CHAMPAIGN, IL – Cassie Arner has been named the University of Illinois Associate Athletics Director for Marketing, Fan Development and Strategic Communications following more than six years on the Auburn staff as Associate Athletics Director.
"We are excited to welcome Cassie back to the Fighting Illini family," said Marty Kaufmann, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Business Development. "With her experience in communications, digital media, video services and game presentation, Cassie will be able to help us cohesively define and share our Illinois brand to all of our donors and fans. She is very familiar with our campus and our community and that, along with the great experiences she has gained at Houston, and particularly Auburn, will be very valuable as she now leads our marketing and creative services units here at Illinois.
Arner, who spent 13 years on the University of Illinois Athletics Communication staff from 1997 to 2010, returns to Champaign-Urbana following stints at both Houston and Auburn. Her primary responsibilities will include oversight of the department's marketing strategy, promotion of Illini athletics events, video and creative services, as well as strategic communication initiatives to build the Illini Athletics brand.
While at Houston from 2010-11, she handled strategic public relations efforts for the 16-sport athletics department, working directly with the nationally ranked Cougar football team coached by Kevin Sumlin. At Auburn from 2011-17, Arner was responsible for overseeing the crisis communications, content creation, open records requests, the Auburn Athletics video department, digital and social media, graphic design and photography.
She is a 1995 graduate of Southern Mississippi, receiving her bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in sports administration. Arner joined the Illinois staff in 1997 after positions at Mississippi State and Virginia Tech. While at Illinois, she served as the long-time sports information director for the Fighting Illini football team with head coaches Ron Turner and Ron Zook.
