Krober Returns to Greenville as Athletic Director

GREENVILLE, Ill. – The Greenville College athletic department will soon be under new leadership as Kent Krober has accepted the college’s position as athletic director. Krober is a 1978 graduate of Greenville College and returns to the college after serving for 13 years in various positions as a public school teacher and coach in East St. Louis, Ill., vice president for the church and ministry division at Cass Commercial Bank in St. Louis, and most recently, a development and planned giving officer at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Krober will succeed Dr. Doug Faulkner, who has been athletic director since 1999. Krober will officially assume the duties in March.

During his 35-year career, Krober has showed significant experience in development and admissions with strong leadership and managerial capabilities. He has displayed a record of quality service, staff and expense control, goal achievement, public relations, and effective teaching, coaching, and mentoring.

Krober was employed in various positions at Greenville College from 1982 to 2001, starting as an admissions counselor and assistant men’s basketball coach and eventually serving as director of alumni and church relations when he departed for the teaching and coaching position in East St. Louis. During those 19 years at Greenville College, he spent time as director of admissions and was head men’s basketball coach for six seasons.

As part of his tenure at Greenville College, he coached the men’s basketball team to a 20-win season and a berth in the NAIA District 20 playoffs. He also engaged the college’s alumni board into a “working board” which took ownership in its involvement in the affairs of the college while increasing its annual giving by 15 percent. As a member of the college’s advancement staff, he was a member of the team that gained a then-record $1.7 million in unrestricted giving.

In East St. Louis, he received a superior rating in his teaching evaluations and also coached his boy’s basketball team to a Sweet 16 berth in the Illinois Elementary School Association playoffs.

During his time at UMSL, Krober increased the giving to the college of business by 350 percent in just two years. He also started the planned giving program five years ago and has averaged $2 million in new gifts each year.

Krober earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Greenville College and a master of science in educational counseling from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He spent the first year of his teaching career as a physical education teacher at Kingsway Academy in Nassau, Bahamas, followed by three years as a seventh grade science teacher, driver’s education teacher, and multi-sport coach for the Clinton Central school district in Michigantown, Ind.

A long-time member of the Greenville Free Methodist Church, Krober has led the board of finance as its chairman which has aided the church to a stronger financial status.

“I am absolutely delighted that Kent is returning to Greenville College,” said President Ivan Filby. “Kent really understands how our athletic programs help us fulfill our mission of delivering an education that empowers, enriches and endures. It’s great to have him back!"

In Faulkner’s 15 years as athletic director, he has overseen various capital improvements for the athletic department spanning all of the college’s sporting venues and athletic programs. He has also maintained and promoted a focus on the integration of faith in athletics for each program and the collective department.

Highlights have included renovations of the Fitness Training Center interior and equipment, H.J. Long Gymnasium bleachers and playing floor, Scott Burgess Tennis Complex courts, and Recreation Center floor. In addition, the track and field facilities have been completely renovated to include the installation of a new eight-lane track; throws area; and long jump, pole vault, and javelin runways. The soccer and football playing surfaces have also been upgraded with proper crowning and irrigation. Lights have been added to the baseball and soccer fields, and two practice soccer fields have been constructed.

Competitively, the Greenville College teams have combined for 30 conference league championships and four conference tournament championships in the last 15 years. The men’s track and field teams have won 10 NCCAA national championships (four indoor and six outdoor). The men’s soccer team has made three appearances in the NCAA national tournament, and the volleyball team has qualified for the NCAA tournament once. The baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s soccer, and men’s tennis teams have competed in NCCAA national tournaments.

The football program joined the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in 2009 after transitioning from their prior associations in the Illini-Badger Football Conference (1987-2007) and St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1996-99 and 2008). The team has taken UMAC conference championships or shared the UMAC conference title three times. The football team has also qualified for five NCCAA Victory Bowls, winning the game in 2012.

The college has been recognized with the all-sportsmanship awards by the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in two of the three years since the award has existed. The honor is an overall reflection of sportsmanship displayed by its players and coaches.

Faulkner helped build the graduate assistant coach program and increased overall athletic recruitment through the junior varsity initiative. He initiated and oversaw the hiring of the first senior women’s administrator.

Early in his tenure as athletic director, Faulkner completed a master’s degree in sport management at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and later completed a doctorate in higher education leadership from Saint Louis University. He twice served as chair of the SLIAC administrative council.

Faulkner will remain at Greenville College as Dean of the School of Professional Studies and associate professor in the Sport Studies department.

"While Doug's move away from AD role will present significant challenges to the athletic program, we are delighted that he will be bringing his wisdom and experience in higher education leadership into his new role as Dean of Professional Studies," said Brad Shaw, GC's Vice President for Academic Affairs.