University of Illinois Athletics

Tug Wilson, Track & Field • 1918-20, Basketball • 1919-1920

Kenneth “Tug” Wilson served as second Big Ten Commissioner from 1945-61 and was President of the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1953-65. Wilson played basketball and competed for the Illini track and field teams at Illinois, helping the Illini win the 1920 Big Ten track and field title and serving as captain of the 1920 basketball squad. He made the 1920 U.S. Olympic Team as a discus and javelin thrower, finishing 10^th in the discus at Antwerp. Highlights as Commissioner included Rose Bowl agreement to have Big Ten and Pacific Conference champions match up each year, the addition of Michigan State and helped lead conference school desegregation efforts. After starting his athletics administration career as an assistant athletics director at Illinois under George Huff from 1920-22, he served as Athletics Director at Drake (1922-25) and Northwestern (1925-45). At Drake, he dramatically raised the profile of the Drake Relays. Wilson was a member of the President’s Council on Youth Fitness under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. Wilson also served as secretary-treasurer of the NCAA. He died in 1979 at 82 years.