Eastern Illinois University Athletics

Mike Murray joined the Eastern Illinois Athletic Staff in a full-time capacity during the 2021-22 school year moving over from his role working the Eastern Illinois University Office of Development located in the Neal Welcome Center.  Murray serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Development overseeing all of the Panthers development and fundraising areas.
 
Murray had worked in conjunction with EIU Athletics over the parts of the previous ten years sitting in as a member of the EIU Athletics Senior Staff during much of that time.  The transition from the EIU Office of Development to Athletics in a full-time capacity was a natural transition.
 
Murray is no stranger to the athletics world having played collegiate basketball at Iowa State University where he earned his undergraduate degree before later graduating from the Washington University School of Law.  He worked for six years in assistant athletic director roles at San Diego State and California before moving into the private sector with a graphics communication company on the West Coast.  Murray later moved back to Illinois and worked for Carle as a regional director until he retired in 2006.
 
In 2008, Murray began working for the EIU Office of Development as a Director of Development.  In that role he has worked with various EIU deans and department chairs to help raise scholarship, special project and program money.  Most recently he worked with the Lumpkin Family Foundation to facilitate the securing of a major grant to fund development of the EIU Gail & Richard Lumpkin School of Nursing.  He has also helped raise more the $240,000 to help support the EIU Ambassador Scholarship program which to date has benefited 100 students.
 
Murray has also played a role in securing gifts for the Panthers Athletic Department though not working directly for intercollegiate athletics.  Among the projects he has helped raise funds for are the addition of new video boards, ribbon boards and sound system in Lantz Arena; the Schnorf Family Victory Suite renovation at O'Brien Field and the Baker/Warmoth Hall of Champions in Lantz Arena.  Recently he helped raise funds for a new locker room for the EIU women’s basketball program along with the development of the 6^th Man Club.
 
He and his wife Libby have five children and five grandchildren.  Murray remains active in the local community away from Eastern Illinois serving on the boards of the Coles County Health Department, Coles County Council on Aging, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Immanuel Lutheran Church and the First Mid Advisory Board in Charleston.