KEARNEY – Chancellor Doug Kristensen today issued the following statement following the announced hiring of Paul Plinske as the next director of intercollegiate athletics at Colorado State University-Pueblo, effective May 20:
“We wish Dr. Plinske well on the next chapter in his career at CSU-Pueblo. Loper athletics has a strong history – more than 112 years – and unequaled fan and community support. Our program is strongly positioned, both in competitiveness and leadership.”
Kristensen said that since 2012 (the first year in the MIAA), UNK has earned six Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association conference regular-season titles and nine conference tournament titles. It has celebrated seven national championships in wrestling and 10 different teams were nationally ranked at least once.
UNK ranks among the highest in the conference and nationally in fan attendance, and has received more than million in private gifts, including more than million for student-athlete scholarships.
“In the near future I will announce interim leadership of the Athletics Department as we look toward conducting a national search for the position. Our primary goal will be to continue to provide strong and stable leadership to support our excellent student athletes, programs, coaches and staff.”
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Media Contact: Todd Gottula, Director of Communications, 308.865.8454, 308.293.2602, gottulatm@unk.edu
Athletics: Paul Plinske, Director of Athletics, 308.865.8332, plinskep@unk.edu
