The new director of athletics at Illinois State University is Jeri Beggs.
ISU President Aondover Tarhule picked Beggs as interim director in spring 2023 and on Wednesday made the position permanent following a national search.
Beggs took over a department unsettled by the resignation of Kyle Brennan amid questions about spending irregularities and a donor trip that involved a strip club.
Tarhule said Beggs has demonstrated dynamic and visionary leadership in the interim role.
“In addition to bringing her unique background as faculty athletics representative and an NCAA board member, she is a strong relationship builder that has helped establish a cohesive team of staff and coaches, a strong community of donors, and an engaged and growing Redbird fan-base to support our student-athletes,” said Tarhule.
Beggs said she is proud of department achievements in the last two years and is ready for challenges ahead.
“I will work with our coaches, staff, student-athletes, the University, and the community to continue to elevate our programs, win championships, and graduate our student-athletes. The support of Redbird Nation has been amazing, and I can’t wait to see how far we can go,” said Beggs.
In the last two years, the department has grown its Weisbecker Scholarship Fund by 30%, or more than $670,000 through priority seating, found 135 new donors who have given $250,000, and increased Name Image and Likeness dollars for student athletes by 400%.
"I am beyond excited,” said Kristen Gillespie, Illinois State women’s basketball head coach. “Dr. Beggs has provided stability and leadership to our entire department over the past 22 months, and I have full confidence in her ability to navigate the everchanging landscape of the NCAA. Dr. Beggs and her team have done an outstanding job with fundraising and putting the needs and well-being of our student-athletes at the forefront.”
Beggs has also led efforts to improve CEFCU Arena with new concourse lighting and on-court equipment, according to a university news release.
“Seventeen years ago, I helped select Jeri Beggs as the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative for Illinois State University. She had tremendous leadership skills then and still does today. I believe ISU has found the right leader at the right time for the right reasons to lead the Redbirds now and into the future,” said Sheahon Zenger, Illinois Wesleyan University president and a former ISU athletics director himself.
The university said Beggs helped secure OSF HealthCare as the official health care provider of Illinois State Athletics. That later led to naming the indoor practice facility the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center, dedicated in September 2023. She also worked with State Farm and the community as part of the Million Meals Pack for community groups in need, held at CEFCU Arena.
Redbird student-athletes set a departmental GPA record of 3.45 in spring 2024 and followed. In all, 134 Redbirds earned a 4.0 GPA, which is a departmental record.
