Posted 06/08/2000
Contact: Stephanie Reck at 218-281-8422
Lon Boike Named New Athletic Director
The University of Minnesota, Crookston announced today that Lon Boike (pronounced "boyk") has been named the new athletic director at UMC. He replaces Brad Kerr, who resigned March 7.
Boike will become UMC’s fourth athletic director. He begins his new duties on July 17 as UMC begins its third year as a provisional member of NCAA II and its second season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Boike is currently the Athletic Director at Clarke College (Dubuque, IA), an NCAA III institution. A native of Clara City, Minn., he received his Associate of Arts Degree in 1981 from Willmar Junior College. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology, Health and Coaching from Southwest State University (’84) and obtained his Master of Arts Degree in Physical Education, Health and Recreation from Northern State University (’86).
Boike was named coach/associate athletic director in 1989 at Clarke College, where he served as the head women’s basketball coach for seven seasons, head volleyball coach for six, and head softball coach during the 93-94 seasons where he holds the school record for most wins in a season at 25. He was named the college’s athletic director in 1993. Prior to his tenure at Clarke he coached baseball and basketball at Becker H.S., (MN) 1986-87, taught and coached at Audubon H.S., (MN) 1987-88, and was named athletic director/basketball coach at the College of St. Teresa in 1988-89.
Boike has been responsible for the expansion of the Clarke College athletic program to include new facilities for athletes and other students and for developing a Kinesiology program. In addition, during Boike’s stay, the college has won 23 Team Championships, and this past season he was the recipient of the 99-00 NIIC All-Sports Trophy, which is presented annually to the member institution whose intercollegiate athletic program compiles the best combined overall finish in the league’s 10 sponsored sports. Boike was also instrumental in the college’s selection to host the 1999 Molten Division III Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship, and in the formation of the annual Clarke College Holiday Basketball Tournament. He is also the president of the NIIC (Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference).
He presently serves on the NCAA III Interpretations and Legislation Committee and is currently a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Development Directors and NCAA III Athletic Administrators.
Lon and his wife, Chris, have two children, Alec 6, and Sydney, 3.