By Jim Henry

jhenry@joplinglobe.com

One of Jared Bruggeman’s first tasks after accepting the offer to become Missouri Southern’s athletics director was to educate his children.

“When the kids (son Micah, 6, and daughters Logan, 5, and Reese, 1) found out we were going to be moving ... the first question they asked was what is the mascot,” Bruggeman said. “Being great parents, we were going to educate them and make them make guess. So we said it’s the king of the jungle. Unfortunately they said gorillas.

“I want to be clear,” Bruggeman said in front of a laughing crowd. “I straightened them out immediately. It is not the gorillas that are the king of the jungle. It’s the lions. We’re clear on that point, and they won’t make that mistake again, I promise. However, now we have three roaring children, and I wish we had some kind of glass divider in the vehicle.”

Bruggeman, the associate director of athletics at Northern Arizona University the last four years, was introduced Wednesday afternoon as the Lions’ new athletics director before a crowd of approximately 75 MSSU coaches, faculty, students and fans.

“He has an exemplary record,” Missouri Southern president Dr. Bruce Speck said. “We realize he’s been with all winning teams, and as he comes here, he realizes that we want to kick it up. We want to have more winning teams, and he also realizes that we have increase the funding.

“Jared, you need to know there was unanimous approval for you to come,” Speck said. “We kept our fingers crossed and hoped that you would accept.”

“Had I known that,” Bruggeman quipped, “I would have held out in negotiations. But live and learn.”

Surprise visitor

Bruggeman’s wife, Maria, a former volleyball and basketball player at North Dakota where they met, was also introduced, and his brother, Guy, surprised the family by making the trip to Joplin from Dallas.

“In this process, I’ve found the community is great, the staff is great, the search committee is great,’’ Bruggeman said. “We don’t have any family in the area, but just from the interview process, I feel like I have family in the area. There are some very nice people around here. I think we’re going to fit in wonderfully.

“The things the president has expressed is we need to upgrade some facilities, certainly baseball and football. And we need to start winning at the national level. We’re very successful in some sports here, certainly in track and field. But the thing is, let’s get MSSU up so everybody recognizes it in all areas.”

Bruggeman, 38, begins his duties at Missouri Southern on July 6. He succeeds Sallie Beard, who is retiring June 30 after 37 years of service in the MSSU athletics department.

“I have a lot of colleagues around the country, in the MIAA, NCAA Division I and Division II,” Bruggeman said. “They know Sallie, and two things came out when I talked to them about this job and about her. They said she is well respected and a pioneer. It’s going to be huge, huge shoes to fill.”