This week, the former Athletic Director of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin was named the interim Executive Director of the Joplin Sports Authority. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

Jerrod Bruggman stepped down as AD of Missouri Southern in March of this year, where he served in that position for 11 years. He’s been tapped to lead the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit sports commission with the mission to promote, support, and attract sporting events to the Joplin area. The Joplin Sports Authority oversees 14 facilities, including Schifferdecker Golf Course, Memorial Hall, and sports facilities at Missouri Southern.

Bruggman has built a career in education. First, as a high school science teacher where he served as a track and cross-country coach. Prior to serving as Athletic Director at Southern, he worked as Assistant AD at Northern Arizona University for four years. Bruggman started last week and will become the Joplin Sports Authority’s 5th Executive Director. For KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro in Webb City