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July 2, 2007
Fort Wayne, IN - IPFW Chancellor Dr. Michael A. Wartell announced this afternoon that he has hired James T. (Tommy) Bell as the new Director of Athletics at IPFW. Bell, 51, comes to IPFW from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has been the Constituent Development Officer for the Saluki's Department of Athletics since October of 2001. As the Director of Athletic Development, Bell oversaw a staff of two that managed all fundraising efforts within the department. He established the Saluki Athletic Scholarship Fund in the Fall of 2002 and increased that fund by over 100%. "I am honored and proud to be chosen to lead the Athletic Department at IPFW," Bell said. "This is truly an exciting time in the university's athletic history as we enter the Summit League." "I am please that Tommy is joining the Mastodon family here at IPFW," Chancellor Wartell noted. "He brings to us a wealth of knowledge and experience in NCAA Division I collegiate athletic administration and fund raising. Tommy's high energy level, his people skills, and his natural warmth will make him an instant success in both the Mastodon and Fort Wayne communities. I'm sure that with his abilities and talents, the Mastodons will be reaching new goals in a very short time."
Most recently, Bell led the SIU Athletic Department's comprehensive capital campaign efforts for The Opportunity Through Excellence: The Campaign For Southern. This project facilitated the first phases of the proposed "Saluki Way" master facility plan. Bell received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 1979 and his Master of Science in Education from Radford University in 1987. His previous development experience was at Northern Illinois University as Assistant Athletic Director for Development from 1990 to 1999. He also served as Head Athletic Trainer at Radford University in Virginia from 1980 to 1984 and then serving full time as athletic trainer for the Philadelphia Phillies AAA affiliate Portland Beavers from 1984-1987. Tommy and his wife Laurie currently live in Makanda, IL and have two children; Joey (22) and Courtney (20), both are attending SIU. Bell replaces former AD Mark Pope who resigned in May.
~Dons~ Quotes from new IPFW Athletic Director Tommy Bell: Opening statement... "First off, my family...we're excited to be here, and I've been excited for three weeks and three days, ever since the interview. I got the phone call on Friday, and Wow, I've been running 100 miles an hour ever since. I want to thank Chancellor Wartell and Vice Chancellor Walter Branson, and everybody that participated in the search committee. I think they made a really good choice, don't you?? (laughs). On his department philosophy... "There will be three things that I would like to bring with me just to focus on and those are academic integrity for our student-athletes, social responsibility, and athletic intensity. Those are the three basics that I would want to share with them, our staff, and our coaches. Those three things are what we will focus on, and everything else will take care of itself." Giving thanks... "I've got a few thank-yous for some folks...The CEO of our household, my wife Laurie. Laurie is my best friend, but in her own right is a Hall-of-Fame coach (field hockey) at Radford University and a former student athlete. My son Joey, who played some junior college soccer, and I'm glad he is here with me today. Courtney, our daughter, is actually in the air right now, she's coming back from Seattle. We couldn't work it out for her to be here, but I know she wanted to be here. They are all special to me." "(Summit League) Commissioner Tom Douple, I look forward to working with him very closely on our membership in the conference. And, lastly, there are four individuals who were a big assistance in the process for me to get to an athletic director's position. I'd like to thank the current Athletic Director at Southern Illinois University Mario Moccia, Colorado State University Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk, who was very instrumental in hiring me at Southern Illinois University and giving me a lot of opportunities to expand. Also, Doug Elgin the Commissioner of the Missouri Valley Conference has been a very big help to me in my career in the last couple of years in developing and moving forward into a leadership position, and finally, Matt Painter the head basketball coach at Purdue University." Why IPFW?... "I think the process of IPFW becoming a full-fledged member of the Summit League. Having been involved at Southern Illinois University in the Missouri Valley Conference, and with a majority of my career beening at classic mid-major institutions, I know what they have gone through to prepare themselves for this membership, and I just feel like this is the right fit and the right opportunity for myself to lead an athletic program." |
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