To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff
           <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Assistant Athletic Director Kent Brown" <kwbrown3@illinois.edu>

Reply-To: kwbrown3@illinois.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Illinois AD Ron Guenther to Retire

Fighting Illini Icon Ron Guenther Retires After 19 Years as Athletics 
Director

Illinois Director of Athletics Ron Guenther announced today his 
retirement upon the completion of his contract on June 30. The longest-
tenured athletics director in the Big Ten, Guenther leaves the position 
after 19 highly successful years in which Fighting Illini teams captured 
34 Big Ten Championships, made a men's basketball Final Four appearance 
and made six football bowl appearances. He also made an impression 
nationally as a member of the BCS Football Committee since its inception, 
as a member of the Bowl Certification Committee for seven years and as a 
member of the NCAA Championships Cabinet.

"After giving considerable thought I have made the decision not to extend 
my contract as Athletic Director and will retire on July 1, 2011," 
Guenther said. "For the last several months, I have been working with 
Chancellor Easter and administration on a succession plan for my 
position. A search committee is being formed and will begin work 
immediately to find my successor. I am confident an outstanding leader 
can be in place by mid-to-late summer.

"The last 19 years have gone extremely fast and a decision to retire has 
been very difficult. I personally want to thank all the members of the 
DIA as well as our colleagues in the academic community for their 
support. I have been fortunate to work with an extremely talented and 
loyal group. I will always be indebted. Additionally, the Illinois fan 
base is the best in the nation. I've always said we are fortunate to have 
individuals who have great passion and loyalty for the University of 
Illinois."

In fact, few in the history of the UI leave a legacy as long and deep as 
Guenther. Under his tenure, the UI made unprecedented strides in 
facilities, with the $121 million Memorial Stadium Renaissance project 
becoming the biggest construction project in the history of the 
institution. Other major facilities completed while Guenther was 
athletics director includes the Irwin Indoor Football Facility, the Ubben 
Basketball Practice Facility, the Irwin Academic Center, Illinois Field 
for baseball, the UI Outdoor Track and Field and Soccer Stadium, the 
Atkins Tennis Center, the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex, the Demirjian Golf 
Facility, Eichelberger Softball Field and the Irwin Football Complex, 
housing coaches offices, locker rooms, sports medicine, strength and 
conditioning facilities and meeting rooms for Illini football.

Long considered one of the nation's top athletics fundraisers, Guenther 
has been instrumental in soliciting gift commitments totaling more than 
$300 million toward capital improvements at Illinois during the last 19 
years. Endowment fundraising under Guenther's leadership has gone from $2 
million invested to more than $40 million in 2011, with an additional $40 
million pledged. In the same fashion, the annual fund has grown from $2.4 
million to nearly $8 million this year. As a member of the UI Library 
Brilliant Futures Campaign steering committee, he initiated a $1 million 
gift from the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics to the campaign.

As the Director of Athletics, Guenther demanded a culture of unbending 
integrity. The first item on the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics 
Mission Statement is just that - Integrity. He also stressed fiscal 
responsibility, with the DIA finishing in the black the final 17 years of 
his tenure. Guenther was named the NACDA/Continental Airlines Central 
Region Athletic Director of the Year in 2001.

"During his tenure as athletic director, Ron Guenther has transformed 
Illinois athletics to a perennial Top 20 program that is known for its 
integrity," said interim Vice President and Chancellor Bob Easter. "Under 
Ron's leadership, our athletic facilities have become state-of-the-art 
and our programs to support student-athletes as scholars have become 
second to none. His achievements are world-class in every area - from a 
national champion runner-up basketball finish in 2005 to a 'Program of 
Excellence' award for the CHAMPS/Life Skills program to the Illinois 
Renaissance renovation of Memorial Stadium. Ron has been an exemplary 
leader, and our students will benefit from his vision for years to come."

Guenther began his career as an Illini football player in 1963 as a 
freshman on the Big Ten championship squad featuring Dick Butkus and Jim 
Grabowski that went on to win the Rose Bowl. He went on to earn team Most 
Valuable Player honors as a senior in 1966, when he also was named second-
team All-Big Ten as an offensive guard. He also was named first-team 
Academic All-Big Ten honors and recognition as the University's 
outstanding senior in physical education.

Guenther was named the 17th Director of Athletics on May 14, 1992, after 
serving two years with the UI Foundation as Director of Major Gifts. His 
career also includes eight years at North Central College in Naperville, 
Ill, including a stint from 1975-79 as director of admissions and also as 
an associate head football coach. From 1979-83, he served as the vice 
president of development and public affairs at North Central. As 
associate head football coach, Guenther helped the Cardinals amass a 23-
12-2 record, including the school's first winning season in 15 years.

Before moving to North Central College, Guenther was the offensive line 
coach at Boston College from 1971-74, helping develop nine NFL players. 
From 1968-71, Guenther was a teacher and coached football, wrestling and 
track and field for the Evanston Township and Glenbard High School 
systems in suburban Chicago.

A native of Elmhurst, Ill., and a graduate of York High School, he 
lettered at Illinois in 1965 and 1966, helping Illinois to a 24-14-1 
record in his four seasons. Guenther earned team MVP honors on a squad 
that produced five All-Americans in 1966. He was inducted into the 
Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

Link: http://www.fightingillini.com/genrel/051611aab.html This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chancellor

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