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Tom Michael back to Illinois.

Posted by LeatherneckIllini <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=LeatherneckIllini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 10:03:56

https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Relating to the directional school closing issue Clemson (!) is apparently in poor shape financially

Posted by ATL <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=ATL' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 7, 2026, 13:36:23, in reply to "Tom Michael back to Illinois."

I don’t understand this at all. Clemson seems to be extremely popular, including among out of state applicants. They are a flagship university in a state that is growing and they have a good reputation at least for engineering. It’s crazy to me that they could be in dire financial straits.

https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/clemson-news/clemson-2026-budget-passed-slowed-growth-rising-costs/article_3f6809f0-b5ab-4a1f-9a15-f5836f88523c.html

https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/clemson-news/clemson-mission-critical-spending-slowdown/article_c2609bbe-e27c-11ef-aaf9-9f6c3b10324d.html

“We are old and tired and just want to be taken care of.” - Republican voter, Dec. 2024.

Just as long as he is not the AD in waiting*

Posted by bjl63 <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=bjl63' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 11:35:45, in reply to "Tom Michael back to Illinois."

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Use this for a better AD job than EIU but below B10 in a few years?*

Posted by Potomac <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Potomac' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 13:05:29, in reply to "Just as long as he is not the AD in waiting*"

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

doesn't seem like a guy that's leaving Central Illinois*

Posted by assassin <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=assassin' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 13:21:06, in reply to "Use this for a better AD job than EIU but below B10 in a few years?*"

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Brandon Schrock of Laredo, Texas, told the federal government that his employer was “poop,” and his occupation was “pooper.”

he can be an associate AD forever. Just don't let him near the big job

Posted by Gene Parmesan <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Gene+Parmesan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 14:46:12, in reply to "doesn't seem like a guy that's leaving Central Illinois* "

unless he goes through Whitman's re-education campaign to wash the Guenther stench off of him.

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Michael is about 7 years older than Whitman. But I guess if Whitman has other future aspirations…*

Posted by DocWalk20 <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=DocWalk20' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 12:37:44, in reply to "Just as long as he is not the AD in waiting*"

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

That's kinda what I was ssying below: Micheal is apx. age 54.

Posted by osklister <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=osklister' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 13:19:39, in reply to "Michael is about 7 years older than Whitman. But I guess if Whitman has other future aspirations…*"

Spent 12 years at EIU.

Maybe he's gotten other offers? Maybe he just wanted to stay in EC Illinois??

Hey, I wish the guy well. If he does get an offer at a B1G-sized school and he wants it; more power to him, as they used to say. Go for it: there might not be two offers in your career. JMHO.

So the Softball co-HCs at EIU are highly successful. I wonder if we might hire them to replace Tyra

Posted by ATL <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=ATL' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 9:33:12, in reply to "Tom Michael back to Illinois."

Perry.

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

“We are old and tired and just want to be taken care of.” - Republican voter, Dec. 2024.

I think that's likely. Wonder what the contract situation looks like for that*

Posted by illini21 <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=illini21' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 9:44:07, in reply to "So the Softball co-HCs at EIU are highly successful. I wonder if we might hire them to replace Tyra "

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Perry.

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Tallest 1-2 people at any D-1 DIA? Maybe just in the State of IL?

Posted by osklister <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=osklister' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 11:55:06, in reply to "Tom Michael back to Illinois."

Tom is roughly age 55 or so... maybe it's easier to get a shot at a D-1 Athletic Director slot from here.

Or maybe he just likes the East Central part of IL. Who knows. Always good to get an alum back to campus IMHO.

EIU enrollment is under 4000 now. Sadly it’s a dying school. WIU not far behind*

Posted by LeatherneckIllini <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=LeatherneckIllini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 12:47:19, in reply to "Tallest 1-2 people at any D-1 DIA? Maybe just in the State of IL? "

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For the record, current enrollment of EIU is 8,013. WIU is 4,735.

Posted by Dikta <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Dikta' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 8:10:06, in reply to "EIU enrollment is under 4000 now. Sadly it’s a dying school. WIU not far behind*"

There is a place for one if not both schools.

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Eastern is under 4,000 on campus

Posted by IlliniOllie <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=IlliniOllie' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 9:54:39, in reply to "For the record, current enrollment of EIU is 8,013. WIU is 4,735. "

edited for source:

https://www.eiu.edu/ir/docs/10thday/SP2026.pdf

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There is a place for one if not both schools.

