Stanley named new UE Athletics Director

John Stanley is one of the most highly respected business leaders in Evansville, and now he is bringing his talents to the University of Evansville as Director of Athletics. University of Evansville President Stephen Jennings announced the appointment today – on Stanley’s 57th birthday. Stanley replaces Bill McGillis, who is leaving after five years at UE to become senior associate director of athletics at the University of South Florida. With Stanley, the University adds another alumnus to the Department of Athletics who brings strong local ties. In March, former Purple Aces’ player and assistant coach Marty Simmons returned to his alma mater as men’s basketball coach. Jennings said that input from trustees, faculty members, head coaches and members of the administration assisted in the process of finding a new Athletics Director. “John brings to the table years of involvement with the University and proven leadership skills,” said Jennings. “He is a great communicator, a lifelong Evansville resident and a UE graduate which will be a great asset in the position’s responsibilities within the community. We are so pleased to have him on board and know that his tremendous passion for athletics and this University will be evident.” Jennings stated that Stanley was the ideal candidate for the job. “John is the right choice for UE and I am pleased that he is willing to bring his business acumen to the University to address the Athletics Department goals. He has what it takes to strategize and partner with the UE community to promote the vision of UE athletics and lead the program forward.” The University of Evansville has been an NCAA Division I member since 1977, and is in its 14th year as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville has eight varsity sports for women (basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball) and six for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming & diving). The baseball team is defending conference champion, women’s soccer reached the MVC Tournament championship match last season, and the men’s soccer team posted the nation’s most improved record last season. Stanley is Southern Region CEO and President of the Evansville Metro Region of Old National Bank, and a member of the Bancorp’s Executive Leadership Group. He has been with Old National for 31 of his 34 years in banking. However, Stanley has also found time for active involvement with the University of Evansville in general and the Aces’ Department of Athletics in particular. For the past two years he has been president of the Purple Aces Club, the Department of Athletics’ official booster organization. He has been an adjunct faculty member in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at UE, and is co-chair of the University of Evansville Board of Visitors. He has also served as assistant coach for the Aces’ women’s tennis team for the past three years. In fact, he has been a community leader in the sport of tennis, having served as president of the Evansville Tennis Club. Previously, he was the assistant tennis coach at Harrison High School in Evansville, serving as the assistant for the boys tennis team for nine years and the girls’ team for four years. Stanley was a four-year varsity tennis letter winner while attending Hanover College. He graduated from Hanover in 1972. He obtained his Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Evansville in 1983. “I have always enjoyed academics, athletics, working with youth, and contributing to my hometown community, Evansville,” Stanley said. “The opportunity to work with so many fine people at the University where I have taught classes, received a degree, and helped coach a team, is something that is like a dream come true to me. I hope to build on the great athletic tradition the school has developed through many excellent coaches and administrators in order that it continue to be a source of pride in our community. It is a position that I will attack with a passion and you can be assured that all of us in the Athletics Department will work tirelessly to achieve this objective.” Stanley is well known in the community for his philanthropic endeavors. He has received several awards for service, including being named a lifetime board member of WNIN Public Radio and Television. He is past recipient of the Business Leader of the Year award from the University of Evansville Delta Sigma Pi International Business Fraternity. He has been a board member of the Southwestern Indiana Red Cross and chairman of the Rehabilitation Center Board of Directors. He is currently president of St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Board and the Evansville Vanderburgh Building Authority. In addition, Stanley is vice president of the board of directors of the United Way of Southwestern Indiana, and Hanover College Board of Trustees. John and his wife, Suzie, have two grown children–Carrie and John. Courtesy: UE Sports Information Department