Tory Teykl Named Illini Football’s Executive Director, Football Operations and Logistics
July 17, 2026 | Football
News
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Tory Teykl (pronounced TAKE-ul) was named the Illinois football program's Executive Director, Football Operations and Logistics, head coach Bret Bielema announced. She joins the Fighting Illini with 17 years of collegiate athletics administration experience, including a decade of experience in football operations at the FBS level.
"We are excited to have Tory join us at Illinois," said Bielema. "She brings a high level of experience in college athletics, and specifically football, that will provide a great asset for our program and student-athletes. She has a great personality and perspective, coming from a football family and with stops at multiple Power-4 programs. I can't wait to have Tory join us in Champaign."
"I'm extremely excited to join Coach Bielema's leadership at the University of Illinois," said Teykl. "From our earliest conversations, the program's commitment to building tough, smart, and dependable individuals was clear, and it's a culture I deeply admire. What stood out just as much was the caliber of people I'll get to work alongside - staff who care as much about the relationships as they do the results. Building genuine trust with coaches, staff, and student-athletes has always been the foundation of how I operate, and I look forward to bringing that same approach to Illinois Football as we work toward the standard of excellence that defines this program."
Teykl comes to Champaign from Texas, where she served as the women's basketball program's Director of Operations for two seasons (2024-26). She previously held football operations positions at Temple (2022-24), Kansas (2020-21), Texas (2017-19), and Houston (2015-16).
Teykl served as the Director of Football Operations at Temple from 2022-24 before returning to Texas. Prior to Temple, Teykl spent two seasons at Kansas from 2020-21 as the Assistant Athletics Director for Football Operations and Director of Player Development.
Teykl's first stint at Texas was from 2017-19 when she served as Director of Football Operations, helping the Longhorns to 25 wins over her three seasons, including victories in the Alamo Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Texas Bowl. Teykl led and directed all daily operations and communications within the football program and also managed all team travel and student-athlete housing, and developed game day itineraries for home, away and bowl games, among other responsibilities. In 2019, she was a recipient of the Texas Athletics Teamwork Award and Texas CATAPLT (College Athletic Talent and Professional Leadership Training) class graduate. Teykl also served as a member of the Women's Leaders in College Sports, Director of Football Operations Committee, and American Football Coaches Association.
Prior to her time at Texas, Teykl worked at Houston as the team's Director of Internal Football Operations (2015-16), Director of Football Operations (2014), and Associate Director for Football Operations (2013). Teykl helped the 2015 Houston team finish 13-1, win the Peach Bowl, and reach as high as #8 in the AP Top 25.
Teykl served in various roles during her nearly eight-year stint at Houston from 2009-16. She started in marketing, promotions, and sales from 2009-13 before transitioning to football operations from 2013-16.
Teykl is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing in 2007 and her master's degree in sport management in 2009.
