Southern Illinoise University Athletics
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Former Saluki football player and coach Jason Fairfield returned to Saluki Athletics as the department's top development officer on Oct. 12, 2015.
Fairfield spent the previous seven years in athletic administration, most recently with Illinois State University as Director of Development. During Fairfield's tenure with the Redbirds, Illinois State funded a host of capital projects including a $26 million renovation to Hancock Stadium and facility upgrades for basketball, volleyball, softball and soccer. In addition, a golf training facility was part of the largest gift in university history. Fairfield also provided oversight of the annual Weisbecker Scholarship Fund which saw records for donors and donations this past year.
A 1997 graduate of SIU, Fairfield was a walk-on wide receiver for the Salukis in 1996 and 1997. After earning his bachelor's degree in education, he worked four years as an assistant football coach at Millikin University, where he also served as assistant academic coordinator.
Saluki head coach Jerry Kill hired Fairfield as an administrative assistant in 2003, and he worked under offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover as a graduate assistant coach in 2004 and 2005. The Salukis won Gateway Conference championships all three years Fairfield worked at Southern.
"We are thrilled to welcome back a former Saluki to head our development operation," Bell said. "Enhancing the Saluki Athletic Scholarship Fund and expanding our donor base are incredibly important in this era of rising costs for college athletics, and Jason is an exceptionally talented and energetic administrator, with a passion for Saluki Athletics."
Fairfield left coaching in 2009 to become the director of corporate sales for Bradley University's athletic department. During his three-year tenure, he increased corporate revenue by 28 percent and trade by 43 percent. He helped identify prospects for corporate partnerships, the Bradley Braves Club and the Braves Scholarship Society. Fairfield also assisted in fundraising for the $55 million Renaissance Coliseum.
After joining Illinois State in 2013, Fairfield launched a new athletics website for development and organized the Redbird 4 Life (RB4L) program, which works with former Redbird student-athletes to organize special events, reunions and fundraising initiatives. Bell said those areas also need strengthening at SIU.
"Everywhere Jason has worked, he's shown the ability to engage donors by cultivating genuine relationships and articulating a positive message about intercollegiate athletics," Bell said.
Jason and his wife Anne have one son, Drew. He will begin his new position at Southern on Nov. 2.
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