Aug. 28, 2006

(From NIU Office of Public Affairs)

DeKalb - Second-year Athletics Director Jim Phillips can add a new title to his business card: associate vice president for intercollegiate athletics.

Phillips' new title took effect July 1 and reflects "the confidence we have in him and the commitment he's shown to NIU," according to NIU President John Peters.

"There is a trend toward greater integration of athletic, academic and student life programs at the nation's top campuses," Peters explained, "and Jim has certainly brought that movement to life here at NIU. His promotion into the general administrative ranks is meant to underscore those connections."

Phillips' accomplishments in athletic administration are well-known: lucrative broadcast deals, high-profile coaching hires, fundraising success and game dates with big-name teams. Less well-known are his efforts to improve student support services; the attainment last year of NIU's highest-ever all-sport GPA (a 3.036 average among 469 student athletes in 17 different sports); his insistence on classroom and study space in the new Academic and Athletics Performance Center; his presence on the president's cabinet of advisors; or his recommendation to move key athletic support services to the Provost's office for better integration with the academic program.

"Jim is part of a new breed of athletic administrators," Peters explained. "He sees himself as having a role to play in the success of all students and of the entire university. He pays attention to a wide range of university issues, and he's always looking for ways that he and his department can contribute to larger institutional goals. We're extremely fortunate to have Jim in this key leadership role at a critical time in NIU's history," he added.

For his own part, Phillips says his new title "underscores the great fit I've found here at NIU and in this community."

"I'm just extremely grateful for all the opportunities I've been offered at NIU," Phillips said. "My family and I feel a deep commitment to Northern and to the wonderful people of DeKalb-Sycamore. I appreciate being able to participate in the life of the larger university and to have Intercollegiate Athletics play a recognized part in the education of all our students."

#####