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I think several of the directionals are going to have to close

Posted by ISeeDeadHawkeyes <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=ISeeDeadHawkeyes' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 8:18:51, in reply to "For the record, current enrollment of EIU is 8,013. WIU is 4,735. "

Just a matter of if you do it on an enrollment basis, geographical basis, or program offering basis.

Western is kinda all off by itself geographically.

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There is a place for one if not both schools.

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Could the directionals become one university system as opposed to unique schools?

Posted by tvillini <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=tvillini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 14:39:55, in reply to "I think several of the directionals are going to have to close"

IU and Purdue have campuses all over the state. I feel like in Illinois you keep the Illinois brand for Champaign and Chicago, but then maybe extend the ISU brand to the shrinking schools?

I think you split it into two systems. DIrections and non-directionals

Posted by ISeeDeadHawkeyes <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=ISeeDeadHawkeyes' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 14:59:29, in reply to "Could the directionals become one university system as opposed to unique schools?"

University of Illinois System

UIC
UIUC
UIS

Illinois State System

ISU
NIU
WIU
EIU
SIU
SIUE

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IU and Purdue have campuses all over the state. I feel like in Illinois you keep the Illinois brand for Champaign and Chicago, but then maybe extend the ISU brand to the shrinking schools?

Marginally off-topic: any other states with a situation akin to Carbondale/Edwardsville?

Posted by osklister <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=osklister' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 15:07:49, in reply to "I think you split it into two systems. DIrections and non-directionals"

School created as a "little sister", that has now overtaken the parent school??

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University of Illinois System

UIC
UIUC
UIS

Illinois State System

ISU
NIU
WIU
EIU
SIU
SIUE

Keep EIU open for another year...

Posted by EffinIllini <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=EffinIllini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 12:51:09, in reply to "I think several of the directionals are going to have to close"

...at least until my daughter finishes her grad school program.

And as to the on-campus / off-campus numbers...she's full time grad, but lives off-campus at home (not in Charleston) and commutes. As part of her grad program, full-time students spend their last 2 semesters off-campus, the first is at a primary school and the second in a clinical setting.

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Just a matter of if you do it on an enrollment basis, geographical basis, or program offering basis.

Western is kinda all off by itself geographically.

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There is a place for one if not both schools.

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Looking at this from afar, I think Illinois should strengthen ISU and UIC

Posted by ATL <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=ATL' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 9:48:22, in reply to "I think several of the directionals are going to have to close"

as secondary schools for the state. Keep NIU and figure out what to do with SIU-E/C situation. E and W seem like toast.

Pennsylvania did something very similar recently with Cal U/IUP and other smaller state schools. The State-Related schools (Pitt, PSU) seem to be doing well relatively but these smaller regional colleges are getting caught in the squeeze.

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Just a matter of if you do it on an enrollment basis, geographical basis, or program offering basis.

Western is kinda all off by itself geographically.

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There is a place for one if not both schools.

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“We are old and tired and just want to be taken care of.” - Republican voter, Dec. 2024.

UIC has really strengthened its position in the last 10 years or so

Posted by ISeeDeadHawkeyes <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=ISeeDeadHawkeyes' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 9:53:37, in reply to "Looking at this from afar, I think Illinois should strengthen ISU and UIC"

Given that and the proximity to the population center of the state, it's a no brainer to strengthen.

Of course, I am biased.

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as secondary schools for the state. Keep NIU and figure out what to do with SIU-E/C situation. E and W seem like toast. Pennsylvania did something very similar recently with Cal U/IUP and other smaller state schools. The State-Related schools (Pitt, PSU) seem to be doing well relatively but these smaller regional colleges are getting caught in the squeeze.

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Just a matter of if you do it on an enrollment basis, geographical basis, or program offering basis.

Western is kinda all off by itself geographically.

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There is a place for one if not both schools.

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Makes sense. Similar thing has happened to Georgia State here. With UGA and Ga Tech increasing

Posted by ATL <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=ATL' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 9:58:02, in reply to "UIC has really strengthened its position in the last 10 years or so"

selectivity, a lot of kids who would previously have gotten in to a place like UGA a decade ago have to look elsewhere. Same thing is happening in Florida with UF vis a vis UCF. UF used to be the high acheivers' safety school in Florida with many looking out of state for their target/reach schools. From what I can tell, UCF is the new safety as UF's selectivity has increased.

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Given that and the proximity to the population center of the state, it's a no brainer to strengthen.

Of course, I am biased.

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Just a matter of if you do it on an enrollment basis, geographical basis, or program offering basis.

Western is kinda all off by itself geographically.

