MARK LINDER HIRED AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT NORTH ALABAMA

FLORENCE -- Mark Linder has been hired as athletic director at the University of North Alabama, UNA President Dr. William Cale announced Monday.

Linder, a native of Gadsden, Ala., has worked for the last four years as director of athletics at the Missouri Western State University and brings 20 years of experience in NCAA Division II athletics to UNA.

North Alabama is a member of the NCAA Division II and is a charter member of the Gulf South Conference. 

Linder will begin his duties at UNA, overseeing the Lions' 12-sport athletic program, on August 27.

He will be the eighth athletic director at UNA since the school began its athletic program. Linder follows Joel Erdmann, who served as the Lions' athletic director from 2002-07 before leaving in May to become director of athletics at Southeastern Louisiana University.

“Mark Linder brings the perfect combination of talents to our athletic programs,” said President Cale. “He has been a student athlete, a coach, a senior staff person, and an athletic director, as well as a leader within the NCAA. He will be successful both internally and externally as we continue to build UNA athletics.

“Mark recognizes the central role that academic success plays in strengthening our varsity sports programs," Cale added.  "As a former Academic All-America himself, he is an ideal role model. Mark Linder’s values are in full accord with our athletic ambitions and our emphasis on student retention and graduation.”

Linder said he is excited about the new position and possibilities at North Alabama.

"I want to thank Dr. Cale for this opportunity," said Linder. "UNA is a great institution with strong commitments to academics and athletics and it will be exciting to serve as the athletic director in that type of environment.

"I know the coaching staff and administrative staff are a great group of people and I think we can do a lot of great things together."

Linder is a 1991 graduate of Wayne State College (Neb.),  where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. He also earned a Master of Science in Education degree from Wayne State in 1993.

Linder began his career in collegiate athletics as a football student-athlete at Wayne State and was later hired there as a  graduate assistant coach (1991-93). He was also an adjunct professor of Chemistry (1991-94) and assistant football coach at Wayne State (1994-99). From 1995-99 he added the duties of compliance and athletic academic counselor.

He moved to Missouri Western State in 1999 and served as NCAA compliance and athletic academic coordinator for four years. During that time he was also elevated to the position of Assistant Director of Athletics. In 2003 he was named director of athletics at Missouri Western.

During his time at Missouri Western, he helped the school improve its graduation rate for student- athletes by 62 percent and helped the Griffons top $600,000 in their annual athletic fund-raising drive for the first time in history.

On the national level, Linder currently serves as the chair of the NCAA Division II Legislative Committee.  Missouri Western has also hosted numerous NCAA regional and national tournaments during his tenure, including the 2003 and 2004 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight Tournament.

North Alabama Athletic Directors

1949-69     Eddie Flowers

1969-73     Hal Self

1973-77     Mickey Andrews

1977-87     Wayne Grubb, Associate

                  Bill Jones, Associate

1987-94     Bill Jones

1994-02     Dan Summy

2002-07     Joel Erdmann

2007- Mark Linder