Curt Hart | Cory Aadland

Curt Hart
Director of Athletics
Augustana College
Dakota State University
Concordia University
cuhart@dwu.edu
605-995-2152

The 2009-10 season will be Curt Hart’s first full season as the director of athletics at Dakota Wesleyan University; however, his direction and leadership have already made a huge impact on the Tiger athletic department in just a few short months.

Hart was originally hired to be Dakota Wesleyan’s director of athletic development in December 2008, but after a long search process, Hart emerged as an ideal fit for the director of athletics post after he received unanimous support from the Athletic Director Search Committee and the DWU athletic department.

In addition to taking over the management of the athletic department and overseeing the department’s leadership team, it was decided that Hart would also continue to hold the primary responsibility for athletic fundraising, community relations and the DWU TeamMakers booster club. A new associate athletic director position was created to help Hart with the department’s day-to-day and business operations, and Cory Aadland was hired to fill that role in June 2009.

Hart has a wealth of leadership experience and a strong background in athletics in South Dakota. He was vice president of Security State Bank in Alexandria, S.D., for 25 years, and he also was the athletic director and a coach and teacher at Hanson High School. Hart has coached high school football, boys’ and girls’ basketball, track and baseball. He has also been a volunteer official for football, basketball and track.

Various organizations have recognized Hart for the impact he’s made on the lives of young people. He has been named the Outstanding Young Educator by the South Dakota Jaycees and received the Outstanding Young Men of America for Leadership and Community Service award. Hart also had the opportunity to conduct studies on former sites of the Olympic Games in Europe for the International Olympic Committee.

In addition to his responsibilities at DWU, Hart serves on numerous boards and committees throughout South Dakota. Hart is currently the president of the Hanson School Board and the chairman of the South Dakota High School Activities Association. He is an officer on the Alexandria Development Corporation and is on the boards of the James River Development District and the Cornbelt Education Cooperative. Hart also serves on the South Dakota Native American Advisory Council.

He attended Augustana College, Dakota State University and Concordia University.

He and his wife, Kelly, live in Alexandria and have two children, Amanda, a senior at Hanson High School, and Jonathan, a junior member of the DWU football team.

Cory Aadland
Associate Athletic Director
Minnesota State University-Moorhead ’05
coaadlan@dwu.edu
605-995-2898

The Dakota Wesleyan University athletic department added a new position and a new face in June 2009 when Cory Aadland was hired as the Tigers’ new associate athletic director.

The associate athletic director position was created when Curt Hart was promoted from director of athletic development to director of athletics in February. Aadland’s main duties include helping Hart with the day-to-day operations of the athletic department, including finances, compliance, and travel and game management. He also serves on the athletic department’s leadership team. The addition of an associate athletic director allows Hart to continue working as DWU’s main athletic fundraiser and community liaison.

Aadland’s strong background in athletics, business and management made him an ideal fit as Dakota Wesleyan’s associate athletic director. He is a 2005 graduate of Minnesota State University-Moorhead with a Bachelor of Arts degree in computer information systems and a minor in management. At MSUM, Aadland was a member of the football team for three years, and the Dragon’s quarterback coach for one season.

As a student, Aadland also served as a Dragon Ambassador at MSUM, where he served as a student representative of the university and assisted with recruiting, alumni relations and special events.

Before arriving at DWU, Aadland was a managed services developer/OMNIA support specialist at Martin Group Inc. in Mitchell for four years. Over the past two years, Aadland has also worked as a high school referee, officiating varsity football and basketball games in South Dakota for the South Dakota High School Activities Association.

Aadland, a native of Veblen, S.D., lives in Mitchell.