HARRISONBURG — Brian Gordon is trading unprecedented success for what he calls “a new challenge.”

After 11 years with the North Dakota State football program — the past six as the team’s director of operations — Gordon is relocating from Fargo, N.D., to Richmond to take a new job as the Colonial Athletic Association’s Associate Commissioner of Football.

“Did I think I’d end up in a conference office? No,” Gordon said. “This is just one of those things. You can’t predict your path in life.”

CAA commissioner Joe D’Antonio announced the hiring last week and Gordon said he has a soft start date of Oct. 13.

In his new role, Gordon is expected to interact with CAA athletic directors and football coaches as well as the league’s coordinator of officials on all football-related issues.

“For a good analogy, I’d say a lot of my day-to-day at NDSU is low altitude stuff,” Gordon said. “My position at the CAA is going to be from a 50,000-foot view. I’m looking forward to new challenges.”

Last weekend, North Dakota State — the top-ranked team in FCS — won its sixth straight contest against an FBS foe, toppling then-No. 11 Iowa 23-21. The streak, which dates back to 2010, includes wins over Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado State, Kansas State and Iowa State.

“To be honest with you, I think on the short-term we enjoy the success at NDSU; but on the long-term, I don’t think we enjoy it probably as much as we should,” Gordon said. “Winning national championships has been fantastic. I’ve had great experiences in Fargo and that’s phenomenal, but you go through it and then it’s right into recruiting, spring ball and onto summer into fall camp. I’ve talked to some of our coaches that have left. They say when you leave you realize how special it was.”

The path Gordon took to land his new gig is one of “perseverance and loyalty,” said NDSU coach Chris Klieman.

Gordon broke into the business as a student-manager at the University of South Florida. Following two years as a full-time equipment manager for the Bulls, he moved to North Dakota State to help the Bison transition from Division II to Division I as an equipment manager before gaining the director of football operations title.

“He’s had a great impact on our program, especially since I took over the head job,” said Klieman, who was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach in 2014. “He’s made my transition so smooth and so easy just because he knows the landscape of our football program, the landscape of all our travel and everything you would need from an operations person.”

One issue Gordon said he’s excited to help CAA members tackle is non-conference scheduling.

At NDSU, Gordon oversaw the five-time FCS national champion Bison’s non-conference scheduling and helped set up the recently signed home-and-home series between NDSU and Delaware, a CAA school.

“I understand how hard it can be to schedule. With NDSU, it’s our geography and success that detours some folks,” Gordon said. “I’m sure that is some of the same with CAA teams. Scheduling will always be a subject of conversation, so if I can help in any way with contacts or whatever, I’ll definitely help.”

Klieman said Gordon is more than qualified to assist CAA teams work through their scheduling problems.

“He knows so many people and has a lot of contacts. He’s always tried to work on our end to try to find games,” Klieman said. “We’re hoping he can partner up the CAA and Missouri Valley [Conference]. Some of the best games that have been played are when you take the top teams from each league and match them up together. I think it’s something that the FCS direly needs.”

James Madison coach Mike Houston credited D’Antonio, who began his stint as CAA commissioner this summer, for hiring a football-specific commissioner.

“My first impression of [D’Antonio] is that he’s extremely organized,” Houston said. “I think he knows exactly what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. Part of his plan is having a guy that is directly responsible for football. Even though the CAA is a great basketball conference, he sees this league being a prominent football conference as well. He’s put an importance on it.

“It’s like an athletic director that has a football coach, who is in charge of the football program. That’s what I see it as.”