Ken Bothof Position: Athletics Director

The UW-Green Bay athletics department has been under the leadership of Ken Bothof since 2001. Under Bothof's direction and in conjunction with his talented staff of over 40 administrators and coaches, the athletics programs have excelled competitively, student-athlete safety and welfare have been enhanced, academic performance has remained strong, the budget has grown, fundraising has increased and facilities have improved. The athletics department is healthy and poised to lead the Horizon League. The success of Phoenix Athletics in recent years has secured greater prominence for UW-Green Bay nationwide in both athletics and academic circles.

Bothof was instrumental in making the new Kress Events Center a reality, serving on the University's Capital Campaign Committee which raised $11 million towards the nearly $33 million renovation and expansion of the Phoenix Sports Center. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2007, the facility will provide students with a new recreation and fitness center and the athletics department with a new on-campus arena for its volleyball and women's basketball programs, a practice facility for men's basketball, and new team rooms and locker rooms for five sport programs. The building will also house new offices for administrative staff and coaches.

With construction of the Kress Events Center underway, focus on scholarship and operational budgets has intensified. Under Bothof's watch, Phoenix Fund membership has grown from 150 members to over 600 and fundraising has increased 200 percent. Ticket revenues and corporate sponsorships have both increased dramatically. Bothof has also negotiated a five-year contract with Nelligan Sports Marketing for the further development of radio rights and corporate sponsorships.

The levels of Phoenix athletic and academic success have soared under Bothof's watch, including five straight women's basketball conference titles and an unprecedented first round win in the NCAA tournament, a nationally noteworthy turnaround in men's basketball, first-time NCAA tournament appearances for both volleyball and softball and landmark seasons in men's soccer and women's soccer. No fewer than eight teams have earned honors for academic success. During the spring of 2006, the department's 209 student-athletes posted a 3.15 cumulative GPA.

Bothof maintains a clear presence in administration of the Horizon League and is very active in the Green Bay community. Bothof served as chair of the Horizon League Executive Committee for two years and also serves as the Horizon League representative to the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Executive Committee. Bothof serves on the YMCA Board of Directors, is a member of the Downtown Green Bay Rotary Club, and is involved in various church activities. He is a frequent speaker on issues concerning sports administration and leadership, student-athlete welfare, and gender equity.

Bothof has more than 19 years of Division I athletics administration experience, having begun his career in 1987 at San Jose State University while pursuing a master's degree in athletics administration. Bothof served as an Assistant Athletic Director at San Jose State University for four years before moving on to Idaho State University where he eventually became the Senior Associate Athletic Director. He then served as the Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at Saint Louis University before taking over leadership of UW-Green Bay's athletics department.

Prior to his involvement in college athletics administration, Bothof obtained a bachelor's degree in education from Buena Vista University where he was a member of both the baseball and basketball teams. The Slayton, Minn., native is married to Carrie and has two children, Tyson and Kendra.