UWA Athletic Director Kent Partridge Announces Retirement

LIVINGSTON, AL — University of West Alabama Director of Athletics Kent Partridge on Wednesday announced that he will retire on June 1 after 14 years with the school.

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"While I am excited about my impending retirement, I want to thank all that is UWA for the opportunities I have experienced as both an administrator and student," Partridge said. "I have enjoyed my time at UWA as Assistant AD for Communications, Deputy AD and Director of Athletics over the last 14 years."

Partridge first returned to his alma mater at UWA in 2010 after athletic administrative stints at Auburn, Texas Tech, Samford, Montevallo, the XFL and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Partridge was named UWA's athletic director in June 2021 after working in communications for the athletic department.

"It has been a pleasure to have worked with Kent over the last few years in his current position as Director of Athletics, a role he has successfully undertaken with professionalism, commitment, collegiality, and a tireless work ethic, and always with what is best for the University uppermost in mind," UWA President Ken Tucker said.

A member of both the University of West Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame and The UWA Society of the Golden Key, Partridge graduated from UWA in 1983 as the first male graduate in a now-defunct print journalism curriculum.

"I wish the best for the future of my school and its student-athletes," Partridge said. "I won't be far away because Teresa (wife) will be working at UWA for a little while longer."I have genuinely enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to come home and work at my alma mater after decades in intercollegiate and professional sports around the country and other parts of the world," Partridge said. "The administrative staff and coaches assembled to lead Tiger Athletics are second to none, and I will miss that daily interaction."

Tucker said UWA will expeditiously begin the task of finding Partridge's replacement.

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