TUCSON, Ariz. – The NCAA has appointed Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke to the Division I Men's Basketball Committee. Heeke will begin a five-year term in September of 2022 as the Pac-12's representative to the NCAA's top college basketball committee. Heeke becomes the third AD in Arizona history to serve on the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, joining Cedric Dempsey and Jim Livengood.

"It is a privilege to represent the University of Arizona and the Pac-12 Conference on one of the most prestigious committees in all of college sports," Heeke said. "The NCAA Tournament is the epitome of excellence in college athletics, and I am honored to serve on this committee to ensure it remains the premiere event and competition for all student-athletes, coaches, staff members, fans and alumni to enjoy."

Heeke arrived in Tucson in 2017 and guided the athletics department to excellence in academics, competition and community involvement. In his first five years as Director of Athletics, the academic success of student-athletes has reached unparalleled heights with fall and spring semester GPA's that have broken department records every year. Arizona Athletics has also posted all-time highs in APR and GSR scores during the last five years.

The championship excellence of Arizona's programs in competition during Heeke's tenure has accounted for numerous championships, which includes Arizona Women's Golf winning the 2018 NCAA national championship. Arizona has won a total of seven Pac-12 championships since the 2017-18 season with the most recent coming from Arizona Men's Basketball's sweep of the 2022 regular season and conference tournament crowns under first-year head coach Tommy Lloyd. Coach Adia Barnes and Arizona Women's Basketball has grown into a national-caliber program during Heeke's time in Tucson as highlighted by the team's historic run to the national championship game of the 2021 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Heeke's championship legacy in the Sonoran Desert also includes 22 individual conference championships from a variety of Arizona's teams.

Arizona Athletics has sustained its place as a focal point in the Southern Arizona community with legendary crowds returning to venues after the COVID-19 pandemic shutout spectators in 2020-21. The athletic department led the Pac-12 Conference in total attendance for ticketed events last year with 748,242 total spectators attending games. Both basketball programs filled McKale Center to lead the Pac-12 in attendance while Arizona's baseball and softball programs broke season ticket sales records.