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05/01/2015
Tommy Bell Appointed Athletic Director at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Photos from the press conference to appoint Tommy Bell SIU's new Athletic Director; May 1, 2015, Saluki Stadium Club.
Press Conference Transcript | Introductory Press Conference
10-Point Plan To Restore The Glory of Saluki Athletics 
Bell was Associate Director of Institutional Advancement for Saluki Athletics from 2001 to 2007, and implemented the Saluki Athletic Scholarship Fund and oversaw the athletics program's first comprehensive fundraising campaign.
From 2007 to 2013 he served as director of intercollegiate athletics recreation and intramurals for Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, where he launched a branding campaign, expanded donor relations and served as the athletics consultant for a $42 million addition to the Gates Athletics Center.
Prior to his return to SIU, Bell was the Director of Athletics at Western Illinois, where he was responsible for 20 NCAA Division 1 sports programs in two conferences from 2013 to 2015. His accomplishments included developing a master athletics facility plan, initiating a stadium renovation project, and establishing a corporate sponsorship program.
SIU President Randy Dunn said Bell brings to the role leadership and fundraising experience in addition to a commitment to Saluki Athletics.
"Tommy Bell knows and cares deeply about SIU and its athletics program," Dunn said. "He understands the value of a Division 1 program to a major research university, he knows the Missouri Valley Conference, and he is well equipped to tackle challenges and embrace opportunities to move us forward."
Prior to his first stint at SIU, Bell served in multiple roles for the Department of Athletics at Northern Illinois University and was an athletic trainer and physical education teacher in Illinois, Maryland, Montana, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Bell holds a master's degree in health and physical education from Radford University, a bachelor's degree in physical education from Virginia Tech and an associate of arts degree from Ferrum College in Virginia. He was inducted into the Ferrum College Hall of Fame in September of 2015. His wife, Laurie Bell, is SIUC's interim dean of University College. They have two adult children, Joey and Courtney, and one granddaughter, Micaiah.
History of Athletic Directors at SIU
1890-1913: William McAndrew
1913-1943: Glenn "Abe" Martin
1945-1953: Carl Erickson
1957-1972: Don Boydston
1972-1976: Doug Weaver
1976-1981: Gale Sayers
1981-1985: Lew Hartzog
1985-1988: Jim Livengood
1988-2000: Jim Hart
2000-2006: Paul Kowalczyk
2006-14: Mario Moccia
History of Women's Athletic Directors at SIU
1975-1986: Charlotte West
The men's and women's departments merged in 1986