WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW Athletics announced that Novant Health and EmergeOrtho are proud partners of the Seahawks, beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. This multi-year agreement shows UNCW’s dedication to providing a top-tier student-athlete experience through the largest transformational investment in UNCW Athletics history.
“Novant Health is proud to serve as the Official Healthcare Provider of UNCW Athletics. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to the health, well-being, and long-term success of Seahawk student-athletes, as well as the continued growth of southeastern North Carolina,” said Josh Tucker, vice president of operations and surgical services for Novant Health Coastal Region. “Together with UNCW Athletics and EmergeOrtho, we are bringing our collective expertise to deliver comprehensive care that helps student-athletes perform at their peak, recover effectively and thrive both in competition and in the classroom.”
The partnership strengthens deep ties that already exist in the Wilmington community. Novant Health will become the official healthcare provider for the Seahawks, while EmergeOrtho is the official sports medicine provider. This investment will include updated medical facilities on UNCW’s campus with designated doctors and healthcare professionals to support student-athletes through sports medicine, nutrition, physical therapy, mental health services, and more.
“For more than 50 years, EmergeOrtho has proudly served as the sports medicine partner for UNCW Athletics, providing specialized orthopedic care to generations of Seahawk student-athletes,” said Zach Welch, the executive director of EmergeOrtho’s Coastal Region. “As an independent, physician-owned medical practice, we are honored to continue that legacy through this expanded partnership with UNCW and Novant Health. By combining the unique strengths and expertise of each organization, we are helping enhance access to healthcare resources for the university community while ensuring student-athletes continue to receive the exceptional sports medicine care they deserve.”
UNCW will feature Novant Health and EmergeOrtho on the men’s and women’s basketball jerseys, becoming the first jersey patch sponsor in UNCW Athletics history. Sammy C. Hawk will also have the logos on his jersey as well as on the baseball and softball teams’ helmets. The agreement also includes integrated brand exposure through in-venue signage and promotions, digital and social media campaigns, and NIL activations.
“This is a landmark day for UNCW Athletics and a defining moment for the future of our department,”said UNCW Director of Athletics Michael Oblinger. “As college athletics continues to evolve, our commitment to the health, wellness, and success of our student-athletes must evolve with it. We set out to find partners who could help us deliver best-in-class, comprehensive medical care while supporting the long-term vision for our department. In Novant Health and EmergeOrtho, we found partners who shared that vision—and challenged us to think even bigger. Together, we’ve created a transformational relationship that extends well beyond traditional sports medicine, including meaningful NIL opportunities for our student-athletes, significant investments in our facilities, and the development of a dedicated sports medicine complex. This is more than a healthcare partnership — it’s a long-term investment in the holistic development of our student-athletes and a bold step forward for the future of Seahawk Athletics.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Here are the highlights of this innovative partnership between UNCW Athletics, Novant Health and EmergeOrtho:
Facility Enhancements
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Through our partnership with Novant Health and EmergeOrtho, student-athletes now have expanded access to a broader network of specialized sports medicine, orthopedic, rehabilitation, and wellness resources delivered conveniently through an updated Sports Medicine facility.
Dedicated Professionals
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For the first time, UNCW athletics will have physicians and orthopedists in the new medical hub in Almkuist Nixon. The team will also have a physical therapist, nutritionist and mental health professional without having to leave campus.
Strategic Brand Activations
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Novant Health and EmergeOrtho will appear on the men’s and women’s basketball jerseys and have signage throughout UNCW Athletics’ facilities.
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There are also opportunities for student-athletes in the community through NIL activations sponsored by Novant Health and EmergeOrtho.
Landmark Venture
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This is the largest monetary investment of its kind in the history of UNCW Athletics as this multi-year agreement spearheads this new era for the Seahawks.
About the University of North Carolina Wilmington
UNC Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching and mentoring with research and service. The university serves about 20,000 students and offers a full range of undergraduate and graduate-level programs, as well as select doctoral programs that address state needs. Learn more at www.uncw.edu.
About Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of more than 900 locations, including 21 hospitals, nearly 800 physician clinics and urgent care centers, outpatient facilities, and imaging and pharmacy services. This network supports a seamless and personalized healthcare experience for communities in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Novant Health is nationally recognized for our unwavering commitment to safety and the highest quality care, and we serve as a catalyst for healthcare transformation through clinical trials, leading-edge research, innovative care delivery models and robust virtual care networks. The expertise and empathy of our nearly 44,000 team members, along with more than 9,100 independent and employed clinicians, are at the heart of Our Cause as industry leaders caring for communities across the Carolinas. In 2025, Novant Health provided more than $2.1 billion in community benefit, including financial assistance and services.
For more information, visit NovantHealth.org. Follow Novant Health on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About EmergeOrtho
An independent, physician-owned practice, EmergeOrtho – Coastal Region includes an unparalleled medical team of more than 200 highly trained orthopedic surgeons and physicians, advanced practice providers, physical and occupational therapists, and more than 750 support staff, all dedicated to delivering comprehensive orthopedic and spine care at a lower cost for patients. Specialties include spine, sports medicine, joint replacement and reconstruction, hand and upper extremity, foot and ankle, podiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedic trauma, and pain management.
The practice serves patients through more than 50 locations across southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina, including orthopedic clinics, physical and occupational therapy centers, walk-in orthopedic urgent care facilities, and advanced imaging centers, from New Bern to Wilmington to Myrtle Beach. Many locations offer same-day appointments, walk-in orthopedic urgent care, and accredited diagnostic MRI services, including open MRI.
EmergeOrtho – Coastal Region is part of EmergeOrtho, a leading physician-owned orthopedic practice serving communities across North Carolina and South Carolina through its Blue Ridge Region, Coastal Region, Foothills Region, Triangle Region, and Triad Region. Together, these regions provide comprehensive musculoskeletal care through a network of specialized physicians, providers, therapists, and support teams dedicated to helping patients emerge stronger, healthier, and better.
The name EmergeOrtho reflects the practice’s dedication to helping patients emerge from injury or illness stronger, healthier, and better.
#UNCWAthletics
UNCW Athletics, Novant Health and EmergeOrtho would like to invite the media to come to UNCW’s campus on Tuesday, August 18, at 3:15 p.m. for open media availability with UNCW Director of Athletics Michael Oblinger, Novant Health’s Josh Tucker and Dr. Dominick DeFelice, and EmergeOrtho’s Zachary Welch and Dr. Scott Dart. Please RSVP to Kristen Keller (kellerka@uncw.edu) if you plan to attend.
