NIU’s Compher takes post at East Carolina

Northern Illinois University has lost another key athletic figure to the East Coast.

Jeff Compher, associate vice president and director of athletics at NIU for the last five years, is the new athletics director at East Carolina University.

Compher was introduced Wednesday during a news conference at the Murphy Center on East Carolina’s campus, according to a report by the ECU News Bureau.

“Jeff Compher is a proven leader in moving an entire athletic department forward,” said Chancellor Steve Ballard. “He has great values, great experience, and national recognition among his peers. We are delighted he is a Pirate.”

According to the ECU report, Compher has agreed to a five-year contract and will begin his duties May 1.

Dr. John Peters, NIU president, praised Compher for his contributions to the Huskies programs.

“I am personally gratified by the strong leadership and guidance Jeff provided while helping heighten the profile of the Huskie athletics program,” Peters said.

“While the selection of a new director of athletics will be the prerogative of NIU’s next president, I will work with Compher and his staff on a transition plan that ensures continuity within the athletic department in the interim.”

After winning a second-straight MAC title, NIU football coach Dave Doeren resigned to take the head football job at North Carolina State and took several assistants with him. Compher, who hired Doeren from Wisconsin, then promoted offensive coordinator Rod Carey as NIU’s head football coach.

Compher, a 53-year-old native of Baltimore, previously worked at the University of Washington, Western Carolina University and North Carolina State.