By BG INDEPENDENT NEWS
Bowling Green State University’s athletic director Christopher Kingston is leaving to take a job in the private sector.
The university announced this morning that Kingston will leave May 10 to take a job with Learfield Sports, a firm that works with top college sports programs on marketing and multimedia rights.
In a letter to the BGSU community, Kingston said he would be a vice president at the company which he has “admired from afar during my professional, collegiate career.”
In her letter to faculty and staff, BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey said: “I greatly appreciate the energy and enthusiasm Chris brought to BGSU athletics. Under his guidance, our student athletes found great success in the classroom and on our fields and courts.”
Kingston was named athletic director in 2013. He came here from North Carolina State University.
In his letter, Kingston writes: “This career change is an opportunity for me to continue serving in the collegiate space and positively impact the resources and opportunities for Student-Athletes, nation-wide. During my time serving as your director of athletics, we have experienced record-setting revenue growth across new and existing mediums, competed at the highest levels and won championships, and most importantly, graduated young men and women at rates that far exceed the national average.”
Mazey indicated that plans for filling the post are being finalized.
Below is Kingston’s letter to the BGSU community:
Dear Falcons:
Honor the Past, Create the Future, Make History Now! Those words serve as the motivation for me everyday, to give Bowling Green State University my absolute very best. My time here has come to a close and I am so incredibly pleased with the upward trajectory of this institution. I cannot imagine a more exciting time to be a Falcon.
I have made a decision to accept a Vice President position with Learfield Sports, a leadership organization I have admired from afar during my professional, collegiate career. With that, I wanted to reach out to Falcons everywhere with this heartfelt message.
Bowling Green State University is a truly special place and this is one of the most innovative and transformational times in Falcon History. That excitement starts with leadership, and I continue to be impressed with the energy, vision and guidance of President Mary Ellen Mazey. “Onward and Upward” are the three words that come to mind when I think about the incredible opportunity afforded to me by our President, and I will be forever grateful for being able to serve BGSU. Thank you President Mazey.
This career change is an opportunity for me to continue serving in the collegiate space and positively impact the resources and opportunities for Student-Athletes, nation-wide. During my time serving as your director of athletics, we have experienced record-setting revenue growth across new and existing mediums, competed at the highest levels and won championships, and most importantly, graduated young men and women at rates that far exceed the national average.
Significant moments highlight my memories of the collective accomplishments in Falcon Athletics. To name a few, my most memorable are:
• Winning the 2013 Football MAC Championship by defeating a nationally ranked opponent
• Watching Brooke Pleger shatter record after record and go on to become a three-time, All-American
• Spending time with Bill Frack as we drank his favorite milkshakes from Dietsch Brothers in Findlay
• Hearing Richaun Holmes’ name called in the 2015 NBA Draft
• Being with Gabe Martin in Phoenix the day he was named to the 53-man roster of the Arizona Cardinals
• Jumping from a DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft and delivering the game ball at Homecoming (Ok, that didn’t happen, but it would have been pretty cool)
• Feeling the electric crowds at the Madhouse on Mercer time after time, and setting the attendance record
• Standing on the sideline at The Doyt as Roger Lewis caught a corner fade from James Knapke to defeat Big10 opponent, Indiana
• Having the honor of administering the Oath of Enlistment on 17 October 2015, to the men and women who committed to serving in the United States Army
• Hosting Student-Athletes at my home with my Family during the holidays, as they stayed here to practice and compete
• Watching the Gymnastics program get better each and every day, practice and meet, capped with their historic trip to the NCAAs.
I believe that professionals cannot be lukewarm and that you are either hot or cold, all in or all out. My passion for carrying out my responsibilities as your director of athletics at BGSU has been on fire. Every day is a game day for an administrator and the people, resources and opportunities here made this experience a joy.
According to the Harvard Business School, “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” In addition to the top-notch Student-Athletes, Falcon Athletics is full of talented coaches and administrators and it is my sincere hope that I have made some lasting contributions that others can continue to build on, in my absence.
Once a Falcon, Always a Falcon!
Talons Up,
D. Christopher Kingston
