Illinois Tech Names Usha Gilmore as Director of Athletics

After spending more than a year helping to guide the Illinois Tech Athletics Department through the pandemic, Usha Gilmore has been named the university’s director of athletics. She will also serve as an assistant vice president at Illinois Tech, and will continue in her roles as coordinator of compliance, facilities director, and the athletics diversity and inclusion designee.

A former Women’s National Basketball Association player for the Indiana Fever, Gilmore takes over for Joe Hakes, who retired in July 2020. Gilmore served as co-interim director of athletics with Marc Colwell since Hakes’s retirement.

“As athletics director, Usha will lead the university’s efforts to enhance the student experience by further developing and growing our competitive athletics program, while serving as a critical advocate for our student-athletes,” Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi says. “I am confident that under her leadership, the Scarlet Hawks athletics program will continue and thrive, while providing our student-athletes, alumni, and fans with an exceptional collegiate sports experience.”

Gilmore joined the university in 2013 as the head coach of the women’s basketball program and as the associate director of athletics for facilities and compliance. She came to Illinois Tech from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she served as an assistant women’s basketball coach for two seasons and played large roles in recruiting, scouting, the development of the team’s post players, and in summer camp organization for the National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I school. Prior to her time at Illinois, Gilmore worked at Niagara University, Davidson College, Longwood University, Southern Illinois University, and Wagner College.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Illinois Tech athletics into the next phase of its evolution,” Gilmore says. “Our student-athletes are second to none in their commitment, both on and off the court, and I look forward to continuing to build out our partnerships to help the program grow and provide even more opportunities for our student-athletes.”

Colwell, who is the head coach of the men’s soccer program, has also been named senior associate director of athletics.