DRAGON ATHLETICS
Staff
Doug Peters, Director of Athletics
The torch of leadership at Minnesota State University Moorhead has been passed to Doug Peters. The 34-year old Peters was appointed Director of Athletics in March by MSUM President Dr. Roland Barden.
Athletic Director at Valley City State University since 2004, Peters began his new duties July 1. He replaced Dr. Alfonso Scandrett, Jr., whose contract expired in 2006. Sylvia Barnier served as acting Director of Athletics in 2006-07.
A former student-athlete and assistant coach at Bemidji State University, Peters received an undergraduate degree in 1998 and added a master’s degree in 2000. Peters was a two-year basketball letterman and captain at Bemidji State and an honorable mention All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference selection. He transferred to BSU after two years at Eastern Wyoming College.
In addition to his coaching duties at Bemidji State, Peters served as Director of Development and Beaver Pride Coordinator for the Beaver athletic department, and his responsibilities included athletic fundraising and capital projects, major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, advertising and donor relations.
During his three years at Valley City State, Peters was responsible for all aspects of the organization and administration of the intercollegiate athletic program including day-to-day operations, budget management, hiring, supervision and development of personnel, management of athletic facilities, event management, marketing and promotions, student-athlete development and participation and fund-raising.
Peters subscribes to a personal administrative philosophy. “It’s all about the people; the relationships are number one with our athletes, our fans, our alumni. It’s about helping people, providing opportunities to grow and be part of something bigger than the individual.”
Some of the parts of the MSUM fundraising puzzle are in place, but Peters knows much hard work awaits. “For most of the fundraising pieces, there are a lot of volunteers involved, and it’s really trying to help guide them to where we’re trying to go and collaboratively reach some fund-raising goals.”
“Setting goals are hard to talk about because I don’t know what’s realistic. I don’t want to set a goal and not be able to reach it. I want goals that are not easy to achieve, but at the same time, I want them to be achievable.”
While a detailed job description would await Peters when he signed on at State, he has a trusty lodestar of his own to follow as well. “My key responsibility is to help everyone underneath me do their job. I’m here to help the coaches be successful and impact their student-athletes’ lives. We hired them as coaches because we believed in them in coaches. Now, how can we get the resources in their hands and support in their corner so they can accomplish what they want to accomplish? ”
A native of Fort Lufton, CO, Peters played two seasons of basketball at Eastern Wyoming in Torrington and was recruited by Bemidji State. A two-year letterman and captain of the Beavers, Peters earned honorable mention All-NSIC honors.
