ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Director of Athletics Greg Peterson has announced several changes to the Bethel athletics staff for the upcoming 2024-25 academic season. The changes noted below vary from promotions, departures and new hires across all sports in the department. The various personnel changes come with a concentrated effort to create a more efficient department as well as increasing revenue.
 
PROMOTIONS
Head softball coach Penny Foore has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in addition to her coaching duties. Foore will provide oversight of event management including communication with opponents, event management personnel and ticketing.
 
Head men's hockey coach Chris McKelvie has also been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director. McKelvie will provide oversight of the athletic communication department, marketing and video streaming. He will also oversee personnel assigned to the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID). 
 
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Rick Meyer has been promoted to an Assistant Athletic Director role as well. This change comes as the Wellness Center and its staff move under the athletics structure after previously being overseen by the student life department. In addition to his head strength and conditioning coach duties, Meyer will centralize facilities bringing processes and structures to staffing and scheduling in various spaces.
 
Assistant baseball coach Chad Richards, who for the past two years has served as an assistant with baseball and football, will depart from the Royals' football staff and move into managing the department's corporate sponsorships in addition to his baseball coaching duties. With new NCAA guidelines regarding non-traditional seasons along with the demands of recruiting, the dual coaching role became increasingly difficult, thus opening an opportunity for Richards to use his experience, wisdom, and love for Bethel to oversee an initiative to increase revenue through strategic sponsorship.
 
DEPARTURES
Head men's golf coach Nick Cocalis was recently named to the university's lead campus pastor role. With that change, he will depart his role as assistant athletic director of engagement but will remain on staff as the head men's golf coach.  
 
Athletics brand manager AJ Barrett has departed due to staff restructuring in the athletics department. Barrett oversaw the visual branding both internally and externally for the Royals. Barrett has since moved into a similar role within the Bethel campus ministries department.
 
Assistant men's hockey coach Brian Gibbons announced his resignation in late July after accepting an assistant coaching position with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.

NEW HIRES
Mathias Durie, a 2019 graduate of Bethel and former tight end for the Royals, has been hired as an assistant football coach as well as a marketing assistant with the athletic communications office. In his role with the Royals' football program, he will coach the offensive line as well as serve as film coordinator. In his auxiliary role as marketing assistant, Durie will oversee graphic design, photography and videography in the Royals' athletic department. He returns to BU after serving in a graduate assistant role at Augsburg and North Park.
 
Danny Kulus, a 2023 graduate of Bethel and former defensive back for the Royals, has been announced as the new assistant strength and conditioning coach following the retirement of Larry Herm. He will also serve as the assistant manager of the Wellness Center. Kulus has served in various strength and conditional roles in numerous spots including the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Orthopedics and Training HAUS.
 
Garrett Windle, a 2014 graduate of BU and former forward for the men's hockey program, has been named the Royals' new full-time assistant coach replacing Brian Gibbons. Windle had served as an assistant with the Roseville hockey programs in addition to being a special education paraprofessional in the Mounds View public school system. Windle served as a part time assistant coach for the 2023-24 season in which the Royals reached the MIAC Playoff championship game for the first time since 2007.