In four years as the Director of Athletics at the University of Northern Colorado, Jay Hinrichs has changed the profile and moved the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics forward into Division I.

Hinrichs was named the director of athletics on Aug. 23, 2004 and enters his fifth year at the helm of the Bears program. Since his hiring Hinrichs has directed the NCAA reclassification and certification process to Division I, inclusion of Northern Colorado in membership in the Big Sky Conference and helped lead a successful university-wide student-fee referendum that increased funding for athletic and recreation facilities renovation and expansion by $16 million, as well as helping the university receive $14.5 million for Butler-Hancock renovations.

Included in that facilities expansion and renovation project are improvements to Northern Colorado's main gymnasium, Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion, the reconstruction of historic Jackson Stadium, the renovation of Butler-Hancock Athletic Center - which includes the tennis complex and practice fields, and the addition of a new indoor practice center as well as ticket venues on the east side of Nottingham field. The department also saw the renovation of the Harrison Hall Dining Center, which houses the department's Harrison Student-Athlete Academic Success Center.

In the most recent project, Butler-Hancock renovations will improve the building's academic areas, including a classroom addition, upgraded electrical wiring and reconfiguration of locker rooms to maximize space. Funds will also be used to install air conditioning.

The history of Northern Colorado Athletics was changed on July 1, 2006, as the program became the ninth member of the Big Sky Conference and Hinrichs also helped the wrestling program secure membership into the newly formed Western Wrestling Conference, which began competition in 2007.

Hinrichs was formerly the associate athletic director for facilities planning at the University of Kansas. He also directed KU's Williams Educational Fund, the athletic department's 4,600-member donor organization and annual giving fund.

Before Kansas, Hinrichs served for 18 years in a variety of senior management positions for the Kansas City Royals Baseball Club including director of stadium operations, assistant general manager and vice president of ballpark operations and development.

Hinrichs has served the community as a board of director's member and Chairman of the Board of the Kansas and Western Missouri affiliate of the National Kidney Foundation and as a board member of the Kansas City Corporate Challenge. He was an advisory board member of Imaging Solutions Company in Wichita, Kan., prior to his move to Northern Colorado.

He was recently appointed to the United Way of Weld County Board of Directors.

Hinrichs earned a bachelor's degree in personnel administration and psychology (1980) and a master's in business administration (1983) from the University of Kansas.

He is married to the former Julie Miller of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and they have one son, Jared (10).