Former CMU quarterback Brian Brunner takes new role in athletics
Brian Brunner, quarterback for the Central Michigan football team from 2004-08 and Director of the Chippewa Athletic Fund from 2012-13, is coming back to Mount Pleasant to take on a new role with CMU Athletics.
Brunner was named associate director for development with CMU Athletics on Thursday. His first day on the job is set for July 25.
"He's a Chippewa," said Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. "I'm not sure anybody can speak to student-athlete experience and the need for it as well as he can. He's passionate. He had tremendous success in the annual fundraising role with us before, and now he returns with a solid background in development and major projects."
One of those major projects includes being the assistant athletic director for annual giving at South Dakota State University over the past two years. SDSU saw a 77 percent increase in annual fundraising during his time with the Jackrabbits.
The Jackrabbits are also receiving a new football stadium that will be ready for the 2016 season. Brunner helped raise $65 million for the stadium, 42 percent of which from private donations. He also assisted in raising $30 million for an athletic complex for the student-athletes.
"It's bittersweet leaving SDSU with all that we have going on," Brunner said. "It will be tough not seeing the football stadium officially open. I was part of a great team here, and it is rewarding to have worked on some projects that will sustain the program over the next 50 years."
Brunner was the football team's captain during the 2008 season. He finished his undergrad at CMU with a bachelor's of science degree in journalism in 2009 and graduated with a master's degree in public administration in 2014.