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There is a place for one if not both schools.

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“We are old and tired and just want to be taken care of.” - Republican voter, Dec. 2024.

Even after going through the application process, I have a hard time figuring the big state schools

Posted by DT <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=DT' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 10:26:16, in reply to "Makes sense. Similar thing has happened to Georgia State here. With UGA and Ga Tech increasing "

On the one hand, the test scores and GPAs of all the Big Ten schools and places like UF are way higher than they used to be. But their acceptance rates are still around 50%, with the exception of a handful of semi-elite places like UVA and UM. While selective private school admission rates are down in the low teens or even sub-10%.

I guess there’s a lot more aspirational applications for private schools, while it’s more rare for kids to apply to a bunch of flagship state schools. Which might make sense—anecdotal info makes it seem like it’s a bit more random or capricious to get into an Ivy school or similar, based on what they want to fill out a class. So applying to 3 or 4 probably increases your chances to f getting into 1. While the big state schools don’t have the time to do really bespoke admissions considerations, so it’s more predictable, and if you’ve got the resume to get into Illinois, you’ll probably also get into Maryland or Penn State.

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Given that and the proximity to the population center of the state, it's a no brainer to strengthen.

Of course, I am biased.

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Just a matter of if you do it on an enrollment basis, geographical basis, or program offering basis.

Western is kinda all off by itself geographically.

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There is a place for one if not both schools.

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Poor man's Richard Keene*

Posted by Sounder <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Sounder' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 10:52:39, in reply to "Tom Michael back to Illinois."

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Keene had a disappointing career at illinois

Posted by apusikam <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=apusikam' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 12:50:36, in reply to "Poor man's Richard Keene*"

6 6 lead guard? No, an average at best spot up shooter.

Michael was better than I thought he would be.

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

I would have to agree

Posted by Sounder <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Sounder' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 12:56:57, in reply to "Keene had a disappointing career at illinois"

given his hype as a recruit and how good he was as a freshman, ultimately he never really achieved the peak of his potential.

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6 6 lead guard? No, an average at best spot up shooter.

Michael was better than I thought he would be.

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Biggest delta is the hair *shoots high-arcing 3 then runs hand through hair*

Posted by UofIL6 <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=UofIL6' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 11:55:29, in reply to "Poor man's Richard Keene*"

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Poor man's Richard Keene*

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

next up...eiu softball coaches*

Posted by lcubed <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=lcubed' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 10:49:58, in reply to "Tom Michael back to Illinois."

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

We can only hope.

Posted by Illiniphil <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Illiniphil' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 6, 2026, 7:36:45, in reply to "next up...eiu softball coaches*"

She's good.

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Related...did a former (prior?) EIU softball coach go to Texas Tech as an assistant?

Related to the TT head coach?

Thought I was told this by a friend who has a daughter on the EIU team, but I could be misremembering & never verified.

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She's good.

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

The ship is sinking down there. Grabbing a life raft*

Posted by opossum jenkins <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=opossum+jenkins' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 10:34:55, in reply to "Tom Michael back to Illinois."

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https://x.com/JWerner247/status/2051677993446125705?s=20

Is he replacing the guy that became OU's AD?

Posted by tvillini <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=tvillini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 10:21:41, in reply to "Tom Michael back to Illinois."

yes *

Posted by Poldark <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Poldark' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 10:23:12, in reply to "Is he replacing the guy that became OU's AD?"

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Social Misfit who wants to coach Illinois women's basketball.

"Friday tailgates suck. People have jobs and school."

hi detlef! can we get sean wax back as well?*

Posted by Ari Gold <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Ari+Gold' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 11:51:19, in reply to "yes *"

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That's Shawn.

Posted by osklister <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=osklister' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 17:21:35, in reply to "hi detlef! can we get sean wax back as well?*"

Hate to seem pedantic, but...

Anyways, here's what he's up to these days (maybe):

https://www.chicagolandchamber.org/executive-insights/executive-insights-shawn-wax-vice-president-of-midwest-territory-alsac-st-jude-childrens-research-hospital/

DWWH?

Posted by IlliniSax05 <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=IlliniSax05' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 10:04:52, in reply to "Tom Michael back to Illinois."

Why do you hate me, Sammich?

MAJOR UPDATE: "Maybe you're not such a bad egg, Lisle-y"
-Sammich, 1/15/2011

Best ears this side of the NASA guy*

Posted by Stu <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Stu' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 5, 2026, 10:06:52, in reply to "DWWH?"

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Chicken Little poster child

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