General | October 12

DeKALB, Ill. – John Cheney, an eight-year veteran of Northern Illinois University's athletics administration team, has been promoted to deputy athletic director/executive associate athletic director for operations, NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier announced Tuesday.
 
Cheney's many responsibilities for NIU Athletics include strategic planning, maintenance and management of all the Huskies' capital projects and athletic facilities, including the Convocation Center, serving as sport administrator for the NIU football, gymnastics and baseball programs, and overseeing the athletic training, ticket office, and event management units.
 
Over the past 19 months, Cheney has led the athletic department's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has served as the liaison with the campus entities and DeKalb County Health Department as well as the Mid-American Conference and overseen testing plans and mitigation guidelines for student-athletes and athletics staff. He also coordinated NIU Athletics' efforts to safely reopen and welcome fans back to NIU athletics events and venues.    
 
"John Cheney has been a valued member of the administrative team for many years and this promotion is well-deserved," Frazier said. "His relationships throughout campus and dedication to our student-athletes, as well as to our fans and the greater DeKalb community, has become even more evident through the leadership role he took on during the COVID-19 pandemic."
 
Cheney also works as a liaison with the University senior leadership and Board of Trustee on athletics related issues and represents NIU on various University search and RFP evaluation committees. He manages many of NIU Athletics' contracts and is the primary contact with NIU concessions partner Sodexo and medical provider Northwestern Medicine. 
 
"I appreciate the confidence Sean [Frazier] and President Freeman have shown in allowing me to serve the university and especially Huskie student-athletes," Cheney said. "I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact and move NIU Athletics forward."
 
Cheney came to NIU in January 2014 as senior associate athletic director and was named executive associate athletic director in the summer of 2018.   
 
-- NIU --