SCSU Athletics Adds Kern as Associate Athletics Director of Internal Operations
7/26/2023 2:09:00 PM | General
Kern joins staff after running business operations at Northern State for two years
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner added to her senior administration team with the hiring of Connor Kern hiring as the Associate Athletics Director of Internal Operations, as announced on Wednesday. Kern, who will begin at SCSU on August 2, joins the Huskies after a two-year stint as the Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations at Northern State.
In his role, Kern will oversee the day-to-day operations of all internal functions of St. Cloud State Athletics, including the operational budget, personnel management, NCAA compliance, strength & conditioning and equipment operations. Kern will also be responsible for the department's EADA and NCAA reporting and will serve as a sport administrator for select programs.
"St. Cloud State Athletics is excited to be adding Connor to our staff," said Schreiner. "His background in athletic administration was exactly what we are looking for in this position. Connor's previous experience at Northern State University gives him a head start in this position and allows us to look strategically at our operations. Connor will be a great addition to our team."
"I am excited to be joining the athletic department at St. Cloud State," said Kern. "I look forward to joining the team in enhancing the tradition of the excellence within St. Cloud State Athletics. My family and I are excited to be back in our home state and close to our friends and family. I want to thank the whole search committee for their commitment to this process and for giving me an opportunity to be a part of the team. I am excited to start building strong relationships within the department, the university, and the community."
Kern comes to St. Cloud after spending the last two academic seasons at fellow Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) institution Northern State where he oversaw all university operating budgets, developed a scholarship plan to stay NCAA and Title IX compliant and oversaw all gameday ticketing procedures. With the Wolves, Kern oversaw and executed an annual budget of $1 million for operating expenses and a $2.8 million scholarship budget through the athletic booster club, NSU Foundation Wolves Club. Kern also served as the liaison for the BSN/Nike contract while at Northern State, where he operated a Nike store during NSU gamedays that averaged $125,000 in revenue over two years.
Prior to his return to collegiate athletics, Kern spent five years in the private sector in accounting and quality control positions, working as a sales intern at State Farm Insurance (2016), a Senior Audit Associate at RSM US LLP (2017-19) and as a Risk and Controls Analyst at Patterson Companies (2019-21).
Kern, a native of Hutchinson, Minn., is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in public accounting in May 2017 with a minor in coaching. He was a four-year letterwinner on the baseball team where he was a pitcher. Kern completed his master of science degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University-St. Paul in May 2023.
Connor, his wife, Trina, and their son, Tommy, plan to live in Sauk Rapids and look forward to meeting Husky fans at sporting event this upcoming school year.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Athletics, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Purchase tickets at www.scsutickets.com, downloading the St. Cloud State Huskies app or by calling 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137.
In his role, Kern will oversee the day-to-day operations of all internal functions of St. Cloud State Athletics, including the operational budget, personnel management, NCAA compliance, strength & conditioning and equipment operations. Kern will also be responsible for the department's EADA and NCAA reporting and will serve as a sport administrator for select programs.
"St. Cloud State Athletics is excited to be adding Connor to our staff," said Schreiner. "His background in athletic administration was exactly what we are looking for in this position. Connor's previous experience at Northern State University gives him a head start in this position and allows us to look strategically at our operations. Connor will be a great addition to our team."
"I am excited to be joining the athletic department at St. Cloud State," said Kern. "I look forward to joining the team in enhancing the tradition of the excellence within St. Cloud State Athletics. My family and I are excited to be back in our home state and close to our friends and family. I want to thank the whole search committee for their commitment to this process and for giving me an opportunity to be a part of the team. I am excited to start building strong relationships within the department, the university, and the community."
Kern comes to St. Cloud after spending the last two academic seasons at fellow Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) institution Northern State where he oversaw all university operating budgets, developed a scholarship plan to stay NCAA and Title IX compliant and oversaw all gameday ticketing procedures. With the Wolves, Kern oversaw and executed an annual budget of $1 million for operating expenses and a $2.8 million scholarship budget through the athletic booster club, NSU Foundation Wolves Club. Kern also served as the liaison for the BSN/Nike contract while at Northern State, where he operated a Nike store during NSU gamedays that averaged $125,000 in revenue over two years.
Prior to his return to collegiate athletics, Kern spent five years in the private sector in accounting and quality control positions, working as a sales intern at State Farm Insurance (2016), a Senior Audit Associate at RSM US LLP (2017-19) and as a Risk and Controls Analyst at Patterson Companies (2019-21).
Kern, a native of Hutchinson, Minn., is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in public accounting in May 2017 with a minor in coaching. He was a four-year letterwinner on the baseball team where he was a pitcher. Kern completed his master of science degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University-St. Paul in May 2023.
Connor, his wife, Trina, and their son, Tommy, plan to live in Sauk Rapids and look forward to meeting Husky fans at sporting event this upcoming school year.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Athletics, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Purchase tickets at www.scsutickets.com, downloading the St. Cloud State Huskies app or by calling 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137.
