A Letter from Director of Athletics Josh Whitman

Dear Friends and FamILLy:

Multiple times each week, I am fortunate to meet with prospective Fighting Illini student-athletes and their families. In these conversations, I share our expectation that we are embarking on a lifetime relationship with them – one that transcends their time on campus and that will endure life’s highs and lows and sustain them, and us, for decades to come.

I am, of course, well positioned to speak on that expectation: as a two-time graduate and football letterwinner, the University of Illinois has permanently altered the course of my life. The friendships I have forged here, the experiences I have gained, and the memories I have made have molded me into the person I am today. It appears this relationship will only continue to deepen, as this afternoon the University announced that the Board of Trustees will consider a meaningful extension to my employment agreement. The new contract would keep me in this position through 2031, and hopefully beyond. I could not be more humbled, more grateful, and more energized.

At a moment when the college athletics landscape has never been more unsettled, with rampant change all around us in conference affiliation, student-athlete experience, fan engagement, and leadership, the University is embracing a strategy that allows us to look with a long lens. In a period of intense disruption, stability can be our advantage. With consistent leadership in key administrative and coaching positions, we will use the surrounding uncertainty to our benefit – to innovate, push boundaries, and gain an edge by capitalizing on the relationships and time with which we have been entrusted. 

Today’s news is an endorsement of the important work that we have undertaken together over the past several years. Our many different stakeholders – student-athletes, coaches and staff, campus colleagues and students, alumni and donors, fans and ticketholders, corporate partners, community members, and others – have unified around the vision for what a successful, comprehensive, values-driven, and integrity-based athletics program can mean for an institution of higher education, even one with an existing reputation as robust as what we enjoy at the University of Illinois. Our shared journey has been far from linear, but the progress we have made is undeniable. Words can hardly express how thankful I am for the role that each of you has played. 

But our work is far from finished. The biggest threat to sustained excellence is complacency. We must continue to elevate our expectations and challenge each other to perform at a higher level, to find new opportunities for engagement, and to look for ways to support those around us.

I would like to thank Chancellor Robert Jones, President Tim Killeen, and our Board of Trustees, led by Chairman Don Edwards, for their unending support of my leadership and of Fighting Illini Athletics. For years now, we have enjoyed uncommon alignment from the highest reaches of our University’s administration around the importance of supporting athletics and the pronounced benefits of our program’s success for the institution at large. Our continuity and connectivity has been, and continues to be, the envy of many of our peers.

Finally, on a personal level, Hope and I are beyond excited to continue raising our young family in such a caring, nurturing community. You have welcomed us here, and we are proud to call this our home. We look forward to remaining supportive of our friends and neighbors, our schools, and our community through our engagement and interest. You have changed our lives, and we are honored to have the time and the opportunity to show our appreciation. 

Again, on behalf of Hope, Tate, Will, and me, please accept our sincerest thanks for all that you have done to make this experience so impactful for us and so many others. We are humbled by your faith and confidence, and we look forward to continuing our relentless pursuit of excellence on behalf of this incredible University and remarkable Fighting Illini community.

With respect and gratitude,

Josh Whitman