Sean Frazier is the new athletics director of NIU.

Frazier has been the deputy athletics director at the University of Wisconsin since April 2011. Before being promoted to deputy athletics director, Frazier was the associate athletic director for operations from 2009 to 2011 and the associate athletic director for events and facilities from 2007 to 2009.

“For me and my family, I can’t tell you how excited we are in just a couple sentences,” Frazier said in a news conference. “This is a tremendous, tremendous experience for me…I’m going to thank President [Doug] Baker, the entire search and screen committee for this outstanding opportunity.”

At Wisconsin, Frazier was in charge of running the day-to-day operations, oversaw the men’s and women’s hockey team, ticket office, athletic development and strategic planning, and was a liaison to booster clubs and the Big Ten conference.

Before his time at Wisconsin, Frazier was the director of athletics at Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass.

“This has been an excellent process plain and simple,” Frazier said in a news conference. “It’s been great to get to know the Northern Illinois campus, surrounding community as well as many of the coaches. I’m excited to work with all the coaches, staff, and students.”

“In Sean Frazier, we have found a personable, honest, passionate, confident, experienced administrator who is committed to NIU and to the success of our student-athletes,” Baker said in a news conference.  “He has built facilities, built programs and dealt with tough issues effectively as a director of athletics and as the deputy athletic director at an excellent program.  He understands the changing NCAA environment, is a national leader in fostering diversity and brings an inspiring and engaging leadership style that will build bridges with the local community and with our many constituencies.”

NIU has been looking for a new athletics director ever since Jeff Compher stepped down on March 6. Christian Spears has been the acting director of athletics since early April.

“I would like to thank President [John] Peters, the student-athletes, coaches and staff for the opportunity to lead the Huskie Athletics Department,” Compher said in a news release. “I am also very grateful to the generous donors, alumni and fans who have helped build a tremendously successful athletics program. My family will miss the many good friends we have made here and appreciate how the community accepted us over the last five years. We wish nothing but the best for Huskie Athletics and Northern Illinois University in the future.“

Compher had been with NIU for five years and hired 12 of NIU’s 16 head coaches. During his time at NIU Compher helped raise the department GPA, was a part of a committee that made the deal with the IHSA to hold the state football championships every other year, and helped lead NIU to an Orange Bowl Berth.