Michael returns to UI as deputy director of athletics

May 5—CHAMPAIGN — Tom Michael is returning to the University of Illinois.

Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman announced Tuesday that Michael — a former Illini men's basketball standout who is wrapping up his 12th year as athletic director at Eastern Illinois — will join the UI as deputy director of athletics. As the second-highest ranking administrative officer in the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, Michael will have a role in campus, Big Ten and NCAA governance.

He starts May 14, filling a void created by Roger Denny's hiring as the Oklahoma athletic director back in January.

The UI announced that Michael "will contribute to developing and implementing competitive strategy for the athletics program and will work closely with sport programs and student-athlete support services, including daily oversight of football and men's and women's track and field/cross country. Michael also will oversee facilities management and capital projects along with the business office."

The 55-year-old Michael was the longest-serving athletic director in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Panthers claimed 24 conference titles in his watch, including 12 during the last four years. After winning five OVC championships during the 2022-23 season, EIU won four league titles in 2023-24 to capture the OVC Commissioners Cup.

"Tom has established himself as an experienced, respected leader in Division I, having served on various conference and national committees while leading Eastern Illinois for more than a decade," Whitman said in a statement. "As a former men's basketball standout, Tom's passion for the Orange and Blue is unquestioned, and I know he will bring great pride to such an important position. Tom and I have known each other for more than 20 years, and I look forward to working closely with him to continue our program's upward trajectory."

Michael served on the President's Council to EIU President Jay Gatrell. He also served on the FCS Football Oversight Committee and was part of the FCS Playoff Selection Committee from 2021-24.

"There is so much positive momentum right now at Illinois," Michael said in a statement. "As an alum, there is a tremendous amount of pride in the success that is being achieved across the board. And as a professional, I am honored to be able to return to Champaign and work alongside the best teams, coaches and staff you will find in college athletics."

Prior to his work at EIU, Michael spent 18 years in various roles at Illinois, rising to associate athletic director in 2008 and senior associate athletic director in 2012.

Michael was a four-year letterwinner, three-time team captain and two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection in basketball under coach Lou Henson. The Carlye native played for the Illini from 1990-94 after helping lead Carlyle to a 1989 Class A state championship in Champaign. He remains the Illini school record holder for career three-point field goal percentage (.449) and single-season three-point percentage (.493).