Glen Krupica just keeps pinching. But he’s yet to wake up.

On a recent afternoon NIU’s new associate athletics director of External Affairs sits in his office and looks out the window at the flat Midwest he now calls home.

On his desk are pictures of his two daughters, who start at their new schools today. The shelves hold memories of past destinations: a firemen’s hat with the Independence Bowl symbol, three bobble head dolls of the ESPN College Gameday Crew and pictures of friends from all over the country.

But DeKalb is where Krupica wants to be. He’s back home, in the Midwest, at his alma mater.

It’s hard to imagine last December, DeKalb may have been the furthest place from his mind.

In his old office in Shreveport, La., Krupica had to meet with another athletic director.

As the executive director of the Independence Bowl for 13 years, Krupica was used to hearing proposals from A.D.s. Bowl season was approaching and colleges were making their last bids for a bowl game.

But this meeting didn’t end like the rest.

It wasn’t because he was going to give Jim Phillips and NIU the spot in his bowl, which ended up going to Miami-Ohio. In fact, it wasn’t much different from any other meeting he had that week.

Phillips went home without a bowl game, and Krupica went back to getting ready for the big game.

When Phillips called a few weeks later with a new proposal, it caught Krupica’s interest.

This proposal didn’t involve the bowl game.

Five weeks ago the pinching started. For the third time in his life, he was stepping foot on NIU soil.

But instead of trying to pass his classes or keep on top of his tasks as the director of the Huskie Club, Krupica’s job would now extend beyond NIU. And there is no one who fits the mold better, said associate athletics director Robert Collins.

“He’s a frontline guy and four-star general at his job,” Collins said. “I don’t think there is anybody more qualified for the position.”

It’s going to be Krupica’s job to try to get NIU’s name out there – to get the corporate sponsorships and see NIU on ESPN more often.

“This is a place where things are happening,” Krupica said. “It’s important to get out because you have to be selling. We have to strike while the iron is hot.”

Two weeks ago his family made the trek to join him. Since that time they’ve been like most at NIU: gone on the weekends for a Cubs game and then the musical, “The Lion King.”

“We’ve had more fun in these past two weeks than all of last year in Shreveport,” Krupica said.

When Krupica talks about his family, his eyes wrinkle at the corners and a smile takes over his face.

With his new view, house and job, Krupica can’t get over it.

Pinch.