After spending more than a year helping to guide the Illinois Tech Athletics Department through the pandemic, Usha Gilmore was named the university’s director of athletics in December 2021. She will also serve as an assistant vice president at Illinois Tech, and will continue in her roles as coordinator of compliance, facilities director, and the athletics diversity and inclusion designee.
“As athletics director, Usha will lead the university’s efforts to enhance the student experience by further developing and growing our competitive athletics program, while serving as a critical advocate for our student-athletes,” Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi says. “I am confident that under her leadership, the Scarlet Hawks athletics program will continue and thrive, while providing our student-athletes, alumni, and fans with an exceptional collegiate sports experience.”
A former Women’s National Basketball Association player, Gilmore, the former women’s basketball coach at Illinois Tech, takes over for Joe Hakes, who retired in July 2020. Gilmore had served as co-interim director of athletics with Marc Colwell since Hakes’s retirement.
“Our student-athletes are second to none in their commitment, both on and off the court, and I look forward to continuing to build out our partnerships to help the program grow and provide even more opportunities for our student-athletes,” Gilmore says.