Daniella Irle, director of athletics, has announced her retirement from Knox College. Daniella’s last day at Knox will be Tuesday, July 5, 2022. Scott Sunderland, associate director of athletics, will serve as interim director of athletics as the search begins for a new director of athletics. A search committee is being formed and Michael Schneider, provost and dean of the college, will chair the search committee.
“While my heart is full of love for the Prairie Fire, I feel the time is right for me to commit more time and energy to my spouse and three children,” said Irle. “I am lucky, after a 30-plus year career in athletics, to be in a position to take a step back from the heavy workload and enjoy this busy phase of my children’s lives. I am very eager to spend some time focused solely on my family!”
During Daniella’s four-year tenure at Knox, she provided strategic vision and leadership for Knox Prairie Fire Athletics – developing a more athletically competitive department overall, overseeing a number of winning seasons and athletes, hiring a number of successful coaches, and renewing the College’s focus on student recruitment. She worked tirelessly to strengthen the visibility of Prairie Fire Athletics by creating the Prairie Fire social media strategy, overseeing a website redesign, and promoting a more robust vision for the K Club, the official booster club of Knox College Athletics. Daniella has also enhanced engagement with student athletes through a focus on student athlete mental health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in Athletics. During the pandemic, she led innovative efforts to ensure that athletes remained engaged and prepared for competition.
“We have done some great work here over the past four years, but there is more to be done,” added Irle. “I said when I arrived in Galesburg that Knox has the potential to be a very strong athletics department top to bottom. We have incredibly special scholar-athletes and the athletics department has some exceptional coaches and staff. I look forward to attending athletic events as a Fire fan with my family to cheer on the teams and coaches.”
Overall, during Daniella’s four years, 471 student-athletes were named to the Academic All-Midwest Conference Teams. Additionally, 90 student-athletes garnered All-MWC honors, 21 earned All-Region honors, and six reached All-America status. Eight teams won MWC regular season titles and four teams won MWC Tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.“We are very sorry to see her go, but fully support Daniella’s decision to take this very important step in her life to spend more time with her wife Kristen, and their three children here in Galesburg,” said Knox College president C. Andrew McGadney in an email to the community. “Please join us in thanking Daniella for her unwavering dedication and service to Knox and Prairie Fire Athletics. She gave Knox her very best, and we wish her the very best.”
***Story and photo courtesy of Knox College***
