Mike Thomas named Illini Athletic Director

Press conference: Video | Audio

The new athletic director of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will be Mike Thomas, athletic director at the University of Cincinnati since 2005, subject to Board of Trustees approval, campus Chancellor-designee Phyllis Wise and university President Michael J. Hogan announced today.

Thomas, 51, has led a vibrant and successful Bearcats athletic program since he took the helm, winning five Big East team titles, an NCAA individual championship and producing 12 All-Americans in a wide range of sports and earning multiple Big East academic excellence awards.

"This is a terrific choice to lead the Fighting Illini program," said Wise, who is slated to become vice president of the University of Illinois and chancellor of the Urbana campus on Oct. 1, pending Board of Trustees approval.. "Mike has an incredibly strong record of building winning programs with the highest degree of integrity and academic excellence. He has accomplished a lot with modest resources, and has a passion in his belly for the U of I."

uillinois.edu