AUGUSTA, GA -- After more than 50 years in professional and collegiate sports, including the last 18 as the commissioner of the Peach Belt Conference, David Brunk has announced he will retire effective June 30, 2025. Additionally, the PBC Board of Directors has announced that longtime Deputy Commissioner Diana Kling will succeed Brunk and become the next commissioner starting July 1.

"It has been the supreme privilege of my long career in sports to have had the opportunity to lead this great conference since 2007 and to represent its outstanding student-athletes, coaches and administrators," said Brunk. "I have the deepest appreciation to the Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity. My enthusiasm in coming to work each day never waned and I would like to thank everyone associated with the Peach Belt for their many contributions over the years.

"I would also like to thank my wife, Brenda, who has provided unwavering support and assistance through the years. She has always been a willing and active partner at each of our stops and for that I am forever grateful."

Brunk oversaw a complete rebuilding of the league, nearly doubling the number of sports offerings while adding five new members to both the Peach Belt and NCAA Division II. He added dozens of new programs and awards, all aimed at recognizing the accomplishments of student athletes and supporting them in their future endeavors, whether that be related to athletics or not. Among these were the creation of the Elite 18 Award to recognize outstanding academic achievement, the Team Sportsmanship Award Program, the Women in Athletics Seminar which gave female student-athletes the chance to be mentored by professional women in college athletics, and the PBC Career Forum.

"I had a very clear idea as to what I thought the Peach Belt could become when I got here," said Brunk. "There was a real opportunity to move the league into a place of national leadership and innovation while continuing the tradition of winning that has been in place since the conference was founded. I'm thankful that so many people believed in the changes I wanted to implement and helped me see those to fruition. The job is never really done, you are always searching and thinking of ways to enhance the experience for student-athletes and provide the best support and leadership for the member institutions. That will be something I miss, the opportunity to try something new and innovative that might never have been done in Division II before."

Brunk also oversaw the addition of six new sports under his tenure. Beginning with the 12 championships the league offered upon his arrival, he added women's golf, indoor and outdoor track & field and men's lacrosse. PBC teams have won 12 team national championships and four individual national titles under his tenure.

Brunk also made a commitment to being a leader in NCAA Division II.  The league was the first in any division to hold an Esports Championship in 2018 with League of Legends.  The league is also the first to partner with Battlefields2Ballfields to encourage veterans to become officials.  The league was the first to have an officials appreciation week in 2018-19 which was adopted by the D2CCA and became a national program in 2019-20. 

His commitment to supporting intercollegiate athletics stretches far beyond the Peach Belt. Beginning as an owner and operator of minor league baseball teams, he started his collegiate career at Morehead State University before moving to the NCAA national office for eight years when it was located in Overland Park, Kansas. From there, he became the commissioner of the Northeast 10 Conference for 10 years before joining the Peach Belt.

He has served on numerous committees including a term as chair of the DII Management Council, the NCAA Membership and Nominating Committees and president of the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association.

"I am greatly indebted to all those people who gave me a chance to get started in the sports industry," said Brunk. "That's something I have wanted to pay forward; giving those who want to experience this the opportunity to do so. Looking back over 50 years in an industry is difficult to do without seeing the faces of the hundreds of friends, colleagues and peers that were there with me along the way. I thank you all."

Diana Kling will become the third commissioner of the Peach Belt Conference on July 1. Kling has been at the PBC office for 20 years, starting as the league's Director of Compliance in 2005. She was later named Associate Commissioner in 2008 and then Deputy Commissioner for Internal Operations in 2019.

"I am incredibly honored and grateful to be offered this opportunity," said Kling. "My thanks to the PBC Board of Directors for trusting me to carry forward what commissioner Brunk has built here. I have seen the Peach Belt grow into one of the premier leagues in NCAA Division II and my top priority will be to see that growth continue as we meet new challenges and develop new opportunities in the coming years."

Kling coordinates the PBC Women in Athletics Seminar, giving female student-athletes the opportunity to interact with professional women in various roles in intercollegiate athletics.  Kling also oversees the PBC Career Forum, a similar event for all student-athletes.

She has also served many roles in the NCAA including chair of the Division II Legislation Committee and vice-chair of the Committee on Women's Athletics. Additionally, she has served on the DII NLI Advisory Team, the NCAA Task Force on Sleep and Wellness, the DII Online Coaches Education Design Group, the Culture of Compliance Summit and the Conference Grant Task Force.  She is currently serving on the DII Nominating Committee.

Kling has also coordinated several new PBC initiatives including the Esports Championships and administers the league's Battlefields2Ballfields program, the conference grant program and the AD and coaching mentor programs.