BRUNK NAMED NEW PEACH BELT COMMISH

For Immediate Release, 4/17/07
For Further Information, Contact Ken Gerlinger (706) 860-8499

David Brunk Named Next Commissioner of Peach Belt Conference

AUGUSTA, GA -- The Peach Belt Conference Board of Directors and president Dr. Thomas Jones announced the hiring of David Brunk as the next conference commissioner. Brunk will come to the PBC after serving as commissioner of the Northeast-10 Conference for the past nine years. He will become the second commissioner the Peach Belt has had since its founding in 1991. Brunk will replace Marvin Vanover, who will retire from the position on June 30 after 16 years of service.

"I'm very honored and excited by this opportunity," said Brunk from the Northeast-10 conference office in South Easton, Mass. "It is the chance for me to work with some exceptional institutions and people. The Peach Belt has always emphasized academics and highly competitive athletics and the opportunity to be a part of the conference and work with the Board of Directors is very exciting."

Brunk was the first full-time commissioner for the Northeast-10 beginning his tenure in 1998. Under his leadership, the NE10 has added five new institutions and expanded the number of championship sports offered to 23, currently the most offered by any NCAA Division II conference. The NE10 has also led the nation consistently in graduation rates and academic success rates and has been brought to the forefront in the region and the nation.

"We are delighted that David Brunk will be joining the Peach Belt Conference as only its second commissioner. Dave brings a wealth of experiences and proven leadership accomplishments to the Peach Belt, which will allow us to continue as one of the best NCAA Division II conferences in the country," said Dr. Jones.

Brunk began his career in intercollegiate athletics at Morehead State University where he served as Director of the Eagle Athletic Fund before being named Assistant Athletic Director. He also served as the school's head softball coach for two years. He moved from there to work for the NCAA for eight years, beginning work in compliance services which was later merged into membership services. He left the NCAA offices to join the Northeast-10 just prior to the NCAA's move to Indianapolis.

"One thing that I have noticed in my tenure as commissioner at the Northeast-10 is that the Peach Belt Conference is clearly one of the elite Division II conferences in the nation," said Brunk. "The reputation of the institutions and the constituents involved with the Peach Belt Conference are at the highest level and it will be a new challenge for me at this stage of my career to be a part of that."

Prior to his involvement in intercollegiate athletics, Brunk owned and operated several minor league baseball franchises for the Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He garnered numerous awards for overall business and marketing/promotional excellence.

"There are different areas in which I feel I can implement some of the strategies I employed here that will further enhance the standing of the Peach Belt," said Brunk. "I look forward to devising strategic plans and strategies that will give us ways to get the PBC message out around the country. I'm eager to work with the Board on a strategic plan for the future as a way of building upon what's already there."

Brunk will take over for Marvin Vanover, who helped found the conference in 1990. Since play began in the 1991 season, the PBC has won 24 national championships and had 22 national finalists along with over 300 All-Americans and 50 Academic All-Americans. In recent years, the conference has undergone many membership changes with Kennesaw State and North Florida having moved up to the Division I level with USC Upstate scheduled to make the move to Division I at the end of this year. In the past two years, the PBC has added North Georgia College & State University and Georgia Southwestern State University to its membership.

"I look forward to the challenge of continuing what Marvin Vanover has built," said Brunk. "My goal is to continue to build on the strengths of the Peach Belt and continue the evolution of the league and make it as strong as we possibly can."

Brunk continues to be highly involved with the NCAA. He currently serves as chairman of the Division II Management Council and also serves on the Division II Membership Committee, the Division II Convention Planning Project Team, the Division II Community Advisory Group, the Division II Media Advisory Group, and the Division II Identity Subcommittee.

Brunk is a 1972 graduate of Ball State University and holds a Master's degree in Sports Science and Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy. He and his wife, Brenda, have two daughters Ashley, 27, and Alexis, 16.

"My wife and daughter are excited about the move," said Brunk, who will relocate to Augusta, Ga., where the PBC offices are located. "We loved it out here and can't wait to get started."
Brunk will begin his duties as Peach Belt Commissioner on July 1.

Source: Peach Belt Conference Media Relations