Three Finalists Selected For FSU AD Position

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Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University has narrowed its search for the vacant athletics director position to three finalists in an announcement made today (Aug. 10) by FSU Vice President for Administration and Finance Jerry Scoby.

The finalists, who will be interviewing on the Ferris State campus starting this Wednesday (Aug. 11) were announced following a screening and selection process of more than 75 original applicants from across the country.

The athletics director position became vacant upon the retirement of former AD Tom Kirinovic in June after more than 27 years as a member of the FSU Athletic Department.

The three finalists are Glen Krupica, currently the deputy director of athletics at Northern Illinois University; Perk Weisenburger, the associate director of athletics for external operations at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Derek van der Merwe, who’s  presently the senior associate athletics director at Central Michigan University.

The interview dates and respective candidates are as follows:

Wednesday, Aug. 11 - Glen Krupica (Deputy Director of Athletics - Northern Illinois University)

Thursday, Aug. 12 - Perk Weisenburger (Associate Director of Athletics for External Operations - University of Nevada, Las Vegas)

Tuesday, Aug. 17 - Derek van der Merwe (Senior Associate Athletics Director - Central Michigan University)

Below is a brief biographical sketch on each candidate:

Glen Krupica - Krupica joined the Northern Illinois staff as an Associate Athletics Director in July of 2005 and was promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs in August of 2006.  Prior to his return to DeKalb, Krupica spent the previous 11 years (1994-2005) as the Executive Director of the Independence Bowl Foundation in Shreveport, Louisiana. While there, Krupica secured two title sponsors, negotiated two contract extensions with ESPN and brokered deals and renewals with both the SEC and Big 12 Conferences. Krupica made the move to the bowl circuit after serving as Northwestern State (La.) University's Assistant Athletics Director for Fundraising and Marketing from 1992-94. He worked as the Director of Development for the Kansas Special Olympics from 1986-1992. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from NIU (1982) and a master’s degree in sports administration from The Ohio State University (1984).

Perk Weisenburger - Weisenburger has served as the Associate Athletics Director for External Operations at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas since 2005.  He presently oversees the coordination and operation of athletic marketing and promotions, licensing and athletic ticketing, and serves as the department's liaison to multi-media rights partner International Sports Properties (ISP). Prior to coming to UNLV, Weisenburger spent five years as the Director of Athletics at Illinois State University and previously worked in
athletics administration at NCAA Division I institutions such as Wake Forest, Central Michigan, Washington and Houston. He was the Associate Director of Athletics for External Operations at CMU from 1989-95.  Weisenburger is a 1979 graduate of Central Michigan with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He earned a master's in sports administration from Ohio University (1982).

Derek van der Merwe - A former Central Michigan University football letterwinner, van der Merwe has been an administrator in the CMU Athletics Department since 1997, serving as Senior Associate Athletics Director since 2005. He is currently responsible for the oversight of the department’s business, compliance, facilities and event management areas. He directly oversees the sport of wrestling and assists with the oversight of football and men’s basketball. A member of the NCAA’s Wrestling Committee since 2007, he has also served as an NCAA peer reviewer for Division I institutions going through NCAA membership certification. Van der Merwe began his professional career as an academic adviser in the Chippewa Athletics Department in 1997 before becoming the director of compliance in 1998, then assistant athletics director in 2001, and associate athletics director with sport oversight responsibilities in 2002. He received both a bachelor’s degree (1996) and a master’s degree (2005) from CMU.