Tom Michael is leaving his athletics director position at Eastern Illinois to return to his alma mater to be the second in command under Josh Whitman at Illini athletics.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 5, 2026

Tom Michael is returning to his alma mater to be the second in command at the University of Illinois athletics department.

Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman announced Tuesday morning that after 12 years as the athletics director at Eastern Illinois University, Michael will serve as the second-highest ranking administrative officer in his department. According to the university release, Michael’s duties will include “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’s first official day in his return to Illinois will be Thursday, May 14.

Michael, who oversaw the renovations to the State Farm Center during his first stint with Illini athletics, will oversee facilities management and capital projects along with the business office at Illinois as well.

"I am thrilled with this opportunity to come back home and work with Josh Whitman and the outstanding team he's assembled," Michael stated in a university release. "There is so much positive momentum right now at Illinois. 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.”

Michael, who was introduced as the 10th full-time athletic director in EIU history in July 2014 and began his role on August 11, will be essentially taking over the role left by Roger Denny. Denny left Illinois in January to become the athletics director at Oklahoma and Whitman lost a trusted associate, Tom Moreland, last month when Moreland was hired to be the next athletics director at Toledo.

With the hiring of Michael back to his alma mater, where played four years for the Fighting Illini men’s basketball team from 1991-94, participating in two NCAA Tournaments and remains the Illini school record holder for career 3-point field goal percentage (.449) and single-season 3-point percentage (.493), Whitman has found his No. 2 point man for a power conference operation just 56 miles south of the Illini campus.

 "I am extremely excited to welcome Tom Michael back home to Champaign," Whitman said in the university release. "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. 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."

Following 12 years at EIU, Michael will conclude his tenure as the longest-serving athletic director in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Panthers claimed 24 conference titles during the Michael era, including 12 over 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.

With athletics director at EIU, Michael served on the Football Championship Subdivision football oversight committee and was part of the FCS Playoff selection committee from 2021-24. Michael was president of the FCS Athletic Directors Association in 2022-23 while also serving as chair of the OVC athletic directors committee. Michael also served on a Division I group in 2025 to help develop and implement a reformed NCAA governance structure following the settlement in the House vs. NCAA case.

Prior to his tenure at EIU, Michael spent 18 years in various roles at Illinois starting as a athletics counselor in 1996. Michael earned two degrees from Illinois, a bachelor's in speech communication and a master's degree in sport management.