Tim Jager begins leadership with new goals and Charger tradition

Briar Cliff University announced the hiring of Executive Director of Athletics Tim Jager to lead the department. He comes from a very successful program cross town rival Morningside University but sees potential in the Chargers.  

“There's a lot of pride and great tradition at Briar Cliff,” said Jager, “I don't think outside perception of one being above or below the other really.”  

Jager was athletic director at Morningside University for eight years in which the Mustangs won 29 regular season Great Plains Athletic Conference titles, 11 post season titles, and three national championships. Jager comes to Briar Cliff to get back to what he knows best, and better care for his family.  

“There were a number of things. A family situation I was a little bit burnt out and a little bit frustrated with,” said Jager “I love my years there I have great, great memories. A big part of it was we did foster care years ago, had a couple boys they're 19 and 17, we couldn't sustain what was going on in the family situation at Morningside.” 

Since starting Jan. 2, Jager has started meeting with coaches and athletes to better understand what each program needs to succeed.  

“I really want to listen and learn and evaluate, so I'm really trying to do that without trying to fix things or make changes right away and they're really not necessary,” said Jager. 

Rather than hear about what is wrong with each program, he requested to hear what is going right with each program, and what each coach loves about their job.  

“I want to hear how we are impacting and influencing lives,” said Jager. 

He says the most important aspect of a program isn’t wins and losses but the student experience. One of his top priorities is fundraising to provide better facilities for all athletes as well as non-athletes. Another key initiative is to add more sports to the department to provide more opportunities for prospective recruits.  

“We talked bowling we talked cheer and dance, pickleball, women's wrestling is growing and even archery is a possibility,” said Jager.  

Another goal is to up the rate of student retention within the department. His plan to accomplish this is to keep roster sizes smaller, while also adding more nonstudent athletes to campus. Briar Cliff is made up of around 80 percent student athletes in its population. Jager says adding academic programs would also help boost the number of non-athletes. He believes regardless of if you are a starter or reserve athlete, having the best student experience would up retention numbers. Recruiting he says plays a big part in that. 

“How do you know, bring the talented, the right fit talented student athletes here without overpaying for me, I hate to say that term but you know, you have to balance your scholarship and it's a business and the school has to make money but you also need to bring in number one students and then hopefully, you know, high talent student the coaches are looking for high caliber difference makers.”  

While he doesn’t want to change everything, Jager believes that growth is coming for Charger Athletic Department.  

“Unless you continually work, evolve and innovate, you will learn a quick and painful lesson from someone who has, and I think that's true.”  

Jim Jager, Briar Cliff University’s new Executive Director of Athletics.