Admin Spotlight: Jason Baseden
Levi Stoll / The Exonian
BY ARYAN AGARWAL, AARYAN PATEL, and KEVIN THANT
“I learned everything from playing sports. That’s why I do the job that I do.” If one takes a stroll on the second floor of Love Gym, they are bound to find the striking office of the Director of Athletics and Physical Education, Jason Baseden. The endless decor is perhaps dizzying for an onlooker, but its charm is almost nostalgic — a myriad of sports memorabilia spans every wall and table in the office. With decades-old helmets, lacrosse sticks, squash rackets, volleyballs, and at least a few dozen picture frames, Baseden has it all. The history of Exeter athletics is enshrined here, and just as sports touch every corner of his workplace, it is apparent that athletics permeate every facet of his character and values. Sports is what he’s about.
Baseden is undeniably on his way to becoming a legend of Exeter athletics if he isn’t already one. With an incessant passion and belief in the “perfect vehicle” that is interscholastic sports, his love for the game is so contagious that he can instill it within every person he meets. Apart from his devotion to athletics, Baseden has produced real and measurable improvement within the department in just five short years since his appointment in 2020. His work has completely transformed how the department functions and will continue to do so.
Growing up in Oregon, Baseden was exposed to sports from a young age. He recalled, “The kids in my neighborhood always played sports in the street. We played no matter what season it was.” Baseden carried his passion for sports past childhood, playing football, basketball, and running track at Beaverton High School in Oregon. He then received a division-one scholarship to run track and field at St. John’s University, a Big East Conference school in New York.
Although Baseden now works in education and athletics, his career began with working “in the television industry in Los Angeles and New York.” After graduating from Saint John’s with a major in Communication Arts, Baseden started his professional journey at Universal Television. He shared, “I then moved to Madrid for a year to learn a new culture. From there, I went to Cape Town to help my friends who had started a not-for-profit, Hoops 4 Hope.” He continued, “As I ran out of money, I had to move to NYC and start working at Discovery Channel.”
Baseden’s path was winding, but he eventually landed in the right place: educational athletics. “I moved to France and worked in television on the Tour de France and shows like ‘The Bachelor.’ I was introduced to the Director of Athletics at The American School of Paris and I had a change of heart as to what I wanted to do as a career. From that point on, I switched to the education industry.”
Baseden explained, “After coaching four years at The American School of Paris, I became Athletic Director at the International School of Brussels, in Belgium. I was in that role for seven years before moving back to New Jersey as Director of Athletics at The Peddie School. I was at Peddie for five years before arriving at PEA.”
Since arriving at Exeter in the summer of 2020, Baseden has held many roles, serving as the Director of Athletics and Physical Education, working on Principal Rawson’s leadership team, and supporting the Curriculum Committee. However, his work extends past athletics, as he also has “eight excellent advisees.” He added, “On Tuesday nights, I am on dorm duty in Ewald.”
Baseden’s time is filled with meetings around campus and communicating with his counterparts at other schools. He shared, “Most of my day is spent working with those who are coaches and those who work in the athletic office, from the equipment room to the Downer Fitness Center and boathouse.” He continued, “I also spend a fair amount of time speaking with alumni and parents of current and prospective parents.”
Assistant Athletic Director Brian Muldoon praised Baseden for his versatility: “Mr. Baseden is very adept in the world of educational athletics. There is not an aspect of the job that he cannot speak to. He has his finger on the pulse of sports in society and how that affects our students and our coaches.”
Dana Barbin, former Instructor in Physical Education and Head Coach of boys’ varsity hockey, spoke about his impact on the department. “He has given athletics and physical education a strong voice around campus with other colleagues.” He added, “I also love that he has a real eye and concern for making the gymnasium a more attractive and comfortable workplace for those of us who basically live there every day.” These improvements that make his colleagues feel as though work is something they can enjoy foster a tight-knit environment.
Physical Education and Athletics Coordinator Tracy Coole echoed the same sentiment: “He spearheaded the addition of three furniture spaces in the gym in an effort to warm the brutal concrete building. He is also responsible for the illuminated lion on the front of the building.”
For Baseden, personal connections are equivalent, if not paramount, to the athletes themselves. Muldoon explained, “My first impression of Jason was that building relationships is very important to him. He wants to get to know every colleague and student as people first.”
Barbin added, “He’s someone that coaches and athletes can go to and talk with or ask advice of.”
Hilary Hall, head coach of the track and field team and Instructor in Physical Education, described Baseden as someone with “a steady, amiable way that quickly allows connections to build whether we are talking about advisees, colleagues or alumni.”
Baseden discussed his attachment with his advisees. “I would say talking with the boys in Ewald over the years has been very special to me. I always appreciate them and their care for each other. I learn a lot about the student experience from them here at PEA.”
Barbin talked about his first impressions of Baseden. “I met Jason when he came to campus to interview for the Director of Athletics position. He was young, strong, handsome, and intelligent. Four plus years into his tenure at PEA, it’s fair to say that he is very supportive of all the coaches, support staff, and students.” His charismatic personality is accompanied by a warm character — that’s what makes Baseden so welcoming.
Muldoon reflected, “I genuinely enjoy working with him and appreciate his approach to the work that we do. I never wake up dreading coming to work and that is because of the community and atmosphere he has helped create.”
Interestingly enough, many of his colleagues also find much of Baseden’s identity humorous at times — most noticeably, his fashion. Hall said, “He has an amazing fashion game, particularly his footwear.” Coole continued, “He is always overdressed for the cold weather. If it is below 50, he has a hat on. He is a huge sneaker fanatic. I’d be curious how many pairs he actually owns.” Barbin commended Baseden’s “real fashion sense for team uniforms and coaches attire, particularly old-fashioned jackets.” Clearly, Baseden knows how to dress.
When asked about how Baseden has changed over the years, Muldoon made sure to mention something that hasn’t changed: “The Steelers still have not won a playoff game since he has been here.” He also added that “[Baseden] runs his hands through his hair when he is stressed!” Believe it or not, Baseden is bald. These jokes perfectly reflect the “familial atmosphere” that Muldoon described — the department members are genuinely relaxed with one another. Much of that is through Baseden’s own efforts.
This acknowledgment from his peers is exactly what Basedan tries to shape his work around: “I hope to leave a legacy as someone who was an advocate for educational athletics in a very academic institution. Someone who tried to provide a great experience in athletics and PE for all our students, not just the more athletic ones.” His caring nature doesn’t just impact sports; it changes our campus as a whole.
Jason Baseden is an icon by no short measure. He has left a lasting impact on his colleagues and students, inspiring those around him to become more selfless and to remember that our colleagues are humans before they are students and teachers. That is true non sibi. On his final note, Baseden said, “I hope to stay here at PEA for the remainder of my career. We have a lot of work to do to become what I believe can be the best educational and athletic experience of any school in the world. That is my personal goal, and it will take time. Nothing worthwhile happens overnight.”