NORMAL – Illinois State University President Dr. Aondover Tarhule announced the appointment of Dr. Jeri Beggs as the Redbirds' Director of Athletics Wednesday, following a national search that began in November 2024. Beggs has served as Interim Director of Athletics since May 1, 2023, and brings a long history of service to Illinois State University, the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to the role.

Beggs is Illinois State's 13th Director of Athletics in the NCAA Division I era and the first female to hold the position. 

"Dr. Beggs has demonstrated dynamic and visionary leadership in the interim role and the search committee recognized her deep commitment to the student-athlete experience," Tarhule said. "In addition to bringing her unique background as faculty athletics representative and a NCAA board member, she is a strong relationship builder that has helped build 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." 

Beggs stepped into the interim role helping guide student-athletes and athletics staff through a climate of change in college athletics. She has championed the student-athlete experience at Illinois State through the ever-changing landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), modifications of the transfer portal, and opened new athletics facilities as a result of successful fundraising campaigns.
 
"I would like to thank President Tarhule for giving me an opportunity in the spring of 2023 and for his recommitted trust in my ability to lead Redbird Athletics today," Beggs said.  "I'm proud of what we have accomplished in the past 2 years and am ready for the 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."

During her time as the Interim Director of Athletics at Illinois State, Beggs helped grow the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund 30 percent from 2023, with over $670,000 raised through priority seating and 135 new donors secured and $250,000 new dollars raised in 2024. Her efforts have also aided in an increase of over 400 percent in NIL dollars for Redbird student-athletes during her time.

Beggs oversaw efforts that resulted in more than $425,000 raised in back-to-back "Support Your Sport" campaigns which directly affect Redbird student-athletes and over $76,000 raised as part of the 2024 "Birds Give Back" campaign that aided in branding improvements throughout Horton Field House (Horton Pool, Track & Field, North Gym, South Gym). Recently, she led the charge for enhancements to CEFCU Arena including a new Doug Collins Court, baskets and stanchions, and a significant concourse lighting upgrade. Beggs also led efforts to secure $100,000 in fundraising to rename the Redbird Scholarship Fund Suite inside CEFCU Arena to the Andy Butler Suite in honor of the late Andy Butler.

Her work in the community has been transformative, as she helped secure OSF HealthCare as the official health care provider of Illinois State Athletics, which later led to a commitment with OSF HealthCare to name the indoor practice facility the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center which was opened and dedicated in September 2023. She also worked with State Farm and the local community as part of the Million Meals Pack, which was held at CEFCU Arena and provided over a million meals to community groups in need.

Redbird student-athletes have also thrived under Beggs' leadership, as ISU Athletics set a departmental GPA record of 3.45 in the Spring of 2024 and followed that with the second highest departmental GPA in Fall of 2024 at 3.43. This past fall, 364 student-athletes made the student-athlete honor roll, resulting in just over 81 percent of the total student-athlete population at ISU. In total, 134 Redbirds earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, which is a departmental record. 

Prior to appointment as Interim Director of Athletics, Beggs was a Professor of Marketing at Illinois State from 2002-2023 and served as the department's NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for 14 years. During that time, she served a 4-year term on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors as the only FAR on the Board and in 2022, she was asked to participate on the prestigious NCAA Transformation Committee, a 21-member committee formed to identify opportunities to modernize college sports and recommend forward-looking changes. Beggs also served on the NCAA Committee on Academics, including time as chair of the Subcommittee on Penalties and Appeals.  Beggs was a member of the Faculty Athletics Representative Association (FARA) Executive Committee for 12 years, including leading the group as president in 2016-2017.

Beggs holds a Ph.D. in marketing from Saint Louis University, an MBA from Southern Illinois University, and an undergraduate degree in speech communication specializing in public relations also from SIU. Her husband, Dr. Brent Beggs, served as the Director of the School of Kinesiology and Recreation at Illinois State from 2020-2024 and was the Program Director for Recreation and Park Administration from 2010-2019. They have two children, Brendan and Sydney, a daughter-in-law, Melanie, and one granddaughter, Maeve.

What They Are Saying About Dr. Jeri Beggs:

    Dr. Sheahon Zenger, Illinois Wesleyan University President and Former Illinois State Director of Athletics
    "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."

    Jim and Carole Mounier, Illinois State Alumni and Supporters
     "We are thrilled that ISU has chosen Dr Jeri Beggs to lead the athletics department. We greatly appreciate her     ability to build relationships with alumni, donors, and members of the community. We have personally invested     in the men's and women's golf programs and look forward to seeing the success of these teams and all our teams flourishing under her leadership." 

    Kristen Gillespie, Illinois State Women's Basketball Head Coach 
    "I am beyond excited to learn that Dr. Jeri Beggs has been named Director of Athletics at ISU. 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. Redbird fans across the country should be thrilled to know the future is incredibly bright for ISU Athletics with Dr. Beggs at the helm."

    Mason Kaplan, Illinois State Football Student-Athlete and Member of the AD Search Committee
    "Speaking of behalf of Redbird student-athletes, we are extremely excited that Dr. Beggs will remain as our     Director of Athletics. Her leadership and commitment to providing our student-athletes with the best possible     experience are what makes her an exceptional choice. She strives for us to have our best foot forward     academically and in our respective sports. She understands and exemplifies what being a Redbird means, and we are so excited for the Redbird future."

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