Sources: Tjeerdsma to Return to Northwest as AD
By: Matt Tritten, Nick McCutcheon
Updated: March 20, 2013
(MARYVILLE, Mo.) Northwest Missouri State University is expected to announce the next athletic director during a news conference today.
Ahead of the announcement, sources close to the program say a legendary coach could be returning to Maryville to take the job.
According to David Norman, Austin College's Director of Athletics, Mel Tjeerdsma has accepted the position.
During a phone interview with Norman Wednesday, he said Tjeerdsma told him Monday he was leaving Texas to return to Maryville.
Tjeerdsma retired after 17 years as head coach at Northwest in 2010. He led the Bearcats to three NCAA Division II National Championships and 12 MIAA Championships.
After leaving Maryville, Tjeerdsma returned to Austin College in Sherman, Texas where he worked as an athletic fundraiser with the school's advancement division. He was the head coach at Austin for 10 years before taking over at Northwest in 1994.
Tjeerdsma would fill the opening left by Wren Baker. Baker left Northwest on Feb. 22, after two years as athletic director to become the deputy athletic director of external affairs at the University of Memphis.
Lori Hopkins has served as interim athletic director.
Northwest would not confirm if today's news conference is to announce the return of Tjeerdsma, only saying the university would be discussing an "exciting development" for the department of athletics today 1 p.m.
The news conference will take place at the Lamkin Activities Center on campus.
Ahead of the announcement, sources close to the program say a legendary coach could be returning to Maryville to take the job.
According to David Norman, Austin College's Director of Athletics, Mel Tjeerdsma has accepted the position.
During a phone interview with Norman Wednesday, he said Tjeerdsma told him Monday he was leaving Texas to return to Maryville.
Tjeerdsma retired after 17 years as head coach at Northwest in 2010. He led the Bearcats to three NCAA Division II National Championships and 12 MIAA Championships.
After leaving Maryville, Tjeerdsma returned to Austin College in Sherman, Texas where he worked as an athletic fundraiser with the school's advancement division. He was the head coach at Austin for 10 years before taking over at Northwest in 1994.
Tjeerdsma would fill the opening left by Wren Baker. Baker left Northwest on Feb. 22, after two years as athletic director to become the deputy athletic director of external affairs at the University of Memphis.
Lori Hopkins has served as interim athletic director.
Northwest would not confirm if today's news conference is to announce the return of Tjeerdsma, only saying the university would be discussing an "exciting development" for the department of athletics today 1 p.m.
The news conference will take place at the Lamkin Activities Center on campus.
