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Finalists named for AD position
BOWLING GREEN, O.—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 BGSU. 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, Colo., which assisted in the screening
process and worked in concert with Ribeau and Dr. Ed Whipple, vice president for student affairs and acting athletic director.
Babcock, who was raised in Harrisonburg, Va., has been in his current position since October 2002. He 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 percent 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 2001-02, 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 1996-97. He earned his bachelor's degree in
kinesiology in 1992 from JMU, where he was a four-year letterman and team captain in baseball. He 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. In
his current position since March 2005, he 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 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, serving in that position from 1997 until he was 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 1994-97 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. (Source: BGSU Sports Information)
(Posted June 01, 2006 )
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