GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- Steve Brekke, UND Senior Associate Athletics Director for Athletics Major Gifts, will leave UND in mid-January to join the Walhalla Insurance Agency/Koda Bancor.
 
Brekke has been with UND since 2006. He works with the UND Alumni Association & Foundation (UNDAAF) and UND Athletics to raise funds for UND's athletics programs, scholarships and department needs.
 
"We are going to greatly miss Steve," said DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UNDAAF. "His commitment to UND student-athletes is legendary and he has been a tireless advocate for the University of North Dakota and UND Athletics."
 
Brekke was a two-year starter for the UND men's basketball team, leading the team in scoring as a senior and finished his career with 923 points after transferring from UND-Lake Region. He was a starter on the 1981-82 team that advanced to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals and a two-time All North Central Conference selection.
 
Brekke later played professionally in Australia and was a UND Hall of Fame inductee in 1997. Brekke also served as interim co-athletics director during the 2007-08 season.
 
"Steve was a Hall of Fame student-athlete here at UND and has been a Hall of Fame administrator for us," UND Director of Athletics Bill Chaves said. "The man bleeds UND green and that is apparent in all that he does. He's served our student-athletes, our coaches, our alums and our entire fan base with UND pride."
 
"I have loved every minute of my time working to support UND student-athletes," said Brekke. "It was a difficult decision to leave because of the special relationships I've developed over the years with donors and my coworkers. I want to thank DeAnna and Bill as well as their predecessors, Tim O'Keefe and Brian Faison, for giving me an opportunity to make a difference for student-athletes."
 
A public farewell reception for Steve will be held January 14 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Gorecki Alumni Center. The program will begin at 5:30.
 
A search to find Brekke's replacement will begin after January 1.