Beavers Wes and Tara Brennan Enjoy Move to Alabama
Careers have taken BVU graduates to Missouri, Michigan, and Alabama
Wes Brennan is enjoying his first season as Director of Athletic Facilities & Events at the University of North Alabama as the Lions compete in their first full season as an NCAA Division I member institution.
“They’ve been Division I since 2018, but there was a transition time period,” says Brennan, a 2019 BVU graduate.
Wes and his wife, Tara (Harris) Brennan, a 2019 BVU graduate as well, moved to Florence, Ala., site of the University of North Alabama. Tara, an accounting and business major, serves as a Staff Accountant at Norvell and Associates in Florence.
“We love it,” Wes says of their relocation. “There are so many good people here. We’ve experienced genuine southern hospitality. We’re very excited!”
“I’m grateful to everyone in the Athletics office at BVU as well as Trevor Berneking and Assistant Football Coach Adrian Davis. They all made an impact in helping me get where I am now.”
Wes Brennan
Wes, who studied physical education and health education at BVU, played football for the Beavers. Following his graduation, he became a Graduate Assistant at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo., a position that allowed him to work with an NCAA Division II Athletics staff while also serving as a liaison with the Kansas City Chiefs as the team’s pre-season training facility is based at Missouri Western. His time with the Chiefs coincided with the team’s victory in Super Bowl LIV and the 2020 AFC Championship.
Tara served as a Staff Accountant for Hershewe & Company in St. Joseph before the couple moved to Big Rapids, Mich., as Wes earned a position as Coordinator of Athletic Event Operations and Special Projects in August 2021 at Ferris State University. Tara began her work that fall as a Staff Accountant with Baker’s Management Service in Big Rapids.
While Wes worked at Ferris State, the Bulldog football team captured the NCAA Division II National Championship.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have served incredible programs,” he says. “I’m now excited to oversee all athletic facilities and home games that fall under the domain of North Alabama Athletics.”
Wes and Tara hail from Emmetsburg and were classmates in the Emmetsburg High School Class of 2015. Wes’ father, Rick, a member of the BVU Class of 1990, played football for the Beavers, as did Wes’ uncles Bob and Jeff. Wes’ sister, Annie, is currently a junior who competes for the Beavers in track and field.
“I used to work in the equipment room for BVU Athletics,” Wes says. “I worked with Amy Maier (Associate Director of Athletics) and then-Director of Athletics Jack Denholm the summer before my senior year at BV. It was Trevor Berneking (Director of Esports and Intramurals) who helped me land my position as a Graduate Assistant at Missouri Western, the place where my career started. I’m grateful to everyone in the Athletics office at BVU as well as Trevor Berneking and Assistant Football Coach Adrian Davis. They all made an impact in helping me get where I am now.”