Pictured, from left: Jamros, Hart, Scislo
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Three finalists for the position of Northern State University Director of Athletics will visit campus this month.
The schedule of candidate visits is as follows:
- Jon Hart: Sept. 19-20.
- Brian Scislo: Sept. 21-22.
- Brian Jamros: Sept. 26-27.
During each visit, the community is invited to an open forum with the candidate, which will take place in the Kessler’s Champions Club in the Barnett Center Addition of the Regional Sports Complex. The forums will take place as follows:
- Hart’s community open forum is set for 6:15-7:15 p.m. Sept. 19.
- Scislo’s community open forum will be 6:15-7:15 p.m. Sept. 21.
- Jamros’ community open forum will be 6:15-7:15 p.m. Sept. 26.
More information about each candidate can be found below.
Jon Hart
Hart is in his sixth season as Director of Athletics for Dakota Wesleyan University, overseeing 16 intercollegiate athletic teams. Under Hart’s leadership, the Tigers have experienced unparalleled athletic, academic and financial success.
Hart currently serves in roles such as the current chair for the GPAC Athletic Directors. During the 2020-21 school year, he was a member of the GPAC return-to-play taskforce that enabled member schools to have a culminating season. Nationally, he serves on the NAIA Athletic Directors Association Board of Directors and is a member of subcommittees such as the NAIA opening rounds committee and membership development committee.
Prior to being named Director of Athletics, Hart served as Associate Athletic Director at DWU for four years. Hart has also built a strong athletic background through the National High School Athletic Coaches Association and the South Dakota High School Coaches Association.
The Alexandria, S.D., native graduated from DWU with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and business in 2011. The following year he completed his master’s degree in educational policy and administration.
A former football and baseball player for the Tigers, Hart now resides in Mitchell with his wife, Danielle, and twin daughters, Harper and Henley.
Brian Scislo
Scislo serves as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration at The University of Tulsa, a position he was promoted to in May 2014. He came to TU as the Director of the Golden Hurricane Club in June 2007, and became the Associate Athletic Director for Development in May 2012.
Scislo came to Tulsa following two years as a senior staff assistant in the office of the Director of Athletics at the University of Notre Dame.
Before that, Scislo spent three years at Ohio University as an assistant wrestling coach while pursuing his master's degree in business administration in 2004 and sports administration in 2005.
He earned his bachelor's degree in comprehensive social studies and political science from the University of Findlay (Ohio) in 2002. Scislo was a member of the wrestling team where he was a three-time All-American and two-time Academic All-America selection.
In 2018, Scislo received a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma, where his dissertation was titled The Role of Hope and Psychological Need Support in the Prediction of Academic Achievement and Psychological Well-Being of NCAA Division I Student-Athletes.
Brian Jamros
Jamros currently serves as the Director of Athletics and Activities at Centennial High School in Circle Pines, Minn. In this role, Jamros oversees 31 varsity programs and more than 40 clubs and activities. The school has seen a transformation in brand and image the past couple of years under Jamros' leadership.
Prior to his current position, Jamros was the Director of Athletics at The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.), where he led a comprehensive department with 22 varsity sports. Jamros also served as the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Concordia University in Portland, Ore., leading the Cavaliers through the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II.
Jamros has ties back to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) both as a student-athlete and athletic administrator at Concordia University, St. Paul. He served as both an Assistant and Associate AD at Concordia St. Paul and led the department in the areas of fundraising, marketing, promotions and fan engagement.
Jamros and his wife, Ashley, have two children, Grace (8) and Olivia (6).
NSU President Dr. Neal Schnoor said he is pleased with the search process, led by a committee of faculty, staff, students, alumni and administrators. The committee is being assisted by Double L Consulting, a firm specializing in Division II athletic program executive searches.
“This is a big job, as our university is entering a new era of athletics, and we feel confident these three finalists are capable of bringing Wolves Athletics to the next level,” Schnoor said.
Northern’s new Director of Athletics will begin no later than Jan. 3, 2022. The individual will replace Josh Moon, who stepped down after nine years to accept the same role at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, an NCAA Division I institution. Moon was only the fourth person to serve in the position of NSU Director of Athletics since 1956, preceded by Clark Swisher, Dr. James Kretchman and Bob Olson.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.