Downey named associate AD of academics/life skills

[June 09, 2012]  NORMAL -- With 11 years of experience in academic services at the NCAA Division I level, Dr. Paul Downey will bring his knowledge to Illinois State as the associate athletic director of academics and life skills, as announced by ISU Director of Athletics Gary Friedman on Friday.

"We are thrilled that Dr. Paul Downey will be joining the Redbird family," Friedman said. "Paul's past experiences, leadership ability, commitment to academic success and his vision for building on our current student-athletes success in the classroom will continue to keep academics as a top priority for Redbird Athletics."

Downey is excited to help continue the academic success of ISU Athletics.

"I am appreciative for this opportunity," Downey said. "I'm ready for this next step in my career and eager to get to Normal to get started and get the lay of the land before the fall semester starts. I'm looking to make an impact with the student-athletes and coaches, as well as provide guidance to the staff of the study center so that we can do the best job possible. My wife, Carrie, and I, along with our two daughters, are excited to move soon and start meeting new people and getting to know the area."

Prior to joining the Illinois State staff, Downey spent 11 years at West Virginia in various roles, including as director of student-athlete academic services for the past year. In that role, he served as the education counselor for nine teams and was the adviser of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for WVU and the Big East Conference. Downey also supervised the outreach counselors at West Virginia, who coordinated student-athlete community service events; submitted student-athlete credentials for university, conference or NCAA awards and scholarships; and was responsible for overseeing the service coordinator, who was in charge of the tutor program and the Coliseum Academic Performance Center.

Downey was promoted to the director position after serving as a program coordinator and educational counselor for three years. In that role, he was the director of the Coliseum Academic Performance Center, which included coordinating an academic tutoring program for the entire department, managing textbook distribution to all student-athletes and determining AD Honor Roll and Big East Academic All-Star qualifications. In addition to his responsibilities as the director of the academic center, Downey coordinated the post-eligibility graduation program and the university's efforts toward the NCAA Academic Performance Program.

He also has experience working as an academic adviser with student-athletes and with the CHAMPS/Life Skills program at West Virginia.

Downey has a doctorate in sport psychology and has contributed to three publications.

[Text from news release received from Lauren Hutchcraft, assistant athletics communications director, athletics communications, Illinois State University]