RAPID CITY, S.D. – After a national search, South Dakota Mines has announced the hiring of David Crum as the new athletic director.
Crum brings more than 30 years of collegiate athletic experience as well as an extensive background in fundraising.
"With David's experience and background, South Dakota Mines athletics are poised to excel not only in their sport, but in the classroom", said President Jim Rankin, Ph.D. P.E. "He has a profound understanding of the world of collegiate athletics that will help elevate our student-athletes in their sport, in the classroom, and in their futures. I am excited to see what the future of Hardrocker Athletics holds under David's leadership."
Crum graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and a master's degree in sports management from Ohio State University.
Following graduation, Crum joined the collegiate athletics world in various positions at UCLA, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
In 1997, Crum became the assistant athletics director for major gifts at Iowa State University where he helped raise over $28 million in a three-year period, set an annual fundraising record, closed at the time the single-largest gift in Iowa State athletic history, and raised over $3.5 million over a nine-month period.
After spending a decade with the Cyclones, Crum moved on to the University of Minnesota in 2007 where he was the associate athletics director for development and led the fundraising campaign that raised over $90 million to build the new TCF Bank Stadium. In addition to fundraising duties, Crum also assisted in the managing of the department's annual budget and team budgets for each of the university's 25 Division I sports.
After the University of Minnesota, Crum became the senior associate athletics director for development at Colorado State University from 2012-2022. Throughout his time with the Rams, Crum led a team that raised over $98 million throughout his tenure and allowed the university to construct a new football stadium. In 2017, Crum was selected as the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Fundraiser of the Year.
From 2022-23, Crum spent time in the private sector as the executive director for the UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation but knew that he wanted to get back into collegiate athletics. "South Dakota Mines is the right fit, is located in a vibrant region, is and an outstanding Division II athletics department, and provides a balanced student-athlete experience and a university that is nationally recognized as as academic leader in science, engineering, technology, and math which is a very powerful combination."
"I am thrilled for the opportunity to lead and walk alongside our student-athletes, dedicated coaches, and talented staff within Hardrocker Athletics and become an integral part of the community and connect with Hardrocker nation across the Black Hills Region and beyond" added Crum. "Lastly, I would like to thank President Jim Rankin, Interim President Lance Roberts, Vice President of Finance and Administration Bill Spindle, Head Volleyball Coach Lauren Prochazka, and the rest of the search committee for entrusting me to help grow the department and lead alongside fantastic people within this athletic department."
Crum and his wife Linda have three children – Allison, Abigail and Adelade.
Crum will officially step into the position on July 1, 2024. A press conference will be announced soon.
The latest on South Dakota Mines athletics can be found by following us on X at @GoHardrockers, hardrockerathletics on Instagram and Hardrocker Athletics on Facebook.
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as seven associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Canada.
