As the 2016-2017 athletic season swiftly approaches, the UIS Department of Athletics is undergoing a major transformation with the hiring of a new director of athletics and head coaching changes within the tennis program and the women’s soccer team.

The new face of UIS Athletics

The transformation began in part on June 22 with the announcement that Jim Sarra will take over as the director of athletics on Aug. 1. Sarra will replace interim Director of Athletics Hayley Treadway, who took over for former Director of Athletics Kim Pate after her resignation effective June 1.

Sarra will take over the reins at the UIS Department of Athletics after serving as the deputy director of athletics at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA), which is an NCAA Division I school and a member of Conference USA.

Sarra started at UTSA in 2005 as the assistant athletics director for compliance. Then, in 2006, Sarra became the associate athletics director for administration. Sarra also served as the associate director of athletics for external affairs from 2007 to 2009.

In a statement included in a UIS Department of Athletics article, Sarra said he is “pleased to accept the Director of Athletics position.”

“This is an exciting leadership opportunity, and I look forward to getting to know the coaches and student-athletes, begin building relationships on and off campus, and settling into the community,” Sarra added.

Chancellor Susan Koch said she is “delighted that Jim Sarra is joining the UIS leadership team.”

“Jim’s extensive experience with all facets of Athletics and his strong focus on academic success for student-athletes are among the many strengths recognized by the search committee in their recommendation. I have every confidence Jim will lead our young Division II athletics program to even a greater success,” Koch added.

Sarra was one of over 50 applicants who applied for the position. Finalists other than Sarra included Daniella Irle from the University of North Dakota, Mike Waddell from the University of Illinois, and Debbie DeJong from Long Island University

Sarra was unanimously chosen from a 15-person search committee chaired by Vice Chancellor for Advancement Jeff Lorber and Faculty Athletics Representative Marcel Yoder.

Men’s and women’s tennis

Another alteration to the Department of Athletics occurred on June 27 with the announcement that Samantha Schall would be the next men’s and women’s tennis coach at UIS starting July 18.

Schall, a former assistant tennis coach at Metropolitan State University in Denver, will take over for former UIS tennis coach Tom Rees, who left UIS after becoming the director of tennis at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

In a statement released by the UIS Department of Athletics, Schall said, “UIS presents many opportunities for the tennis program to be successful on the court, in the classroom, and within the community. I am excited to work with the men and women on the tennis team at UIS and continue to build on the strong foundation already in place.”

Schall graduated from Metropolitan State in 2013 with a degree in business management and a sports industry operations emphasis. She also completed a master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University Irvine.

While attending school at Metropolitan State, an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Schall competed for four years as a tennis student-athlete.

After graduating, Schall served as an assistant tennis coach for three seasons at Metropolitan State while also being an adjunct professor.

According to interim Director of Athletics Hayley Treadway, Schall was one of three finalists who were being considered by a search committee. Dustin Forman from Milliken University and Lee Underwood from Edinboro University were the two other finalists.

The UIS women’s tennis team had a GLVC record of 3-9 and an overall record of 19-31 during the past two seasons. Additionally, the UIS men’s tennis team had a GLVC record of 0-12 and a total record of 24-26 during the previous two seasons.

Women’s soccer

An additional coaching change within the UIS Department of Athletics occurred on July 8 as former UIS women’s soccer assistant coach Erin Egolf was named the interim head coach for the 2016 women’s soccer season.

In a statement released by the UIS Department of Athletics, Treadway said, “I have a tremendous amount of faith in Erin and her ability to lead our team to new heights this season.”

Egolf’s appointment came after Molly Grisham resigned as the head women’s soccer coach on June 17 following three years of directing the team. Grisham said she plans to seek a career in leadership development consulting with high schools and colleges.

Egolf is no stranger to the UIS women’s soccer program after spending three seasons as an assistant coach and three years playing on the team.

“I am absolutely thrilled for the chance to continue on with this program and lead this team for the upcoming season,” Egolf said in a UIS Department of Athletics article.

According to Marcia Martinez in a July 8 article published in the State Journal-Register, Egolf holds the record for most career goals scored by a UIS women’s soccer player.
The women’s soccer team, which competes for the first time on August 21, will have seven incoming freshman and a total roster size of 25.

The women’s soccer program has accumulated a 12-37-5 overall record over the previous three season while going 6-34-5 in GLVC play.

The search for a permanent head women’s soccer coach will begin in November.

Other recent changes

While the hiring of Sarra, Schall, and Egolf are the three most recent changes within the UIS Department of Athletics, other coaches within the department are also relatively new hires.

For instance, head volleyball coach Trey Salinas, head softball coach Shannon Nicholson, and head cross country and track coach Mike De Witt joined the Department of Athletics during the 2015 season.

Additionally, head men’s basketball coach Bill Walker and head baseball coach Chris Ramirez began at UIS in 2014.