Chicago (May 4, 2022) – Chicago State Athletics announces the selection of Renaissance Search & Consulting to lead a national search for a Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. The University is seeking a leader ready to lead a NCAA Division I athletic department that prioritizes student-athletes academic and competitive excellence alongside civic engagement in Chicago.
"Chicago State University's excellence is in motion in athletic competition and more," said CSU University President Zaldwaynaka ("Z") Scott. "Since I became president less than four years ago, our athletic department has been on the rise with talented coaches, staff and student-athletes, competitive successes and increased program investment. This is alongside significant growth in University student retention and graduation rates."
Renaissance Search & Consulting was selected due to the firm's strong track record of success in matching talent to institutions' strategic vision. Renaissance will work with Chicago State in identifying candidates that are committed to elevating Cougar Athletics.
CSU seeks a seasoned innovative leader that prioritizes the academic performance and health and wellness of the student athlete while building on an increasingly competitive D1 sports program. Chicago State University is located in the heart of the City of Chicago, a thriving urban city rich with an unparalleled student recruitment area and opportunity for community and media engagement.
About Chicago State
Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. In 1991, the Chicago State women's tennis team became the first all-black college team to amass an unbeaten season at the NCAA level. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title, also making an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet. Chicago State volleyball recorded a historic season in 2021, with Yanlis Feliz becoming CSU's first volleyball All-American and head coach Tony Trifonov earning selection as WAC Coach of the Year. During that same season, three different CSU teams earned victories over Big Ten opponents with men's soccer beating Northwestern, women's basketball upending Wisconsin and volleyball, which established a school record 17 wins and hosted a post-season volleyball tournament for the first time in program history, swept Indiana in Bloomington.
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