Bio

On July 30, 2008, Don Brubacher was named the fifth athletic director in the prior 54 years at Hillsdale College. Following the strong character and tradition established by people like Jack McAvoy and Dr. Mike Kovalchik is no small task, but it’s one Brubacher has fully embraced entering his second year on the job.

“I’ve been extremely impressed with the quality of coaches, athletes and staff we have here at Hillsdale. They have made this a very easy transition for me,” Brubacher said. “I not only want to maintain the great athletic tradition we have here, but to help our coaches achieve greater success in the future.”

Much success for Charger athletics has already occured during Brubacher’s five seasons guiding the department. In that time frame, an incredible 28 different athletes have earned athletic All-American honors. He leads the department with a steady hand, cultivating athletic achievement while continually raising the standards of academic excellence and achievement among the student-athletes.

Entering 2013-14, Brubacher has been a guiding force in the construction and design of the brand-new Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center. He has also helped lead the extensive renovation of Jesse Philips Arena, scheduled to be finished this fall.

Brubacher knew plenty of success in his nine-year stint as athletic director at Tabor College, an NAIA school located in Hillsboro, Kansas. An alumn of the school, Brubacher coached men’s and women’s basketball at Tabor, as well as men’s and women’s soccer during a career that saw him spend nearly 30 years on the field of play. He takes a lot of pride in his classroom teaching experience as well, and draws many parallels between the experience a college student has in the classroom compared to that on the athletic field.

“Our national search has produced an individual with an impressive understanding of the role that athletics plays in the formation of student character and how character development is essential to the mission of our institution,” said Hillsdale College President Dr. Larry Arnn. “In addition, we have found a man with a long, proven record of success in leading a college athletic program. Don Brubacher will be a perfect fit here.”

Brubacher’s coaching career saw him earn many Coach of the Year accolades, and he led his men’s basketball teams to 12 conference championships. His women’s soccer teams also won a regular season conference championship, and a postseason tournament conference title.

Brubacher started his college career at Heston College in Kansas, where he played soccer. He then moved on to Tabor College and played soccer and basketball, and was a First-Team All-Conference selection in basketball before his graduation in 1975.