Kale Gober Leaves Post at Henderson State for New Job with Razorbacks

Kale Gober

Kale Gober

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Henderson State Athletic Director Kale Gober has been named Assistant Athletic Director for Development at the University of Arkansas it was announced by Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long on Friday. He replaces John Erck.

Gober has spent the past three years as the athletic director at Henderson State leading the Reddies’ program to record success on and off the field. Gober, a native of El Dorado, Ark., also competed as a student-athlete in football at Henderson State prior to entering athletic administration.

“We are pleased to welcome Kale Gober to our development team at the University of Arkansas,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long says. “As a former student-athlete and athletic director, he understands the positive impact intercollegiate athletics has on the lives of student-athletes and the importance of providing them what they need to excel in all aspects of their collegiate experience. Kale’s professional experience and lifelong familiarity with our state and the Razorbacks is a tremendous asset to our department and will benefit our continued efforts to secure the support necessary for the future success of our program.”

Henderson president Glen Jones commended Gober’s leadership for the department, which has seen a significant period of growth and success under Gober’s tenure.

“Kale has been a dynamic administrator for Henderson State,” said Jones. “His commitment to the coaches and students is evident by the achievements on and off the field. In spring of 2012, more than 50 percent of our student athletes had a 3.0 GPA or better. We wish him well in his new appointment at the University of Arkansas.”

As a member of the University of Arkansas’ athletic department’s senior leadership team, Gober will lead development efforts for the athletic department as well as serve as a member of the University of Arkansas’ Office of Advancement. He will coordinate major gift fund raising efforts with the Razorback Foundation. Gober will also work with the recently launched “Never Yield” fundraising initiative focused on raising support for three new facilities targeted in the Razorback Athletics Facilities Master Plan – the Student-Athlete Success Center, the Basketball Practice Facility and the Baseball and Track Indoor Training Facility.

“I am extremely honored and excited to be joining a great, tradition-rich program such as the Razorbacks” Gober says. “I appreciate Jeff Long giving me this professional opportunity to be part of one of the nation’s most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs. Having spent my entire life in this great state, I have a deep respect and understanding of what the Razorbacks represent.

“I am also grateful to Dr. Glen Jones, the coaches, administration and student-athletes of Henderson State University. It has been a privilege to lead the Reddies’ program for the past three years. I am confident that the program will continue to build on its success in the years to come.”

You can follow Gober on Twitter here.

Kale Gober’s bio from Henderson State University

Passionate, energetic and enthusiastic are just some of the terms one could use when describing Henderson State Director of Athletics Kale Gober.

Gober took over as Henderson’s director of athletics on Aug. 23, 2010, and since his arrival, he has made tremendous strides taking Reddie Athletics to a higher level.

Gober is responsible for athletic budget planning and oversight, as well as private fund-raising and marketing activities for the department.

He provides leadership and strategic direction to the 12 men’s and women’s NCAA Division II sports programs at Henderson State.

One of Gober’s main concerns was the restructuring of the Reddie Club, Henderson’s athletic booster club. Since his arrival, Reddie Club’s donations have more than tripled. In correlation with Reddie Club memberships, season-ticket holders have increased by 75%, so more chair-back seats have been added to Carpenter-Haygood Stadium to remedy the influx of season-ticket holders. Season tickets have been sold out back-to-back seasons for the first time is school history.

Henderson State has also benefitted from Gober’s marketing skills, as marketing and corporate dollars have increased by 500%. In 2011, Gober obtained private funding and sponsorships for a state-of-the-art artificial playing surface at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, which was spearheaded by the second-largest private gift in the department’s history. The facility was completed in late April.

“This was a huge first step as far as facilities go for HSU,” said Gober. “Football, by nature, is the most exposed sport, and to get this done through donor gifts and pledges is something that was a dream when I first arrived.”

Other facility enhancements include improvements to Dee White Field, a new scoreboard in the Duke Wells Center, Clyde Berry Field, the men’s basketball locker room and a donor relations room, totaling external revenue to more than $1 million.

Gober also serves as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Great American Conference.

Gober came to Henderson State after having been employed as Development Associate and Assistant to the Athletics Director at the University of Central Arkansas, where he was mentored under UCA Athletic Director Dr. Brad Teague.

A former three-year letterman for the Reddies football team, Gober was also an Academic All-Gulf South Conference selection. During his time as a student-athlete at Henderson, Gober was selected as a candidate for the Gulf South Conference “Top Ten” award.

He also served as president of the HSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as vice-chair of the Gulf South Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

A native of El Dorado, Ark., Gober holds a bachelor’s degree from Henderson and a master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas. Gober is currently Ed.D., ABD in his doctoral program, seeking a doctorate in Athletic Administration.

“I was blessed with an opportunity two years ago, and although we have successfully accomplished many of our goals, there is still plenty of work to be done here. I feel like we have great coaches in place here to make HSU Athletics better than it has ever been.”

Kale’s wife of four years, Kaitlen, is a high school English teacher.

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