By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – For Illinois Wesleyan University’s President-elect, returning to Central Illinois is a full-circle moment.
In 2005, Dr. Sheahon Zenger was Illinois State University’s Director of Athletics.
After a two-year stent, Dr. Zenger moved on to the University of Kansas and several others before moving back to the twin cities.
“Years ago when I came here in 2005, I started watching from afar all things at Illinois Wesleyan,” Dr. Zenger said on WJBC’s Afternoon show, which airs weekdays from 4 – 6 p.m. “I was on their campus for family events and different activates. I saw it as a place that I wish I would (have) gone to school as a student and my children would have gone to school because I’m a firm believer in liberal arts education.”
In a full circle moment, Dr. Zenger hired ISU football coach Brock Spack 19-years ago, and he remains the head coach.
“He’s been great for our family,” Spack told WJBC’s Scott Miller. “(I’m) very happy for him. I just texted him in the car. To see him on that stage, I think this is the perfect school for him. A smaller, a very traditionally riched university that has a lot of, you know he loves athletics, but he loves higher education. I think he’s going to be a homerun hit.”
Dr. Zenger comes to IWU with more than 30-years of experience in higher education leadership.
He begins his role as President on July 1.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
