Tim McMurray Position: Senior Associate Athletics Director-Development Institution: Northern Illinois University

Tim McMurray is in his third year with Northern Illinois University and serves as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development.

Having joined the Huskie athletic staff in April 2006, McMurray has direct oversight over all Huskie athletic development operations, with a specific emphasis on major gifts. Additionally, he supervises the Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund staff of eight, has oversight of men's and women's golf, and is the senior gift officer and athletic liaison with the NIU Foundation.

During his first two years, the $14-million Yordon Academic and Athletic Performance Center was completed, including the largest private gift to athletics in the institution's history. Additionally, there was a complete restructuring of the entire athletic development operation. The Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund surpassed the $ 1-million mark for the first time in school history during the summer of 2007, and the HASF annual budget was streamlined to provide the department's sport programs with additional operating dollars, resulting in the first sport program budget increases since 1992.

Another result of increased HASF dollars was the fall 2007 opening of the Huskie Indoor Training (H.I.T.) Center for men's and women's golf, baseball, and softball. The facility, located adjacent to the Convocation Center on NIU's campus, has improved training for those sports programs. A comprehensive HASF marketing plan, a revival of the NIU Varsity Club (former student-athletes), and an emphasis on current and increased athletic endowments are also important initiatives being implemented by the athletic development staff.

Prior to joining NIU, McMurray served for five years at Texas State University, where he was Associate Athletics Director. During his time at Texas State, McMurray handled athletic major gift fund-raising, was executive director of the Bobcat Athletic Foundation, and had oversight of marketing, media relations, and performance groups. He was also responsible for the administration of the Bobcat baseball and softball programs.

While at Texas State, McMurray helped generate agreements that resulted in major capital gifts during the Bobcat Legacy Campaign, which produced over $19 million of athletic facility renovations and construction over a four-year period. Additionally, Bobcat Athletic Foundation revenue doubled over a three-year period and new members grew by over 60 percent. McMurray was also point person on the athletic department's strategic plan and its integration into the institution's long-range planning efforts.

McMurray came to Texas State in fall of 2000 from Lamar University where he was Assistant Athletics Director for External Affairs. In that role, he handled all fund-raising, marketing and promotions, sponsorships and community affairs. At Lamar, annual giving tripled over a two-year window, membership grew by over 150 percent and corporate sponsorship dollars more than doubled. Additionally, through an aggressive marketing and sales campaign, men's basketball had the sixth largest one-season attendance increase for all NCAA Division I institutions in 1998.

McMurray began his career as an undergraduate in the Lamar media relations office and served four years in a full-time capacity following graduation. He was the primary contact for men's basketball, baseball, and oversaw a staff of three prior to his transition to external affairs. During his time in the media relations office, he was the recipient of two CoSIDA awards (Best Cover and Coach's Biography).

He is a 1992 graduate of Lamar and holds a certificate in Sports Management from the Executive Education Institute at the University of Texas.

In the summer of 2004, McMurray began a four-year term on the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) Executive Committee and serves as First Vice-President for 2008-2009.

McMurray and his wife, Vickie, reside in Sycamore. He is also stepfather to Maya (12) and Marley (8).