Glas Named Athletic Director

Jan 17, 2012

glaspres

Rich Glas will begin new duties as director of athletics on March 15, President William J. Craft announced Jan. 17.
 
Glas, head men's basketball coach, succeeds Dr. Larry Papenfuss, who will become director of the Annual Fund and External Relations in the Office of Advancement.
 
“Rich is ideally suited to lead our athletics program,” Craft says. “He brings the skill and passion of a gifted coach, the devotion to student learning that marks a true teacher, and strong leadership experience to help us maintain momentum and build on our tradition of excellence.”
 
Glas understands the value athletics has on the lives of young people, and says he's eager to continue developing students who are true scholar-athletes.
 
“I’m proud to be carrying on the outstanding tradition of Concordia athletics," Glas says. "We’ll continue to impact the lives of young people in the right way.”
 
Papenfuss, who has been a member of the physical education and health faculty since 1994 and athletic director since 2004, is enthusiastic about his new position, which oversees the Office of Alumni Relations and the Annual Fund. Papenfuss also will work as a major gifts officer.
 
Papenfuss has been instrumental in fundraising for the Update the Jake campaign that is renovating and improving outdoor recreation facilities and constructing a new football locker room.
 
“I have very much enjoyed making contacts with alumni and friends of the college to promote this project, and now I have the chance to broaden my involvement with the college,” Papenfuss says. “It’s the right time for me to step up to this new role.”
 
Glas will continue as head men’s basketball coach.
 
“All of this is possible because we have the right people in place,” Glas says. “Concordia will continue to be a great laboratory for teaching young people how to become champions.”
 
Craft praised Papenfuss as a leader who helped create and implement a strategic vision for Cobber athletics and who helped the program achieve academic and athletic success.
 
During Papenfuss' time as director of athletics, Concordia has had eight NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship honorees, and Cobber teams have made 15 NCAA tournament appearances and claimed seven MIAC championships.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students