SIOUX CITY (KTIV) -- -
Morningside College has named Tim Jager as its new athletic director. Jager has served for the past eight seasons as Morningside's head wrestling coach and will begin his new duties on August 1.
Jager succeeds Jerry Schmutte, who resigned as Morningside's athletic director at the end of May.
"After a nationwide search, we found that the best possible person to head up our athletic program was already here on our campus," said Morningside President John Reynders. "Tim has demonstrated his commitment to providing a well-rounded educational experience for student-athletes and at the same time building a successful athletic program."
As Morningside's athletic director, Jager will oversee a program that sponsors 21 varsity sports, numerous junior varsity programs and involves more than 500 student-athletes.
"I am excited for the opportunity to work with and lead Morningside's athletic department in this new capacity," Jager said. "We have an excellent coaching staff and outstanding student-athletes. My goal is to provide students with a great college
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experience, help them reach their academic and athletic goals, and compete at the highest level possible while representing Morningside College with character and class."
Morningside announced it will immediately begin searching for a new head wrestling coach.
Jager has a 75-41-2 record for a .644 winning percentage at Morningside. He was named the 2011 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) North Region Coach of the Year after he guided the Mustangs to their first-ever GPAC and NAIA North Region championships. He also was named the GPAC Coach of the Year in 2012 and in 2008.
In 2011, Jager received the NAIA Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award, which is presented to a coach who epitomizes the qualities and characteristics of a role model and mentor for developing student-athletes. He also received the GPAC Coach of Character Award in 2011. Jager currently serves as president of the NAIA Wrestling Coaches Association.
Jager has coached 15 NAIA All-Americans over the past eight seasons at Morningside. Under Jager, the Mustangs received the NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
A 1996 graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, Jager was an assistant wrestling coach at Buena Vista from 2000 to 2003. He was the head wrestling coach at George-Little Rock High School during the 1999-2000 academic year.
Morningside College has named Tim Jager as its new athletic director.
