Chicago Sun-Times
NORMAL, Ill.—Illinois State University has picked Gary Friedman (FREED’-man) as its next director of athletics.
Friedman has worked as a senior associate athletic director at Louisville for 10 years.
WGLT Radio reports that he’ll take over the Redbirds program this summer. ISU announced his hiring Tuesday.
The Deerfield native is credited with leading facility improvements at Louisville. During his tenure as chief fundraiser, the Cardinal Athletic Fund saw a 200 percent growth. Friedman also is credited with developing a premium seating plan for what became the highest revenue-generating men’s basketball program in the country.
Friedman edged out two others for the post — Jane Meyer at Iowa and Brian Wickstrom of Texas-El Paso.
Friedman succeeds Sheahon Zenger, who left earlier this year for the AD job at Kansas.
