Northwestern hires NIU's Phillips as AD
Source: Associated Press
Posted: Thursday, February 28, 2008 11:22:00 AM EST
Published: Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:08:12 PM EST
Posted: Thursday, February 28, 2008 11:22:00 AM EST
Published: Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:08:12 PM EST
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) -- James J. Phillips, who's been the athletic director at Northern Illinois since 2004, was named Northwestern's new AD on Thursday.
His appointment is effective April 14. He replaces Mark Murphy, who left earlier this year to become president of the Green Bay Packers.
"I am thrilled to be coming to Northwestern but will always remain extremely grateful to the wonderful people at Northern Illinois University," Phillips said in a statement. "A significant part of my heart as well as my family's heart will forever remain at NIU."
Northern Illinois is still recovering after a gunman opened fire in a classroom on the DeKalb campus earlier this month, killing five before committing suicide.
Phillips led the fund raising and construction of the $14 million Yordon Academic and Athletic Performance Center at NIU, the largest capital project in athletics history at the school.
Under his watch, NIU also opened an indoor practice facility for baseball, softball and men's and women's golf and will begin construction this spring on a new soccer/track and field complex.
Prior to becoming athletic director at NIU, Phillips served as senior associate director of athletics for external affairs at Notre Dame. He's also been an assistant director of athletics for development at the University of Tennessee and an athletic development officer as well as assistant basketball coach at Arizona State University.
Robert Gundlach had been serving as the interim athletic director since Murphy's departure.
His appointment is effective April 14. He replaces Mark Murphy, who left earlier this year to become president of the Green Bay Packers.
"I am thrilled to be coming to Northwestern but will always remain extremely grateful to the wonderful people at Northern Illinois University," Phillips said in a statement. "A significant part of my heart as well as my family's heart will forever remain at NIU."
Northern Illinois is still recovering after a gunman opened fire in a classroom on the DeKalb campus earlier this month, killing five before committing suicide.
Phillips led the fund raising and construction of the $14 million Yordon Academic and Athletic Performance Center at NIU, the largest capital project in athletics history at the school.
Under his watch, NIU also opened an indoor practice facility for baseball, softball and men's and women's golf and will begin construction this spring on a new soccer/track and field complex.
Prior to becoming athletic director at NIU, Phillips served as senior associate director of athletics for external affairs at Notre Dame. He's also been an assistant director of athletics for development at the University of Tennessee and an athletic development officer as well as assistant basketball coach at Arizona State University.
Robert Gundlach had been serving as the interim athletic director since Murphy's departure.
