Paul Bubb has been named director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Western Illinois University, effective June 27. Former Director Danielle Surprenant has been serving in a part-time interim capacity since mid-March after leaving Western to take a position off campus.
Bubb has served as the executive director of development at WIU since February 2018. In this role, he has directed and developed annual plans to maximize giving to WIU, managed WIU Foundation and Development staff and managed gift prospect portfolios.
With more than 30 years of senior-level experience in intercollegiate athletics administration and advancement, Bubb has served in such positions as associate athletic director for development at Cal Poly Pomona (CA) and director of development at Cal Poly; associate athletic director for external affairs at Murray State University; and director of athletics, senior associate athletic director and assistant athletic director for development at Idaho State University. He has also been the interim director of athletics and senior associate director of athletics at the University of Maine; assistant director of the Bronco Athletic Association at Boise State University; and director of athletics, associate athletic director and director of athletic development at Cal State Northridge.
“Paul has many years of overseeing university-level athletics. His knowledge, experience and skills in athletics and development will continue to move our Division of Intercollegiate Athletics forward,” said WIU President Guiyou Huang. “I look forward to working with him in this capacity to further enhance our program. I’d also like to thank Danielle Surprenant for leading Leatherneck Athletics.”
Bubb has also been the director of athletic development at Drake University, director of athletic development at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and director of alumni and parent programs at Monmouth College.
“Serving my alma mater, which provided me outstanding training for a career in athletics, means the world to me,” Bubb said. “This community is my home and I’m proud to be a WIU Leatherneck. I look forward to the opportunities and work as Western’s new athletic director.”
Bubb earned his master’s degree in sport management from WIU and his bachelor’s degree in history at Monmouth College.
Reporting to the vice president for advancement and alumni relations, the director of Intercollegiate Athletics directs and supervises the administration of athletics and all administrative operations and business functions of the program in accordance with the policies and procedures of the institution, NCAA and the Summit League and Missouri Valley Football conferences.
***Courtesy of Western Illinois University***
