MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas announced Danielle Surprenant, senior associate athletic director for internal operations and senior woman administrator, has been named interim director of athletics, effective May 21. Surprenant replaces Matt Tanney who has accepted a position at Wabash College. A national search will be held.
Surprenant has served as senior associate athletic director for internal operations and senior woman administrator since April 2017. In that role, she serves as a sport supervisor and oversees athletic department operations for budget operations, compliance, academic services, equipment services and human resources/personnel management.
“Danielle has a solid background in collegiate athletics and the experience necessary to provide outstanding leadership for Leatherneck Athletics and to continue the program’s long tradition of excellence,” said Thomas. “We look forward to working with Danielle as the interim athletic director, and we wish Matt Tanney well in his new position at Wabash.”
Prior to joining WIU Athletics, Surprenant worked for seven years at Quincy University as the associate athletic director for compliance and internal operations and senior woman administrator. She worked with the daily operations for the 19-sport NCAA Division II program (more than 450 student-athletes), with oversight of men’s and women’s basketball, softball, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s volleyball, athletic training, cheer and dance. She joined the QU Hawks as assistant athletic director in 2005, and was promoted to the associate position in 2015.
Surprenant also worked for one year at Stony Brook University as an academic adviser and in student-athlete development. While at SBU she worked with eight sports and more than 250 student-athletes. Surprenant helped create and plan CHAMPS/Life Skills programs and co-advised the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
A May 2007 graduate of Saint Francis (Pa.), she earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and management. She earned her master’s degree from Indiana State in 2009.
“I’d like to thank President Thomas for the opportunity to lead WIU Intercollegiate Athletics,” Surprenant said. “I look forward to continuing the tradition of tough for which Western Athletics is known, and working side-by-side with our outstanding coaches, staff and students.”
Surprenant is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and Women Leaders in College Sports.
