CHICAGO—The Illinois Institute of Technology athletic department is excited to announce the promotion of Marc Colwell and Usha Gilmore to Co-Interim Director of Athletics. In addition to their roles as Co-Interim Director of Athletics, Colwell will continue to lead the men’s soccer program while Gilmore will serve as coordinator of compliance and senior woman administrator.

Colwell assumed the co-interim director of athletics position after being the athletic department’s associate director of athletics for operations, a position he held since September 2018. His administrative duties for the Scarlet Hawks began in May 2012 when he was named assistant director of athletics. The South Bend, Indiana native will embark on his 11th overall year at Illinois Tech in 2020-21. He led the Scarlet Hawks women’s soccer program for four seasons (2010-2013) before he took over the men’s program in 2013. Colwell obtained his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 1995.

“Being named to help direct athletics at Illinois Tech is both an honor and a challenge in these uncertain times as we seek ways to offer sports opportunities in a safe and rewarding way,” said Colwell. “I appreciate the confidence shown by President Alan Cramb in appointing me as interim co-director of athletics. I want to thank Joe Hakes for his mentorship and support over the last six years.”

Gilmore arrived to Illinois Tech in 2013-14 as the head women’s basketball coach/associate director of athletics for facilities and compliance, a role she held through the 2019-20 season. The Moncks Corner, South Carolina native followed that with a five-month stint as Illinois Tech associate director of athletics for facilities and compliance/senior woman administrator before she assumed co-interim director of athletics duties. Gilmore arrived to Illinois Tech after 10 seasons as an assistant women’s basketball coach that included stops at University of Illinois, Niagara, Southern Polytechnic State, Davidson, Longwood, Southern Illinois and Wagner.

Gilmore was a four-year member of the women’s basketball program at Rutgers University, where she received a bachelor of science degree in sociology with a minor in african-american studies in 2000. She was a third-round pick of the Indiana Fever in the 2000 WNBA Draft.

“I couldn’t be more excited to assume the co-interim director of athletics position after serving the department in multiple capacities,” said Gilmore. “This upcoming year will be something nobody has ever experienced, which makes for a unique and fun situation to walk into.”