlete, he understands firsthand what it takes to support our Seawolves in competition, in the classroom and beyond."

Under Bazemore's leadership at MSUB, the athletic department maintained an academic standard of a 3.2 departmental grade-point average while graduating upwards of 85 percent of eligible student-athletes annually. Along with unprecedented accomplishments by the Yellowjackets' teams, he spearheaded facility upgrades that enhanced both MSUB's soccer facility and primary basketball/volleyball gymnasium.

"I am extremely excited to join the Seawolves family," Bazemore said. "I would like to thank Chancellor Siemers, the administration, coaches, student-athletes, and supporters for this appointment. Throughout my journey within the GNAC, I have always had a respect for UAA and the level of competitive excellence displayed. I look forward to not only contributing to this standard, but helping to elevate it."

After serving a variety of roles during his first stint at MSUB from 2012-16, the Philadelphia native gained experience in both sport supervision and compliance at Truman State and MSU Denver. At the NCAA national office from 2018-21, he was responsible for bylaw interpretations for member institutions, processing legislative relief waivers, and was the primary contact for the Division II institutional performance program. He also served as an NCAA liaison to the D-II Membership Committee, D-II Championships Committee, and Division I Football Oversight Committee with primary oversight of the Student-Athlete Connection group.

Bazemore holds two bachelor's degrees from Michigan State University, where he was a defensive starter for the Spartans' football team and an Academic All-Big Ten performer. He also holds a master of science in sport, recreation and fitness management from MSU Billings.

Bazemore, his wife Jaime, daughter Maxi and son Major are excited to move to Anchorage this summer, and get settled into the community before the upcoming season with Seawolf Athletics.

The school's 10th athletic director since UAA gained NCAA member status in 1977, Bazemore officially begins his duties with the Seawolves on July 19 and will report to Tanya Pont, Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Athletics.

UAA Directors of Athletics (NCAA era)
2026-      Michael Bazemore
2022-25  Ryan Swartwood
2018-21  Greg Myford
2013-17  Keith Hackett
2000-13  Dr. Steve Cobb
1998-00  Harry Larrabee
1992-98  Tim Dillon
1984-92  Ron Petro
1980-84  Gene Templeton
1977-80  Dr. Lew Haines