Bowling Green State University Athletics
Finalists Named For Athletic Director Position at BGSU
June 01, 2006 | General
June 1, 2006
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University President Dr. Sidney A. Ribeau has announced that Whit Babcock, Assistant Athletic Director and Executive Director of Development at West Virginia University, and Greg Christopher, Associate Athletic Director for External Relations and John Purdue Club at Purdue University, are the two finalists for the position of Director of Athletics at Bowling Green State University. The University is seeking a replacement for Paul Krebs, who accepted a similar position at the University of New Mexico on March 13.
"I believe we have two outstanding individuals who offer a great deal to our institution and our community," said Ribeau. "Both have been successful in establishing the type of relationships you need to advance and lead an athletic program and both have played a key role in the success of their respective institutions."
The finalists are expected to visit Bowling Green within the coming week with a final decision expected on the position soon afterward. Applications and nominations were received by Neinas Sports Services of Boulder, Colorado which assisted in the screening process and worked in concert with Dr. Ribeau and Vice President for Student Affairs and Acting Athletic Director Dr. Ed Whipple.
Babcock, who was raised in Harrisonburg, Va., has been in his current position since October of 2002 and has been responsible for the reorganization and restructuring of the Mountaineer Athletic Club and entire athletic development and ticket priority program. Since his arrival, private giving has increased 60% towards athletics at WVU growing to $7.4 million annually. He also was successful in developing and implementing the "Competing for Greatness" major gifts campaign in 2003 to supplement an aggressive $28 million facility and enhancement plan benefiting all 17 sports at WVU.
Prior to coming to WVU, Babcock spent five years at Auburn University where he was Assistant Athletic Director of Development from 2001-2002, Director of Athletic Development from 1999-2000, and Assistant Director of Athletic Development from 1997-99. He also was Assistant Director of Marketing and Development at James Madison in 1996-1997. He earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from JMU in 1992 where he was a four-year letterman and team captain in baseball and earned a master's degree in Sport Management from WVU in 1996.
Christopher, a native of West Lafayette, has been at Purdue since 1997 and is a member of the department's senior staff. He has been in his current position since March of 2005 and oversees the John Purdue Club, marketing, promotions and advertising, sports and production video, spirit, and sports information. Under his leadership, Purdue has raised $17.2 million in total giving in the last year. He also has played a significant role in a seven-year campus-wide capital campaign which is in the final two years and is on track to raise $111 million during that period. He began his career on the Boilermaker staff as Assistant Director of the John Purdue Club from 1997-99 and promoted to Director in 1999. He was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in 2002 and was the program administrator for tennis prior to 2005.
Christopher served as Executive Director for the Society of Professional Journalists in Greencastle, Ind., from 1994 to 1997 after joining the organization in 1991 as its Marketing and Development Director. He also was an Account Executive at WWWV-FM in Charlottesville, Va., from 1988-90. He earned a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Miami (Ohio) University in 1988 and earned his MBA from the institution in 1991.
