LINCOLN, Neb (March 22, 2023) - With mixed emotions, we share that Jo Bunstock, a long-time staple in the Athletic Department has announced her retirement as Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Jo loyally served the Nebraska Wesleyan community for nearly 40 years.
"I truly appreciate all that Jo has done to advance Prairie Wolves athletics," said Athletic Director, Dwight Merilatt. "Even though I've only known Jo for a short period of time, I sincerely recognize her passion for our campus and athletic department. There is no better compliment than to recognize someone for outstanding work, and Jo has demonstrated this outstanding work for nearly 40 years."
In her role as assistant athletic director, Bunstock worked to secure success in all Nebraska Wesleyan sports while also promoting academic achievement in the classroom. She actively participated in the hiring of new coaches, the evaluation of existing coaches, and the encouragement of athletes to excel in both their sport and academics in order to guarantee success on the field, court, and track.
An outcome of her efforts was success on the national and conference level. Two national titles were earned by Nebraska Wesleyan during her leadership, including the 2018 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball National Championship and the 2006 NCAA Division III Men's Golf National Championship. The Prairie Wolves also had multiple NCAA Top 10 finishes, more than 50 conference titles, and several athletes named All-Americans.
One of the most renowned universities in the nation for its student-athletes' scholastic achievements is Nebraska Wesleyan University, and in every year of Bunstock's leadership, Nebraska Wesleyan had at least one CoSIDAAcademic All-American. Since 1991, there have been over 160 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, with 124 of those arriving since 2000, placing NWU ninth in the nation at all levels.
Bunstock's tenure included the addition of men's and women's swimming in 2014 and the return of men's wrestling in 2015. Nebraska Wesleyan also entered the American Rivers Conference in 2016, making it the only NCAA DIII institution in the state.
She advocated for improving Nebraska Wesleyan's athletic infrastructure. She played a key role in the initiative to construct a new wrestling complex and advocated for the installation of new lighting, turf, a renovated press box, and new video boards at Abel Stadium. Other facility updates during her time included Knight Fieldhouse flooring and resurfacing of the Woody Greeno track.
Bunstock's efforts have helped Nebraska Wesleyan and the city of Lincoln achieve recognition on a national scale. She was instrumental in getting Nebraska Wesleyan and the city of Lincoln the chance to hold a number of NCAA Championships and conference championships. Notably, NWU hosted the 2014 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships as well as the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships in 2002, 2006, and 2014, and several NCAA Regional events.
"Her institutional knowledge and overall management of our internal operations has been critical to every component of the athletic department," Merilatt added.
In 2000, Bunstock received the Spirit of Plainsmen award and was inducted into the Nebraska Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame. She consistently delivered excellent work and has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Bunstock has participated in the task force for women's issues and helped with the booster club golf event in addition to her never-ending list of duties. She also served on the President's Council for Cultural Diversity and is very active in the Huntington Elementary School's VIP (Ventures in Partnership) program.
Bunstock received the University's CORE Award in 2007 for her work on the search committee for Nebraska Wesleyan's 16th president and again in 2020 in recognition of her commitment to fostering community. Families from Huntington Elementary School received Thanksgiving dinners thanks to NWU community drives organized by Bunstock, making it possible for them to partake in the holiday tradition. To assist with supplying everything required for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, she gathered university offices, student groups, sports teams, and other community members. Nearly 100 families were fed each year by the initiative.
Bunstock feels that she has contributed an ever-lasting female perspective to the Nebraska Wesleyan University athletic department, and even though her employment is coming to an end, she will always be a Prairie Wolf.
"Jo will be greatly missed, but I am excited for her to be able to spend more time with her family and begin to enjoy a well deserved retirement," Merilatt said.
