A new era began Friday on the Hill with the announcement of Ross Bjork as the new athletic director.

Bjork, currently a senior assistant athletic director at UCLA, will be taking over for Wood Selig, who announced his resignation Feb. 19 to accept the same job at Old Dominion University in his hometown of Norfolk, Va.

We believe Bjork is a good choice who can bring a lot to the table as athletic director.

Bjork, who will begin his new job April 26, is no stranger to Western. In 1996, he worked with the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation as an assistant development coordinator.

Since then he has put together an impressive resume. Before serving at UCLA for the last five years, Bjork worked on the senior staffs at the universities of Miami and Missouri.

Bjork also is an experienced fundraiser, which will be good for the university.

Bjork oversaw or worked with several revenue generating ventures at UCLA, including capital fundraising, The John Wooden Athletic Fund, Bruin Varsity Club, major gifts, marketing, promotions, ticket sales, branding licensing, merchandising, corporate sponsorships, ISP sports, radio rights, television rights and the athletics department’s Web site. He is also a past president of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors.

In his first year at UCLA, the athletic department saw total giving to the program double. In addition, season ticket sales for football and men’s basketball increased by record totals. In 2008-09, Bjork’s fundraising efforts garnered a record $24.5 million in total gifts for the Bruin athletic program.

One can’t help but think that this long list of accolades shows Bjork brings a lot to the table as athletic director for the Hilltoppers.

We know there were a host of candidates for this job, but Bjork seems like a natural for this position. We wish him, his wife, Sonya, and 3-year-old son, Payton Ross, the best of luck in their new home of Bowling Green.