Ball State names interim director of athletics
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Ball State University has named Ken Bothof interim director of athletics. Bothof succeeds Beth Goetz, who has been named deputy director of athletics and chief operating officer at the University of Iowa.
Bothof previously served as vice president and director of athletics at Northern Kentucky University from 2013 until his retirement in June of this year.
For the first four years in that role, Bothof served under Geoffrey Mearns, who served as president of Northern Kentucky before leaving in 2017 to become president of Ball State.
“I had the good fortune of working alongside Ken at Northern Kentucky,” Mearns said. “I know that, in addition to his extensive professional experience, he has great judgment and shares our University’s commitment to excellence, integrity, and inclusiveness. I am grateful that Ken is willing to postpone his retirement plans for a few months to assist us with this temporary assignment while we conduct a search for our next outstanding athletics director.”
The university says Bothof’s background includes 35 years of administrative experience in college athletics.
“I’m appreciative of this opportunity and excited to return to a campus setting and assist President Mearns and Ball State University during this time of transition for the athletic department,” Bothof said. “I’m also excited to be reunited with President Mearns, and will spend my time at Ball State supporting the great work he, Beth Goetz, and their entire team have accomplished over the past four years. I look forward to meeting and supporting the talented coaches, staff, and student-athletes at Ball State.”
Bothof began his college athletics career in 1987 at San Jose State University, where he served as assistant athletic director. He has also served as senior associate athletic director at Idaho State University, as well as associate athletic director for external operations at Saint Louis University. From 2002 to 2013, Bothof served as director of athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Mearns says he has started the process of forming a screening committee to help select the next full-time director of athletics.