Behind every successful collegiate athletic program, there stands successful players, coaches and trainers.

Possibly the most important group of an athletic program often gets overlooked, however: the administration within the athletic department.

At NKU, Athletic Director Jane Meier and her staff of assistants has contributed as much to the success of the Norse program as the players and coaches.

Meier has been athletic director at NKU since 1988.

However, Meier was not a newcomer to the Northern Kentucky area or Northern Kentucky University when she took the job.

Meier served, very successfully, as women’s head basketball, softball and volleyball coach at NKU during different stints.

She finished her coaching career with a total of 457 combined victories during ten seasons.

Meier’s assistants include: Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration Dr. Scott Eaton, Associate Athletic Directors Cris Stickley and Kurt Moeller, as well as Sports Information Director Don Owen.

“I am very fortunate to have been surrounded with a very professional group of individuals,” Meier said.

“Everyone is extremely committed to making this the best program it can be.”

This group of administration is in charge of everything behind the scenes for the athletic department, from academic assistance to hirings and firings, to fundraising.

This group does it all, and does it successfully.

They provide guidance for all of their student athletes, and work one-on-one with the students in order to provide the best possible experience for the individuals.

Meier said her favorite part of the job is getting to be around the students and watch them grow and compete in their time at NKU.

“I love just being able to see and know the student athletes on campus,” Meier said.

“It’s really great being able to see these students advance their educational and athletic experience at NKU. Our job is to give the student-athletes the best possible environment to succeed in while they are here.”

The athletic department has turned NKU athletics into one of the most successful NCAA Division II programs in the entire nation.

With the possible construction of a new arena, and a possible jump to the Division I level in the future, who knows where this group could take the program.

Meier said her coaches, players and fellow administrators at NKU have been mostly responsible for the success during her tenure.

“All of my coaches and assistants are very well-prepared and interact well with all of the student-athletes,” she said.

“That is very important. When you have coaches and players that want to succeed, it’s is very hard not to reach your goals.”