Dr. Sheahon Zenger (pronounced SHAY-un), associate athletics director at Kansas State since 2002, was named the director of athletics at Illinois State, Tuesday, by university president Dr. Al Bowman.
Zenger, who emerged from approximately 65 applicants, gained Bowmans respect throughout the interview process.
During Sheahons finalist visit to Illinois State he impressed meand evidently everyone elsewith his vision, his passion for excellence and his commitment to student-athletes, Bowman said. Illinois State searched nationwide to find the individual with the right combination of talents to lead our Athletics program to a new level of excellence, and I am confident we have found that person.
Zenger, the ninth director of athletics in the Division I era at ISU, brings a varied background in athletic and university administration, fund-raising, higher education and coaching to Illinois State.
My wife, Pam, and I are extremely excited to join the Illinois State University family, Zenger said. To become part of an institution that is so strong academically, and so rich in athletic history and tradition is truly an honor. I look forward to working alongside president Bowman and following his leadership.
Throughout the search process I have had the opportunity to become familiar with various members of the Redbird family. I believe that president Bowman has assembled an exceptional leadership team, and that the faculty is of the highest caliber. I look forward to working with a strong coaching staff in recruiting the finest student-athletes to an extremely attractive community.
At Kansas State, Zenger oversaw the implementation of Plan 2002, K-States donor-based seating program. The plan resulted in 2,500 new donors and $1.2 million in new annual giving. He also managed the efforts of three staff members through five major fundraisers, while overseeing a $10 million development program and developing the $62 million athletics department portion of KSUs $500 million capital campaign.
Prior to his promotion in 2002, Zenger served as the assistant director of athletics for major gifts at Kansas State. In this capacity he was charged with strategic targeting of the departments top 2,000 donors. He also initiated a new planned giving process within the department in conjunction with the KSU Foundation.
He made the move to the Kansas State athletics department in 2001 after spending 18 months as the director of development at the universitys College of Business Administration. During his tenure with the university foundation, Zenger successfully raised over $2 million in tandem with the college dean, while also restructuring the colleges development program.
His development experience will be instrumental at the Redbird helm.
The coaches, the student-athletes, the members of the student body, the faculty and staff, the fans and the donors that I met while I was in Bloomington-Normal seemed like my kind of people, Zenger said. I look forward to building a vision based on a family atmosphere and a strong work ethic. I cant wait to get out amongst the people in the community and the state.
Before entering university administration, Zenger served as an assistant football coach at Wyoming for three years (1997-99), where he held the titles of assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and running backs coach. In his three seasons with the Cowboys, Zenger coached a 1,000-yard running back each season, while also serving as the staff liaison to the departments compliance office.
In 1996, Zenger spent one season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at South Florida during its initial season as a football program.
Zenger began his coaching career as an assistant at Manhattan (Kan.) High School in 1987. He then moved to Drake in 1988 before accepting a graduate assistantship at his alma mater, Kansas State, in 1989. Following the 1989 season, he was elevated to the position of director of football operations and served in that capacity until May 1992.
ISUs new athletics director earned his bachelor's degree in English education from Kansas State in 1988, and added a master's degree in journalism and mass communications from Kansas State in 1992. He completed his Ph.D. in educational policy and leadership at the University of Kansas in 1996. Zenger enjoys spending time as a guest lecturer and still maintains research interests in child and youth roles in sports and society.
A published author, Zenger is an active member of many professional and university organizations including the National Association of Athletic Development Directors, American Football Coaches Association, Phi Delta Kappa, Association for the Study of Higher Education and is a former member of the American Educational Research Association.
The Hays, Kan., native is married to the former Pam McAnarney. The couple has three children, Luke (8), Abby (6) and Jacob (4).
Zenger succeeds Perk Weisenburger, who was reassigned by the presidents office in June 2004. The new director of athletics formally begins his responsibilities at Illinois State on June 1.
