Information courtesy of Bill Pekrul/Martin Luther College

NEW ULM — The administration of Martin Luther College is working to fill the position of the MLC Athletic Director that Jim Unke faithfully served for 25 years. In consultation with the Executive Committee of the MLC Governing Board, the administration is moving ahead with a three-part interim plan:

·Mr. Dave Biedenbender, who currently serves as an admissions counselor, has accepted the appointment as interim athletic director for the 2022-23 school year. In addition to having earned a master’s in athletic administration, Biedenbender has considerable coaching experience and has worked with the MLC athletic department in many capacities.

·Mr. Jeff Sitz, a recently retired athletic director at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee and assistant executive director of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association, has agreed to serve as a consultant/mentor for Mr. Biedenbender as he assumes the interim athletic director role.

·The MLC Governing Board, at its October meeting, will determine the wisest long-term path for moving forward to fill the athletic director position.