Whitman Adds Dechausay, Stillwell and Wilber to Fighting Illini Administrative Staff
August 15, 2016 | General
The Three Will Oversee Academic Services, Capital Projects & Facilities, and Compliance
CHAMPAIGN, ILL – University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman today announced the addition of senior administrators Marlon Dechausay, Brett Stillwell and Benjy Wilber to the Fighting Illini leadership team.
"We are very fortunate to add three quality individuals to our staff," Whitman said. "Marlon Dechausay, Brett Stillwell and Benjy Wilber bring experienced, dynamic leadership to the DIA. Their creativity and vision will continue to elevate our program. Marlon, Brett and Benjy all fill critical needs within the department as we prepare for an exciting school year and future."
Dechausay becomes the associate director of athletics for academic services, following three years as associate athletics director overseeing all aspects of academic support at Florida Atlantic University.
A native of Toronto, Canada, Dechausay has more than a decade of experience in the field. He previously served as the director of academic services at Indiana State and has served in athletic departments at Texas Tech, Iowa State, Syracuse and Florida State, where he was the athletic academic coordinator from 2006-10.
Dechausay is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics and is a past recipient of the Lan Hewitt Leadership Award, given to outstanding athletic advisors. He is also a member of the Black Coaches Association. He holds a master's degree from Syracuse and a bachelor's degree from Louisiana-Lafayette, where he earned Sun Belt Conference track titles in the 400-meters.
"I would like to thank Athletic Director Josh Whitman and Senior Associate Athletic Director - Chief Integrity Officer Ryan Squire for the opportunity to come to the University of Illinois and lead the Irwin Academic Center Staff and provide leadership in helping mold our student-athletes," Dechausay said. "I believe my passion for developing young adults and experience will add value to an already great academic and athletic culture. My wife and two boys are excited to be a part of the Illini family!"
Stillwell joins the staff as senior associate director of athletics for capital projects & facilities, after serving the UI as architect for capital planning & senior planner for space management -Facilities & Services, since January, 2012. A licensed architect in the state of Illinois, Stillwell has 35 years of progressive experience in design and construction management. For the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, Stillwell will oversee all capital projects and athletics facilities. He will officially start for the DIA on Aug. 24.
Stillwell currently lives in Champaign and has both bachelor's (1979) and master's (2004) degrees from the University of Illinois.
"I appreciate the trust that Director of Athletics Josh Whitman and Deputy Director of Athletics Warren Hood have provided to me," Stillwell said. "My family and I have been a part of this community for many years and to be a part of Fighting Illini Athletics is a lifetime dream come true. To be a part of such an enthusiastic and committed staff is something that I am extremely excited about. Josh and Warren's vision for the Fighting Illini athletic facilities and the proposed new projects is very exciting and I look forward to helping make their ideas a reality."
Wilber becomes the UI associate director of athletics for compliance, after serving as assistant athletics director for compliance at his alma mater Central Michigan since 2009. In addition to his responsibility for leading the day-to-day efforts of the UI Compliance Office, he will serve as the liaison to the Big Ten and NCAA on compliance and legislative matters. Wilber will officially begin at Illinois Aug. 22.
A 1997 graduate of CMU, Wilber returned to the Chippewas after nine years in the compliance office at Wisconsin, where he had been the associate director of compliance since 2003. His nine years with the Badgers included a three-month stint in 2004 as the interim director of compliance.
Wilber's professional career began with one year as a graduate assistant in the compliance office at CMU. He served as both an event manager assistant and compliance assistant at Utah from 1998 to June 2000 before moving on to Wisconsin.
Wilbur graduated from CMU in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in sport studies, and completed his course work toward a master's degree in sport administration from CMU in 1998.
"I would like to thank Director of Athletics Josh Whitman, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Chief Integrity Officer Ryan Squire, and the search committee for entrusting me with such an important role in the athletics department," Wilber said. "After meeting with Josh and the staff it was evident that there is a lot of passion and energy in the athletics department and I am excited to be a part of the future of Illinois athletics. I am excited to be working alongside an experienced and dedicated compliance staff as well as working at a Big Ten Conference institution again. My family and I are excited to get to Champaign so we can learn about all the great things the city has to offer as we become ingrained in the community."
