Bowling Green alum Bob Moosbrugger named Falcons' 14th Director of Athletics

Five weeks ago, Chris Kingston abruptly stepped down as Director of Athletics for theBowling Green Falcons. Kingston had been on the job for just shy of three years but chose to craft a new career as an executive with Learfield Sports. BGSU's apparently endless string of key athletics departures continued.

The interesting dynamic of a revolving door is that, for every person who exits, another enters and a season of renewal begins. Such is the case for Bowling Green just one week after Kingston's final day on the job. The Falcons have announced that they have hired former BGSU baseball student-athlete Bob Moosbrugger to be the 14th Director of Athletics in school history.

Congratulations to@bemoose'94, the next Director of@BGathletics!#FalconProudpic.twitter.com/l5iRoCn1g8

— Mary Ellen Mazey (@PresidentMazey)May 17, 2016

As a baseball player at BGSU, Moosbrugger lettered twice and won the team's freshman of the year award in 1991. He graduated in 1994 with a degree in sport management and began his career as a graduate assistant at Ball State in the Cardinals' ticket office and marketing department.

Moosbrugger became an assistant ticket manager at Fresno State in 1996 and was promoted to athletics ticket manager in 1999. After one year in that position, he was hired at San Diego State as an assistant director for the Aztec Athletic Foundation. He became director of the foundation in 2004 and remained there until 2006.

Upon leaving SDSU, Moosbrugger became director of business development at the San Diego International Sports Council. One year later, he returned to the Aztecs' athletic department as associate athletic director for development.

He continued in that post for eight years before he was promoted to Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer in June 2015.

Bringing home an alumnus of BGSU should be a popular move among the Falcons' alumni and fan base, and it's very possible that the move could help entice more donations. The hire continues what is apparently new a trend that started when BGSU hired former men's basketball player Michael Huger to lead that program as head coach. On an interesting note, Huger's final season as a player (1993) was one year before Moosbrugger's.

Moosbrugger will have big shoes to fill, as Kingston was generally successful in helping craft a solid on-field product for BGSU athletics and was popular because of his willingness to do fan outreach. Kingston hired both Dino Babers, who led BGSU to two football division titles, a conference championship and a bowl win in his two seasons, as well as Chris Jans, who led Falcon basketball to its first postseason win in 40 years (but was later fired for personal misconduct). Kingston was also able to extend the contract of Chris Bergeron, who continues to guide an ascending hockey program.

As the new athletic director, Moosbrugger will also be faced with the need to fund more facility upgrades, particularly with regard to Doyt Perry Stadium. BGSU's football home will celebrate it's 50th anniversary on October 1, 2016.

博林格林的新时代athletics has begun, and it will be fascinating to see where a homegrown Falcon can guide his alma mater.