Mike and Derrick discuss the challenges and rewards of working in college sports, balancing family life with professional commitments, and Mike's love for bobblehead collecting. Mike expresses his dedication to team sports, reflects on his 20-year career, and emphasizes the importance of relationships in shaping his journey in sports communication. Follow Mike on Twitter/X: @ISU_mcwilli Mike’s Bio via GoRedbirds.com After working as a student assistant, graduate assistant and the associate director of communications at Illinois State, Mike Williams assumed the role of Assistant Athletics Director for Communications in July of 2012 and was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Communications in January of 2024. In that role, Williams oversees Illinois State's publicity, promotion and information support efforts for all of Illinois State's 19 sports. He is the primary media contact for the football, gymnastics and tennis programs and manages the athletics communications staff, which includes three other full-time staff members, three graduate assistants and several student interns. In addition to being a member of the department's senior staff and external teams, Williams serves as staff liaison between the athletics communication office and the athletics development office, the compliance office, and the ticket office. He has also served as media coordinator for several Missouri Valley Conference tournaments hosted by Illinois State including baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics and track and field in recent years. He currently serves as a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Advocacy Committe and was honored as the 2016 Bud Nangle Award recipient by the organization. Williams and his colleagues were also recognized as the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Missouri Valley Conference Sports Information Staff of the Year for their efforts in promoting Redbird Athletics and the league. In 2009, Williams returned to his alma mater as assistant director of athletics communications and served in that role for two years, before being promoted to the role of associate athletics communication director. While in those roles, Williams was tasked with supervising the student intern training and development program for the athletics communications office in addition to sport coverage responsibilities. Before returning to Illinois State in 2009, Williams served as the assistant director of athletics media relations at Indiana State where he was the primary contact for Sycamore men's basketball and cross country for two years, and football for one year. In 2007 and 2008, Williams served as the media coordinator for the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships held in Terre Haute, Ind. Prior to that, Williams worked three years in the Illinois State Athletics Communications office, including the last two as a graduate assistant. During his two years as a graduate assistant, Williams was the secondary football contact and the primary contact for the baseball program.
