By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

DOWAGIAC – After six years as Dowagiac’s athletic director, former Chieftain standout Greg Younger is moving on.

Younger was named the new Lakeshore athletic director Tuesday night at the school board meeting in Stevensville. Younger will be replacing the retiring Jim Sanford.

“It’s a very good opportunity for myself and my family,” Younger said of the move. “I am familiar with a lot of people there. I am familiar with the conference they are in and from that aspect I am very comfortable with my decision. I know the people there and that makes a difference too.”

Younger became Dowagiac’s athletic director in 2004, replacing the retiring Bob Follett.

He came on board just as Dowagiac was switching over to the Wolverine Conference after spending several years in the Big 16 Conference.

“I feel like we’ve made progress,” Younger said about his tenure in Dowagiac. “We’ve made the transition from the Big 16 to the Wolverine Conference and that has been a plus for us. We have had some success because of it.”

Younger, a three-sport standout for the Chieftains, led Dowagiac to the 1990 state football championship as the team’s quarterback.

He attended Hillsdale College where he played football for the Chargers and after graduating, became an assistant coach and the school’s sports information director from 1995 to 2001.

Younger came to Dowagiac after spending time as an accountant in St. Joseph. He also was an assistant coach for the Lakeshore football team under current coach Denny Dock.

He is heading to a program that has a rich athletic history, similar to the one he is leaving behind in Dowagiac.

Younger said he will finish out the school year and will officially begin his duties in Lakeshore in August.

“Obviously we will be transitioning in both places over the summer,” he said.

He added that it’s a bitter sweet situation. He is leaving his alma mater, but he is heading to what he believes is a great opportunity for himself.

“Athletics is supported well here by the administration and the school board and that’s important to the people here,” Younger said. “I have always felt supported here.”

He and his wife Jeanna (Burling), another former Chieftain, have two children – Mahri and Meghan.