DECATUR, Ill. – Millikin University’s Director of Athletics, Dr. Craig White, has announced his plans to retire effective November 30, 2024. White became Millikin’s Director of Athletics in June 2012. During his tenure, White has overseen the significant improvement of Millikin’s athletic facilities, sports offerings, and the popularity and passion for Big Blue Athletics on campus.
Bryan Marshall, Millikin’s current Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations, will step in as the Interim Athletic Director and work closely with our coaching staff and administration to ensure a smooth transition. A search for a permanent Athletic Director will commence after the Presidential Search is finalized.
“Over the past 12 years, Craig has made significant contributions to Millikin, leading our athletic programs with unwavering dedication and fostering an environment of excellence, sportsmanship, and academic achievement,” Millikin President Jim Reynolds said. “We are thankful to Craig for graciously offering his support during this period and continued dedication to Millikin. Please join me in thanking Craig for his exceptional service and wishing him the very best in retirement.”
Under White’s leadership, Millikin developed new on-campus Athletic facilities that are the best among the best in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) and NCAA Division III overall.
The Workman Family Softball Field completed construction in 2017 and brought the versatility of a turf field to Millikin. The Workman Family Baseball Field opened in 2019 and brought Big Blue baseball back to campus for the first time in 39 seasons. Both teams have found considerable success in their new homes, becoming regular participants in the NCAA Tournaments. The $12.3 million David J. and Debra C. Rathje Athletic Center is currently under construction and, when completed in the summer of 2025, will become an essential focal point for Big Blue student-athletes from all sports.
“It has been a true pleasure and an honor to serve as Millikin’s Athletic Director for the past 12 years. I feel humbled to have worked with so many outstanding student-athletes, coaches, staff, donors, fans, and community leaders over those years,” White said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished during my time, and I know that the Athletics program can continue to build upon Millikin’s successes moving into the future.”
White led the expansion of Millikin’s sports offerings and oversaw the addition of Men’s Wrestling, Men’s Tennis and Women’s Triathlon as Big Blue sports and both teams continue to grow and be competitive on the national stage. The Big Blue Baseball, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Cross Country, Softball, Volleyball, and Wrestling all captured CCIW championships during White’s tenure.
Millikin had two individual NCAA National Champions in wrestler Bradan Birt and Indoor Track Pole Vault Champion Kyle Hensley.
Millikin has also achieved high results in the annual Learfield Director’s Cup rankings by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which measures the most successful colleges and universities in collegiate athletics. Among all DIII institutions, Millikin was ranked 60th in 2021-22 (out of 327 institutions), 100th in 2022-23 (out of 323 institutions), and 76th in 2023-24 (out of 322 institutions).
