CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (NCN News) – The longtime leader of the state’s high school athletics sanctioning body will retire later this year.
Que Tucker has announced she will retire as Commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, effective October 1, 2026.
A native of Reidsville, Tucker has dedicated her career to supporting student-athletes and strengthening high school athletics across the state. She joined the NCHSAA staff in 1991 after serving for two years as an assistant women’s basketball coach at North Carolina State University under legendary head coach Kay Yow.
In December 2015, Tucker was officially named Commissioner of the Association, becoming the first woman and first African American to hold the position in NCHSAA history.
During her tenure, Tucker helped lead the organization through significant growth and change. Under her leadership, the Association saw increased participation opportunities for female athletes and expanded recognition for female and minority coaches and administrators. Her career has consistently focused on using athletics as a platform for education, leadership, and personal development.
“Since I joined the NCHSAA in 1991, it has been the privilege of a lifetime to work for and help guide an organization rooted in education, sportsmanship, and opportunity,” Commissioner Tucker said in a statement. “Together, we have navigated moments of growth, challenge, and change—always with a shared commitment to doing what is right and what is best for students across our state.”
Tucker attended Mars Hill University, where she led the Mountain Lions in scoring for two seasons and later became a charter member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1974 and later earned a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1977. Her career journey began in 1975 as a public school teacher and coach at West McDowell Junior High School for 2 years, then continued at Reidsville High School for 12 years.
During her time as Assistant Executive Director at the NCHSAA, Tucker developed the Association’s student services program, focusing on substance abuse education, leadership development, academic accountability, and citizenship. Tucker later assumed the Deputy Director position, overseeing the entire sports program.
Tucker was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame in 2012 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
Her leadership as Commissioner has helped guide the NCHSAA through a period of modernization and expanded opportunities while maintaining a commitment to the values of education-based athletics.
Additional information about the search for the Association’s next Commissioner will be announced later.