James Bonnette recently completed his seventh at the University of Texas at Tyler as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance during the 2023-2024 year.
A Lancaster, Ohio native who played baseball and earned two degrees from the University of Akron, Bonnette is responsible for monitoring aspects of compliance for the UT Tyler athletic department to ensure accordance with the University, conference and NCAA rules and regulations.
Prior to UT Tyler, Bonnette worked at Texas A&M International University for nine years and brings 12 years of work experience in collegiate athletics. He started his time in Laredo as the head assistant baseball coach for the Dustdevils before moving over to an administrative role as the NCAA Division II athletic department’s Associate Director for Athletic Compliance. He served in that role for five years before becoming UT Tyler’s first full-time Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance. Along with his compliance role at TAMIU, he also was the Interim Title IX Coordinator at the school and served on the NCAA Division II National Association for Athletic Compliance Committee.
Bonnette earned his master’s and bachelor degrees from Akron with his postgraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science/Coaching after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science/Strength and Conditioning. He was a four-year starting catcher for the Zips baseball team and then worked as an assistant baseball coach at Ohio Valley University and Marietta College.
In 2000, he was inducted into the Fairfield Union High School Athletics Hall of Fame after a prep career that included all-state honors in baseball, basketball and football for the Falcons.
Bonnette resides in Tyler with his wife, Gracy and daughter Scarlett.
