DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University Athletics will fill two important roles in its external and revenue generation areas later this month as NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier announced the hiring of TJ Feuerbach as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and Revenue Generation, and Collin Bruning as Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Operations.
 
In conjunction with the arrival of the new staff, Frazier announced several changes in the organizational structure of NIU Athletics designed to deliver improved service to donors, season ticket members and all patrons while continuing to provide the best experience possible for Huskie student-athletes and coaches.    
 
With a proven record of success in fundraising over the past 10-plus years at the University of Tulsa, Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Feuerbach will oversee all revenue generation efforts, including the Huskie Athletic Fund, the Campaign to Sustain, Varsity and Wheels clubs, with an emphasis on major gifts cultivation.  He will work closely with the NIU Foundation and the NIU Alumni Association, while also serving as sport administrator for the Huskie men's soccer program and overseeing the Sports Performance unit. 
 
"TJ is going to bring tremendous energy and great ideas to enhance our development and revenue generation areas, two absolutely critical priorities for NIU Athletics at this time," Frazier said.  "He is a Midwest guy who understands the challenges we face as a 'Group of 5' institution and has made a positive impact at every stop in his career.  We're excited to get him here on campus and get started."
 
Feuerbach comes to NIU after two-and-a-half years at Tulsa, where he coordinated all aspects of the athletics development operation. During his time at Tulsa, total giving to athletics increased by 25 percent to its highest levels in seven years in 2017, while restricted/capital giving increased by 68 percent.  With the Golden Hurricane, Feuerbach helped secure funds for projects ranging from a new $1.8 million men's basketball locker room to enhancing football coaching staff salaries to various endowment, in addition to special projects benefitting Tulsa's Olympic sport programs.
 
At Northern Kentucky, Feuerbach assisted in securing the single largest gift in the history of NKU Athletics while coordinating a $6 million capital campaign critical to NKU's transition from NCAA Division II to Division I.  While at NKU, donations to the athletics program increased 466 percent.
 
A 2001 graduate of the University of Iowa, Feuerbach begins his duties at NIU on August 28.
 
"My family and I are truly grateful to Sean and the athletics administration for the opportunity to join the Huskie family," Feuerbach said. "The timing is such that we will hop right in, but that's the exciting part. We believe there is tremendous upside for the future of NIU Athletics and cannot wait to meet with all the folks who support our Huskie student-athletes, coaches and administrators." 
 
Bruning has been the Ticket Manager at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. since June 2014 and will lead the NIU Athletics and NIU Convocation Center Ticket Office operations beginning August 21.   In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Ticket Office, Bruning will work closely with the IMG Learfield Ticket Solutions staff to increase sales for all ticketed sports at NIU.  Prior to going to Georgetown, the 2010 Kent State University graduate earned athletics ticketing and sales experience at the University of Tennessee (2011-13) and at Vanderbilt University (2013-14). At each stop, he worked closely with season ticket members and donors to provide superior customer service.
 
Now in his fifth year as associate vice-president and director of athletics, Frazier used the arrival of Feuerbach to change some of the senior staff areas of oversight.  John Cheney added sport administrator of the Huskie Football program and Ticket Operations to his facilities and events portfolio and is now Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations, while Senior Associate Athletic Director for Collegiate Advancement and External Affairs Ryan Sedevie takes on the Equipment Operations and Hall of Fame in addition to directing the Marketing and Fan Experience and Athletics Communications units.  Sedevie also serves as liaison to Learfield, NIU's multimedia partner, handles licensing and branding, and NIU's relationships with Rich Harvest Farms, Kishwaukee Country Club and Adidas.
 
Senior Associate Athletic Director Melissa Dawson, who leads NIU's Student-Athlete Academic Support Services and Life Skills units, adds sport administrator of the defending MAC Champion Huskie Volleyball program to her responsibilities, while Chief of Staff/Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator Debra Boughton takes on the strategic plan and continues her role in budgeting, finance and reporting, Title IX issues and as primary liaison with the Mid-American Conference.  Finally, Jerome Rodgers' title moves to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Administration as he continues his oversight of NIU's NCAA Compliance unit as well as focusing on NIU Athletics' Diversity and Inclusion priorities.   
 
Finally, Frazier formalized Director of Personnel Lisa Stocksdale's role in development with the title of Senior Assistant Athletic Director for Human Resources and Donor Relations. Stocksdale will have continuing responsibilities directing NIU Athletics' hiring while leading communication efforts with the Brigham Society, as well as taking on duties working with sports specific donors and the stewardship program. Stocksdale will also co-chair the Victor E. Ball, NIU's premiere fundraising event, again this year. 
 
"I believe these adjustments will enable our senior staff to more effectively serve NIU and our department," Frazier said.  "As a department and as a staff, we are very lean when it comes to personnel.  I'm proud to lead a group who show their dedication to our student-athletes and their passion for this university and Huskie Athletics every day."     
 
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