Nancy Cross Returns to John Purdue Club in Reorganization

Eyeing some "challenging opportunities" in the immediate and near future, Purdue director of intercollegiate athletics Morgan Burke has announced the reassignment of duties for two members of his senior administrative staff.

Nancy Cross will re-assume leadership of the development area, overseeing the John Purdue Club. She previously oversaw marketing and development from 1999 to 2004 after serving as John Purdue Club director from 1993 to 1999. Cross will continue as the department's Senior Woman Administrator while also remaining as the sport administrator for men's basketball, men's and women's golf, and men's and women's tennis. She will serve as the primary development and sport administrator liaison on facility projects, as well. Her new title will be senior associate athletics director for athletic development and sports.

Joe Muller, who had overseen the John Purdue Club since coming to the department in August of 2006, will continue to lead the remaining functions within external relations. He will lead the department's efforts in ticket sales, promotions and advertising, and the Big Ten Network. His title now is senior associate athletics director for external relations and marketing.

Cross will forgo her sport administrator duties for soccer and men's and women's swimming and diving, and those will be handled on an interim basis by Terry Kix, who will continue in her position of supervisor of women's basketball operations. Cross will continue working with soccer until the end of the 2007 season.

"Given the amount of anticipated activity in such a relatively short time, we feel splitting external relations is necessary and desirable at this time," Burke said. "We have a lot of work to do in the coming years relating to growing our marketing, advertising and promotion plans; selling more tickets; growing the John Purdue Club membership base and our endowment; planning and executing the capital campaign for the Mackey Arena complex and Northwest Site; and maximizing the Big Ten Network's value to Purdue and the conference.

"The department's future success will require that resources be available to support our sport programs and all who work with them, as they strive to improve performance."