Longtime BGSU Administrator Steve Messenger to Retire at End of June

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — After more than a decade of leadership and a lifetime connection to the University and community, Steve Messenger will retire from his role as Associate Athletics Director for Operations, Events and Championships at Bowling Green State University at the end of June.

Messenger will be honored prior to Friday's softball game at 1 p.m. against UMass at Meserve Field where he will throw out the first pitch.

Messenger was named Assistant Athletics Director for Operations, Events and Championships in July 2014, before being elevated to Associate Athletics Director in July 2020. In that role, he has overseen game-day operations, championships, and event management for BGSU Athletics, while also serving as the sport administrator for the softball program.

A steady and trusted presence behind the scenes, Messenger has played a vital role in the execution of countless events and competitions, ensuring a first-class experience for Falcon student-athletes, coaches, and fans alike.
"Steve Messenger represents the very best of Bowling Green - a selfless leader, a tireless worker, and someone whose impact reaches far beyond the events he helped execute," said BGSU Vice President for Athletics Strategy Derek van der Merwe. "His deep roots in this community and unwavering commitment to our student-athletes, coaches, and fans have shaped the experience of Falcon Athletics for years. Steve's legacy is not only in the countless successful events, but in the relationships, he built and the pride he carries for this University."

Messenger's journey within BGSU Athletics is a testament to perseverance, passion and a deep-rooted love for his hometown university. Prior to his appointment as Assistant AD, he served three years as Operations and Events Coordinator. His earlier roles included time as a graduate assistant at the BGSU Ice Arena, a student operations assistant within the department, and even an internship with Bowling Green High School athletics.

A Bowling Green native, Messenger's path to a college degree—and ultimately a career in collegiate athletics—was anything but traditional. After first enrolling at BGSU in 1978, he stepped away to help run his family's business, Knickerbocker Building Services, following his father's illness. Balancing work, family, and a desire to finish what he started, Messenger returned to the classroom and spent years taking courses one at a time, ultimately earning his bachelor's degree in sport management in 2008—nearly 30 years after he began. He later completed his master's degree in sport administration in 2011.

Messenger's responsibilities have spanned nearly every facet of operations, including oversight of outdoor sporting events, coordination with internal and external groups utilizing BGSU facilities, and management of logistics for camps and championships. Known for his strong relationships across campus and throughout the community, he has been instrumental in fostering the "town-gown" connection that defines Bowling Green.

As he steps into retirement, Messenger leaves behind a legacy built on dedication, humility, and unwavering commitment to BGSU Athletics. His impact will be felt for years to come by the countless student-athletes, coaches and colleagues he supported throughout his career.

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