Tim Duncan - Senior Deputy Athletics Director - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Tim Duncan

Title:
Senior Deputy Athletics Director
Email:

Tim Duncan returned home to the University of Memphis athletics department in August 2024, where he serves as the Senior Deputy Athletics Director for UofM Senior Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Ed Scott.

Duncan, a Memphis native and former Tiger basketball student-athlete, returns to the Bluff City after five years at the University of New Orleans as the Director of Athletics and Vice President of Athletics and Recreation.

"I promised Memphis that I would deliver and that starts with putting the best team in place to position us for success now and in the future,” Scott said. “Tim Duncan is an experienced administrator, a proven culture builder and true Memphian. He is the right leader at the right time, and we are lucky to bring him back home."

Duncan’s ties to Memphis include two years as Director of the M Club (2007-09) — the official letter winners association for former Tiger athletes. He helped the M Club increase revenue by 35% and membership by 40% in his first year.

Duncan has 12 years of experience leading an athletic department. In addition to New Orleans, he also served as Director of Athletics at Clayton State University (2014-18) and Paine College (2011-14). Duncan was also Deputy Athletic Director for External Affairs at Northeastern University (2018-19) and an Associate Athletics Director at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (2009-11).

Prior to working in collegiate athletics, Duncan spent 11 years as a marketing professional. He holds a BBA in marketing from the UofM and a master’s degree in sports administration from Grambling State. He played four years under coach Larry Finch on the men’s basketball team while at the UofM and was a member of the 1992 Elite Eight team.

“I have been a Tiger since starting Campus School at six years old,” Duncan said. “Coming home to Memphis and my alma mater just feels right. I have known and admired Dr. Scott for a long time, so it is an honor to help realize his vision for Tiger Athletics and take our university to new heights.

“Memphis is a special place. I knew early on that I wanted to play basketball for the University of Memphis. I grew up watching Alvin Wright, Verties Sails, Dana Kirk and Larry Finch. While I could have played for other teams, my blood runs Tiger blue. With my parents and extended family here, it is a special time for me to come home.”

Duncan was named the University of New Orleans' Director of Athletics in late April 2019, becoming the first African American full-time athletics director in UNO's history. In September 2020, he was promoted to Vice President of Athletics and Recreation

Duncan led the Privateers through the cancelation of the 2020 spring campaign due to COVID-19, and his decision to cover the cost for senior spring sport scholarships – an expense in excess of $200,000 – led to national coverage. New Orleans became the first school in the state of Louisiana to announce its coverage of spring sport scholarships.

Duncan led race discussions among all staff and student-athletes and created Privateers For Equality, a comprehensive plan to promote diversity and inclusion at UNO.

Within Northeastern University's 18-sport NCAA Division I program, the Memphis native oversaw the external affairs unit, comprised of communications, corporate sponsorships, fundraising, marketing and game day experience, ticket sales and operations, and video production. During his tenure, donations, corporate partnerships and ticket revenue have all increased.

Prior to his time at Northeastern, Duncan worked exclusively in the South. He was director of athletics at Division II Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia from 2014-2018. He also served as director of athletics at Paine College, a Division II HBCU located in Augusta, Georgia, from 2011-2014.

A highly, sought after panelist and speaker for topics including coaching searches, career advancement, social justice in athletics and driving revenue increases, Duncan is a proud Memphis native.

Duncan is married to Lisa Duncan the former Ms. Lisa Farris. The couple has five children, Lisa, Torin, Tyson, Turner and Tatum.