On Feb. 17, 2016, the University of Illinois hired former Illini football tight end Josh Whitman as its 14th permanent Director of Athletics (counting interim positions, the U of I has had 21 ADs), replacing
the disposed AD Mike Thomas.
While it took a couple of years and coaching changes, Illini athletics are on a steep rise in terms of competition and prominence.
He is currently fourth in longevity amongst all Illinois ADs and fourth among all Big Ten ADs. The U of I Board of Directors has extended his contract to June 30, 2031.
At age 37, he was the youngest AD in a power five conference.
How he made it to Illinois
After a very good career at Illinois, where he played four years from 1997 to 2000 as a tight end known more for his blocking and line play, he had 51 catches for 545 yards and seven TDs. In 2010, after a brief NFL career (retiring officially in 2004), Whitman was hired as the athletic director at Wisconsin-La Crosse. While there, the Eagles’ teams won four NCAA Division III National Championships and 21 conference titles. Whitman was the Athletic Director at Washington University in St. Louis from 2014 to 2016.
Facilities and Fundraising
Josh Whitman has raised money and overseen the construction and renovation of many buildings in the U of I sports complex.
Facilities:
- Henry Dale & Betty Smith Football Complex ($71M)
- Ubben Basketball Complex expansion ($40M)
- Demirjian Park for Soccer and Track & Field ($21M)
- Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center ($8M)
- Alic A Martin Softball Training Center ($6M)
- Acquisition and renovation of Atkins Golf Club ($15M)
Funding:
- Eight consecutive years of recording more than $30 million in new gift commitments (FY18 through FY25),
- Three consecutive years (FY18 through FY20) exceeding $40 million.
- In FY25, Illinois secured more than $150 million in new gifts, shattering the program’s record. As part of that record-breaking number in FY25, I FUND giving totaled a record $14.1 million, an 85% increase from the previous year.
Establish relationships
Whitman, being an alumnus himself, knows how to reach out to other alumni and form partnerships that not only benefit the teams themselves with building projects. But crucial program funding, such as the $100 million Larry Gies donated to name Memorial Stadium after him. Getting players to come back for special games and coordinating special events, like the 100th anniversary game at Memorial Stadium, from securing Michigan as the opponent to the design of the football gear.
His legacy of coaches
When Whitman took the job, the Illini were at a low point in men’s and women’s basketball and football. Football hadn’t had a winning record since 2011. Men’s basketball had hit a plateau, and some would even say they were descending, after many years of success under ADs Neal Stoner and Ron Guenther, bringing in coaches like Lou Henson, Lon Kruger, Bill Self, and Bruce Weber. Women’s basketball enjoyed a small period of success from 1996 to 2000, but had begun to languish in mediocrity.
- Whitman’s first coaching decision was to fire Head Coach Bill Cubit and hire Head Football Coach Lovie Smith. He also decided to retain the men’s basketball Head Coach John Groce and the women’s coach Matt Bollant, and promoted Evan Clark from interim women’s tennis coach to head coach.
- In 2017, he had to replace the Volleyball coach, Kevin Hambly, who left for Stanford, and decided to let go of John Groce. He tabbed Chris Tamas for the volleyball team and up-and-coming Brad Underwood from Oklahoma State for men’s basketball.
- In 2020, he replaced a retiring Nancy Fahey with one of the fastest-rising women’s coaches in Shauna Green.
- In 2024, He replaced a retiring head soccer coach, Janet Rayfield, with Katie Hultin.
The results of his hires, who are still there and have thriving programs in Football, Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Tennis, and Women’s soccer. It tells you the caliber of coaches he attracts to Illinois. He can get that talent because of his reputation as a sports program builder. Coaches know he will stand behind them and work to give them all the tools they need to succeed.
Continued excellence
I think it is safe to say that Josh Whitman was the perfect choice for the Illini as the AD. How long will he stay? He has nine more years to catch Ron Guenther for No. 3 on the all-time list for Illinois and 15 years to pass Doug Mills.
If he can hang on for 25 more years, he could pass one of the all-time great Illini, George Huff. No matter how long he stays, fans should realize just what an asset we have in Josh Whitman.
