Athletics Staff

Dr. Jack Surridge

Director of Athletics

Contact Dr. Surridge 

Dr. Jack Surridge begins his 25th year as an athletic director. Surridge previously served in this capacity at Concordia University in St. Paul Minnesota for six years (1983-89), Concordia University Wisconsin for six years (1989-95) and North Park University for twelve years (1997-present).

During his tenure at North Park his focus has been on the improvement of facilities and staff and programs. Carlson gym and locker rooms were refurbished in 1998, the River Park Soccer / Track Complex was completed in 2000, the Holmgren Athletic Complex was dedicated in 2003 and the Helwig Recreation Center was opened in the fall of 2006. Women’s golf and rowing were added as varsity programs in 1999 and 2003 respectively. The most recent expansion of the athletic department has been the implementation of the graduate assistant program in 2008.

Surridge also has an extensive career in collegiate coaching (football, women’s basketball, baseball and softball) with a combined career record of 571 - 397. He holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Nebraska and was inducted into the Concordia University St. Paul (1994) and Concordia University Wisconsin (2006) Halls of Fame. Dr. Surridge is married to Mary Surridge who serves as the Vice President of Development at North Park University. They are the proud parents of their 10-year-old daughter Jessie.

John Born

Associate Director of Athletics/Head Men's Soccer Coach

Born serves as the Associate Athletic Director/Head Men's Soccer Coach and enters his eleventh year at North Park. Prior to coaching the Vikings’ men’s soccer program, Born served four years as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Milwaukee School of Engineering. Born took over a North Park team that had won only one game in 1998. Under his direction, the program has had 10 consecutive winning seasons, captured the first, second, and third CCIW titles in school history, achieved regional and national rankings, and produced more All-Conference and All-Region players than any other time in school history.

Prior to becoming a head coach, Born earned a Bachelor’s degree from Concordia University of Wisconsin and a Master of Science degree from the University of Richmond. While playing on a nationally ranked NAIA team at Concordia, Born was honored as a team captain, team MVP All-Lake Michigan Conference, All-Midwest Region, and All-American Scholar Athlete.

Outside of coaching he has many other responsibilities within the athletic department. He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Chicago.

Susan Zimmer

Associate Director of Athletics/Athletic Facilities Director

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Zimmer has served as the Associate Athletic Director/Athletic Facilities Director at North Park University since 2006. Her responsibilities include compliance, facility rentals, and overseeing the general operations of the 68,000 square-foot Helwig Recreation Center that opened in the fall of 2006. Zimmer also served as the Head Volleyball Coach at North Park from 1997-2005 and achieved a 129-203 overall record during her tenure.

Zimmer earned a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. Zimmer was a four year letter winner in volleyball and softball at Illinois Wesleyan. She was honored as a team captain, team M.V.P, All-Conference selection in both sports, and selected into the Order of the Titans. Zimmer received a Master of Arts in Education from Saint Xavier University and a MBA from North Park University.

Kevin Shepke

Director of Sports Information/Game Management

Contact Kevin Shepke 

Shepke has served as the Director of Sports Information and Game Management at North Park University since 2006. His responsibilities include developing and maintaining the athletics’ web site, producing and distributing of team brochures, press releases, game day programs and special publications, maintaining statistical records, hiring and supervising student-workers, maintaining athletic facilities on game days and student-worker budgets, reporting scores to the NCAA and the Conference Office and nominating student-athletes for athletic awards.

Shepke earned a Bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University. He served as the Director of Sports Information at William Rainey Harper College in Palatine prior to North Park and worked part- and full-time as a sports writer for many Chicagoland newspapers.