James Jackson/MDN Brock Weppler addresses the audience Thursday afternoon as the search for MSU’s next Director of Athletics gets underway.

When it comes to sports, success is often achieved through a culmination of experience, passion, and drive. For current Minot State University Assistant Director of Athletics for Development and Executive Director of the Beaver Booster Club Brock Weppler, he looks to parlay these attributes and his home-field familiarity into the role of Director of Athletics for Minot State University.

For the past 17 years, Weppler has been a recognizable name in MSU circles for his involvement in a variety of roles around campus.

Beginning his ascension through the MSU ranks in 2005, Weppler spent his first two years as an assistant baseball coach for head coach Randy Nelson. At the time, the Beavers were still an NAIA program.

Shortly thereafter, MSU would promote Weppler to head coach, a position that he helmed for nearly a decade. During his tenure, Weppler’s focus on increasing academic success was evident, documented in the fact that the team’s GPA rose dramatically from below a 2.0 average to almost a 3.0. On the field, he would lead the Beavers to a third-place finish in just his second year on the job.

Moving on to his present position, Weppler has served the past six years primarily in the role of Assistant Director of Athletics for Development. Wearing a multitude of proverbial hats, he has experience in fundraising, donor relations, game day administration for athletic home events, COVID-19 protocol planning and implementation, and the recruitment and development of championship-caliber coaches.

Coinciding with his responsibilities in his current position, he has also spent the last year as the Executive Director of the Beaver Booster Club. In this role, Weppler took over the management of the Beaver Booster Club concessions from a contracted outside organization, where he oversaw the operations of four concession stands during multiple state high school tournaments, as well as the purchasing of inventory and equipment necessary for the operation of concession duties for the MSU Dome and Herb Parker Stadium. As a result of his leadership, fiscal year profits of $80,000 were collected by the Beaver Booster Concessions.

Emphasized throughout his presentation to the public Thursday on Minot State’s campus, Weppler made sure to spotlight a reoccurring theme throughout his address.

“I want Minot State to be the best version of itself it can be,” stated Weppler multiple times to the local audience in attendance. “We want people to know that they are special and wanted here.”

Furthermore, Weppler assured the crowd, “I’m ready, local, energetic, and confident. I will always lead from the front.”

Highlighting his intentions to put the Minot State brand front and center, Weppler accentuated the advantages he brings to the table as a possible internal hire. With an extensive knowledge of the region and years of relationships built within the community, he openly stated his goal to build and mend connections, along with reaching out to alums. Weppler made it clear that “hiring from the inside would allow MSU to hit the ground running.”

Furthermore, placing a spotlight on the “preferred student-athlete experience,” Weppler hopes to further foster an inclusive, championship atmosphere at MSU, celebrating successes in both academics and sports.

By recruiting the best and brightest that want to be at Minot State, he looks to win more state and regional recruiting battles for players, in addition to bringing aboard coaches enthusiastic to be a part of building an even more all-around successful Beavers program.

Ultimately, the sincerity of Weppler’s aspirations if chosen for the Director of Athletics position might be best embodied in his proclamation, “It’s not about ego or resume, just MSU.”