Compher Leaving NIU 3/5/13

Rockford, Illinois-WNCT-TV in Greenville, North Carolina is reporting that NIU Director of Athletics Jeff Compher will be named to the same post at East Carolina University on Wednesday. A press conference has been set for 3pm Wednesday afternoon.

Compher has been the Director of Athletics and Associate Vice President at NIU for the past five years. He has overseen NIU's highly successful football program. Compher hired football coaches Dave Doeren (now at North Carolina St.) and Rod Carey (current NIU coach).  The Huskies have made five straight bowl appearances including the school's first BCS appearance this past January in the Orange Bowl. No doubt that success elevated Compher in the eyes of other universities.

But Compher has not enjoyed the same success with NIU's basketball programs. Both the men and women have struggled under current coaches Mark Montgomery and Kathi Bennett. Both were hired by Compher.

NIU officials haven't commented on the reports of Compher leaving.