© 2024 WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting
Member-Supported Public Media from Southern Illinois University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Salukis hire new athletic director

SIU Athletics Dept.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale has hired a new Director of Athletics.

The school announced Friday morning that Tim Leonard will become the 16th A.D. in Saluki history.

Leonard most recently served for eight years as director of athletics at Towson University of the Colonial Athletic Association. He led a department of 19 intercollegiate sports and oversaw a $25 million budget. He left the school last December.

"I am excited to welcome Tim Leonard to the Saluki family," said SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin A. Lane. "With a commitment to student success on the playing fields and in the classroom, Mr. Leonard embodies the Saluki spirit and will play an important role as we continue to take athletics to new heights. People who meet Mr. Leonard will be impressed with his extensive experience, his record of accomplishments in sports, and his remarkable expertise and success in fundraising."

"I'm honored that Chancellor Lane has asked me to join his team at SIU," Leonard said. "I knew 10 minutes into my interview with Chancellor Lane that I wanted to come to Carbondale. Leadership matters, and he is a leader I want to follow."

Prior to Towson, Leonard was the senior associate A.D. for external affairs at SMU from 2008-13, where he was also the interim A.D. for four months in 2012.

He also has experience in the athletic departments at Central Florida and his alma mater, Boise State.

Leonard served at Illinois State as director of annual giving from1992-97.

Leonard succeeds Matt Kupec, who has served as the interim A.D. at SIU-Carbondale since September 2021. Lane thanked Kupec for his service with the athletics department.

"Mr. Kupec was instrumental in stabilizing the department's finances, making key hires – including head coaches for soccer, women's basketball and softball, securing generous private gifts and creating a vision for Saluki athletics," Lane said. "His quick work definitely helped us attract top candidates like Tim Leonard."

Lane noted Kupec will continue to support Saluki athletics as a fundraiser in his ongoing role as CEO of the SIU Foundation.

SIU-C will introduce Leonard to the public at a Meet & Greet event on Tuesday, July 26, at 5 p.m. in the Charles Helleny Pavilion of the Banterra Center. Leonard officially begins his role as AD at SIU on Aug. 1.

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
As a WSIU donor, you don’t simply watch or listen to public media programs, you are a partner. By making a gift, you help WSIU produce, purchase, and broadcast programs you care about and enjoy – every day of the year.