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Eastern Illinois University is embarking on the search for a new athletic director following the departure of Tom Michael. Michael, who has been at the helm of Panther sports for 12 years, is returning to his roots at the University of Illinois, his alma mater.
In a conversation with WCIA, EIU President Jay Gatrell praised Michael for his significant contributions to the university’s athletic programs during his tenure in Charleston. Gatrell emphasized the positive impact Michael has had on the community and the institution.
With Michael’s departure, Eastern Illinois is now focused on finding the right successor to continue the momentum. Gatrell outlined the initial steps of the hiring process, explaining that it will be a national search. “It begins by networking,” he stated, highlighting the university’s commitment to attracting top talent to lead their athletic department.
Now, Eastern Illinois begins searching for Michael’s replacement.
“It begins by networking,” Gatrell said of the early process of the school’s AD hiring. “It’s a national search.”
He says a search committee has been formed and will begin meeting the week of May 11.
The position, and job description, is wildly different than it was a decade ago. It will also likely look different a decade in the future.
“Today it’s not just about compliance and house and sort of just the changing landscape,” he said. “It’s also about fundraising, sponsorships. How do you identify a pathway to being increasingly competitive in a landscape that changes every year.”
Gatrell highlighted the challenges of the transfer portal and NIL. So, what will his group look for in the new head of Panther sports?
“There is no perfect candidate. You just want someone who is hungry and really wants to be aggressive,” he said. “And more importantly strive to improve the program. Not just individual sports, but also the entire portfolio of all 19 sports here at Eastern.”
Gatrell’s pitch, as he recruits a new athletic leader:
“Charleston is a great community, Eastern – We really are a tight knit group of folks,” he said. “We outperform, and we overperform expectations. Whether you’re a student who enrolls here, or a student-athlete who competes here, we do extraordinary things.”
EIU is currently in an exciting chapter of spring sports, with Panther softball having just won its third-straight OVC regular season title, and baseball tied for first place in the conference with two weeekend series remaining.