Hillsdale College Director of Athletics Don Brubacher to Retire
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College announces the retirement of Director of Athletics Don Brubacher. Since 2008, Brubacher has served Hillsdale College with distinction and has presided over an athletics program that has excelled both on and off the field.
“It is difficult to be director of athletics at a school such as ours,” said Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn. “Our academics are rigorous, and our athletes are held to the same high standards as the whole of the student body, though they practice dozens of hours each week and often travel on the weekends. Their distinction on and off the field is a testament to Don’s ability and good character. His retirement is well deserved, and he will be sorely missed.”
Under Brubacher’s leadership, Hillsdale College’s athletics and its student-athletes have received numerous awards for both athletic and academic performance.
During Brubacher’s tenure, Hillsdale College won 45 team conference titles, with every one of the college’s 14 sports teams winning at least one conference title or making it to at least one NCAA tournament or final. Hillsdale also produced 172 NCAA Division II All-Americans under his leadership.
Each year since 2011, Hillsdale College has received the National Collegiate Athletic Association President’s Award for Academic Excellence, which denotes high levels of timely graduations by student-athletes. It is one of only 10 schools to receive the honor each time it has been awarded, and over the past four years, it has been among the top five schools in NCAA Division II, boasting a graduation rate of 96% or higher.
Other notable accomplishments during Brubacher’s time at Hillsdale include:
- The reinstatement of men’s and women’s tennis and men’s golf teams, all three of which quickly became competitive in the conference.
- The women’s track and field program finished as first runner-up during the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Indoor Meets.
- The women’s cross-country team placed second in the nation at the 2014 NCAA Championships and third in the nation at the 2016 NCAA Championship.
- The volleyball team appeared in the Division II Final Four in 2011 and the Division II Elite Eight in 2021.
- The men’s basketball team appeared in the Division II Elite Eight in 2022.
Brubacher presided over the athletics department during several major capital projects, including the construction of the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center, the renovation of the Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena, and the groundbreaking of the recently announced Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and Delp Baseball Field. He also shepherded Hillsdale College’s transition from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
“It has been a privilege to serve Hillsdale College and work with faculty and staff from every corner of campus these last fourteen years,” said Brubacher. “My wife, Janette, and I have been blessed with great friends and colleagues, and for all of you we will always be grateful. It has also been exciting and inspiring to watch our student-athletes excel on an ever-higher level in the classroom and on the field of competition. We wish the college and everyone here God’s richest blessings.”
Prior to his time at Hillsdale College, Brubacher served as the athletic director at Tabor College for nine years. He also served at Tabor as a coach for men’s and women’s basketball and soccer. He will continue in his role until June 30, 2023.
Hillsdale College will begin a national search for its next athletic director. The search will be in the capable hands of the national executive search firm CarterBaldwin.
For Brubacher’s headshot and Hillsdale College Athletics logos, click here.