Bio

Tom Kirinovic, who has gained recognition for his skills in areas of athletics management, public relations, marketing, and fund raising, was appointed athletics director at Ferris State University on November 29, 1999.

An unanimous choice of the search committee, Kirinovic is responsible for overseeing the Bulldogs' 15-sport intercollegiate athletics program. Kirinovic, who served as associate athletics director since August 1994, had been appointed interim athletics director in mid-July 1999.

A member of Ferris' athletics staff for 27 years, Kirinovic was originally appointed interim athletics director on April 8, 1993, following the retirement of then athletics director Dean Davenport.

Kirinovic served a two-year (1992-93) stint as assistant athletics director at FSU after holding the dual position of assistant athletics director and ice arena manager from 1987-91. In 1991, he was appointed as fund raising manager in the Bulldog athletics department. Kirinovic initially began his FSU career in August 1982, returning to his alma mater as athletic business manager.

Kirinovic coached the 1989 Ferris State softball team to a 17-15 overall record and its first winning season in six years. He also logged five years of coaching experience at Ovid-Elsie High School in Elsie, Mich., as a varsity assistant for both football and basketball while also serving as head coach of the school's freshmen and junior varsity baseball program.

Kirinovic, 54, received a bachelor's degree in business education from Ferris in 1977 and a master's in education administration from Central Michigan University in 1982.

A member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Kirinovic also holds membership in the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administration (NACMA). A member of the Big Rapids (Mich.) Lions Club, Kirinovic is a past chair of the Mecosta-Osceola United Way Drive and a past president of the Big Rapids Public Schools' Board of Education.

Kirinovic has also served as a member of the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee and on the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Basketball Ranking Committee. He also was the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) President for the 2005-06 athletics season.

Kirinovic and his wife, Marge, are the parents of two sons, Blake (28) and Matt (24). Marge is a teacher at Riverview Elementary in Big Rapids.