Rose receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine, named athletics director emerita

Judy Rose, special assistant to the chancellor for intercollegiate athletics, recently received high honors from the University and the state of North Carolina.

Rose, who retires effective June 30, 2018, was named athletics director emerita by Chancellor Philip Dubois and received the state’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine. In April, she earned a UNC Charlotte Honorary Alumna Award.

Dubois noted Rose’s well-documented success story in leading the 49ers Athletics Department during the past 28 years.

“She leads with integrity and has established a tone and culture of integrity within our athletics program,” Dubois said. “Her dedication is a testament to her personal commitment to the education and well-being of our student-athletes.”

Rose’s career as UNC Charlotte’s director of athletics includes the greatest era of success and growth enjoyed by the 49ers. Forty-four of the 46 NCAA Tournament team appearances and 70 of 75 conference titles by the Charlotte 49ers came during Rose’s tenure. During the last 10 years, the 49ers enjoyed 20 NCAA Tournament team appearances and 40 league titles.

In each of Rose’s three decades as AD, a 49ers program has reached the NCAA Division I “final four” – the 1996 Men’s Soccer National Semifinals, 2007 Men’s Golf third-place finish and the 2011 Men’s Soccer NCAA National Championship game. Rose also oversaw the construction of more than $100 million worth of athletics facilities that improved playing and practice venues, academic services and strength and conditioning facilities for each and every program and each and every student-athlete.

The 49ers never had a major NCAA violation under Rose, and they enjoyed a string of 38 consecutive semesters (19 years) in which the Athletics Department produced a higher GPA than the University’s overall student body. Currently, the 49ers boast a 93 percent graduation rate for student-athletes who have exhausted their athletic eligibility.

Under Rose’s leadership, the Athletics Department was able to fully fund scholarships for the first time in program history. In addition, 66 of the Athletic Foundation’s 69 endowed scholarships in the 49ers endowed scholarship program were established during Rose’s tenure. In 2013, the 49ers football program became the seventh sport added to the 49ers under Rose. In 2012, before 49ers football held its first practice, the program accepted an invitation to join Conference USA and compete at the FBS level following the required minimum of two years of play as an FCS Independent. In 2015, the 49ers won their first-ever FBS game.

Gov. Roy Cooper awarded Rose the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is among the most prestigious honors conferred by the state. It is given to persons for exemplary service to the state and its communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and that has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.

UNC Charlotte magazine featured Rose in the spring 2018 edition, starting on page 22.