SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — UTSA Deputy Director of Athletics Jim Sarra has been named director of athletics at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
"I'm delighted that Jim Sarra is joining the UIS leadership team as director of intercollegiate athletics," Chancellor Susan J. Koch said. "Jim's extensive experience with all facets of athletics and his strong focus on academic success for student-athletes are among the many strengths recognized by the search committee in their recommendation. I have every confidence Jim will lead our young Division II athletics program to even greater success."
Sarra topped a pool of more than 50 national candidates that applied to lead the UIS Athletics Department, which sponsors 15 sports as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference in NCAA Division II.
"I am so pleased to accept the director of athletics position, joining Chancellor Koch's leadership team and help grow and advance UIS Athletics," Sarra said. "This is an exciting leadership opportunity and I look forward to getting to know the coaches and student-athletes, begin building relationships on and off campus and settling into the community.
"Chancellor Koch has a dynamic vision for UIS Athletics and I welcome the challenge to lead and advance the athletic department. I want to thank Chancellor Koch and the entire search committee for their support and I can't wait to get started."
Sarra has spent the last 11 years in various roles at UTSA, including serving as deputy director of athletics since 2009. In that role, he was responsible for the day-to-day administration of the department. He supervised the areas of academic services, compliance and strength & conditioning. He also served as the administrator for several sports.
Sarra served as senior associate director of athletics for external affairs from 2007-09, associate athletics director for administration from 2006-07 and assistant athletics director for compliance from 2005-06.
He previously was responsible for direct oversight of corporate sponsorship sales, marketing & promotions, athletics communications and ticket operations while in the Alamo City. He also led fundraising efforts through the department's annual fund.
Sarra has served in many different administrative roles at NCAA Division I institutions. He was selected to and is a graduate of the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females, and the NCAA Fellows Leadership Development Program.
A native of West Seneca, N.Y., Sarra earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and master's degree in advanced teacher education from St. Bonaventure in 1989 and 1990, respectively. He also earned a master's degree in sports management from Western Illinois in 1993.
Sarra will take over as UIS director of athletics on August 1. He replaces Kim Pate, who left the university in May to become the director of athletics at Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, N.C.
