Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Development Staff Profile — Director of Group Ticket Sales & Saluki Row Bryce Williams
05/29/2019 | 4:07:00 | General, Support
Bryce Williams is an SIU alum who earned his bachelor's degree in Radio/Television in December of 2011. He started his career at SIU as the play-by-play basketball for women's athletics in 2012, and joined the development team as Director of Special Events in September 2015.
What is your connection to SIU? (you can talk about degrees, family, etc.)
I started coming to SIU Football & Basketball games with my dad and grandparents when I was still in diapers. I fell in love with SIU watching the early 90's SIU Basketball teams play. It led to me going to school here 15 years later. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 2011 in Radio/ Television. A year later Mike Reis hired me to cover women's sports on the radio and the rest is history.
Why is the relationship between the Ticket and Development offices important to SIU's success?
It's vital. We are always helping each other out. With everyone working with our season ticket holders we are constantly communicating about tickets and SASF donations. Carolyn Carsrud is a glue that keeps us together. Communicating about certain groups is important too because everyone that buys a ticket to a game is a prospect to be a future season ticket holder.
Why do you give to SIU Athletics/SASF? Why should others give?
To be a small part of helping a kid get through college is an extremely gratifying thing. Our students are the reason why we are all here. It's the reason why Southern Illinois is such a special place to be. I give to SASF because I want to see these kids succeed in life. SIU has had a positive effect on my life and I want to pay it forward. It also helps provide memories that last forever.
Tell us about some of the best SIU memories that you have?
There are a few that stick out. In 2002 when I was in 8th grade I watched SIU beat Texas Tech and Georgia in my Grandpa's basement. I was such a nervous wreck I put a "No Talking" rule into effect. When I was a college freshman in 2007 I'll never forget the feeling on campus when we played Kansas in the Sweet 16. Professors were canceling classes and bars were packed by 3:00. I think everyone thought we would beat the Jayhawks that night. I'll never forget the SIU vs. Delaware National Semifinal football game in the dreary mist, when Indiana Basketball came to the arena the next week, or shaking hands with Jay Bilas when College Gameday was here. And how could anyone forget the dramatic selection shows when SIU Volleyball was one of the last teams in the tourney in 2015, and SIU Softball was one of the last teams in just a few weeks ago!
