Meet the finalists for the Director of Athletics

MSUM has announced three finalists for the Athletic Director position. The candidates will be on campus next week, April 19, 21 and 22.

The finalists include Daniel M. Garrett, J.D., athletic director at Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D.; Thomas Wagganer, senior associate athletics director at Lindenwood University; and Chad Markuson, interim athletic director at MSU Moorhead. 

“We are excited to have a strong pool of finalists for our athletic director role,” MSUM president Dr. Anne Blackhurst said. “They’re all inspired by our student-athlete experience and have a vision for the future of Dragon Athletics. We look forward to the opportunity for our campus and community to learn about their visions when they visit campus.” 

Meet and Greet with Chad Markuson 
Tuesday, April 19 | 3 p.m. | CMU 105 

Markuson has been a part of Dragon Athletic administration since 2011 and has served as interim athletic director since April 2021. He was deputy athletic director from Sept. 2015 to April 2021 and associate athletic director from Aug. 2011 to Sept. 2015. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration: corporate finance from Minnesota State Mankato and a master’s degree in business administration from Upper Iowa.  

Meet and Greet with Thomas Wagganer 
Thursday, April 21 | 3 p.m. | CMU 105 

Wagganer is senior associate athletic director for external operations at Lindenwood University. He has worked for Lindenwood since 2010, also serving as associate athletics director and external affairs director of game and event operations previously.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in sports administration from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in sports management from Lindenwood. 

Meet and Greet with Daniel Garrett 
Friday, April 22 | 3 p.m. | CMU 105

Garrett has served as athletic director at Presentation College since April 2021. Prior to that, he served as senior associate athletic director for internal-external relations at California State University, Los Angeles, from 2015 to 2021. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Southern California and a juris doctor degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.