by CINDY PETERSON Bismarck Tribune , The Bismarck Tribune

The Tolna native is fulfilling that goal a little earlier than planned. Forde was promoted to the assistant athletic director of operations at the University of Mary.

"Iwanted to move on to administration eventually,"Forde said. "When the position opened up, I thought this would be a good time to move into administration."

Forde had served as U-Mary's compliance officer and assistant men's basketball coach for the past four years. He will continue to serve as the school's compliance officer.

"This year I will do both,"Forde said. "The goal and hope is to have a full-time compliance officer."

The assistant athletic director of operations was one of two new positions created in the U-Mary athletic department. Last week Mike Offerdahl was named the assistant athletic director for advancement. Both positions are part of U-Mary's recent move to NCAA Division II athletics.

Forde will handle many of the day-to-day business functions and game-day operations.

"I will be doing a lot of the little things people don't see or realize," Forde said. "I have already done projects that are fun."

U-Mary athletic director Roger Thomas sees Forde as the perfect fit for the position.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to promote Kevin Forde into this position," Thomas said. "... Kevin has already developed good relationships with all of our athletic programs and across campus and played a key role in creating the detailed document that helped U-Mary make one of the fastest transitions to NCAA Division II."

Forde has 12 years experience working for athletic departments in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Forde is looking forward to the opportunity to learn from Thomas, who was the former athletic director at the University of North Dakota and the commissioner of the now-defunct North Central Conference.

"This is a good time to move into administration and learn from somebody like Roger," Forde said. "He's been around Division II athletics for a long time. It would be good for me to learn from somebody who has the connections he has."

Prior to arriving at U-Mary, Forde spent three years at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, serving as the men's basketball assistant coach, intramural director, head softball coach, director of marketing and promotions for Golden Eagles athletics, CAPA representative and an instructor.

Forde began his coaching career at Southwest Minnesota State his alma mater where he was an assistant men's coach.

While at Southwest Minnesota State, Forde earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics in 2000 and a master's degree in education in 2002.

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