TOM MICHAEL
Hometown: Hoffman, IL
Joined University of Illinois staff : 1996
Education: University of Illinois, B.S. Speech Communication, 1993; University of Illinois, M.S. Sports Administration, 1994.
Athletic Experience: Basketball at University of Illinois, 1991-1994.
Best part of my job: Seeing students be successful and earn their degrees from Illinois.
Favorite quote: Always give more than people expect to get.
Currently resides in: St. Joseph, IL
Family: Wife, Shana; Children, Nick, Nate, and Kylie.
Interest: Follow my kids sporting events and horseback riding.
Tom Michael was recently promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services in July, 2008. Prior to his promotion, Michael spent six years as Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services. Before taking over the responsibilities of leading the department, he spent seven years as an Academic Counselor for men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s swimming, and wrestling teams for the Fighting Illini. During that span, he was the Head Academic Counselor from 1999-2002. Michael is responsible for the planning, development, and coordination of academic support programs and services for all 19 varsity sports. In addition, Tom oversees equipment, sports medicine, and strength & conditioning for the athletic department.
Kristin Kane
Hometown: Aurora, IL
Joined University of Illinois staff: 1999
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Men's & Women's Basketball; Oversees day-to-day management in Academic Services.
Education: Loras College, B.A. Sociology & Physical Education (double major), 1998; University of Illinios, M.S. Kinesiology, 2001.
Athletic/Professional Experience: Basketball at Loras College, 1994-98; Worked as a graduate assistant and intern at the Irwin Academic Center before being hired full-time as a counselor in fall of 2001.
Best part of my job: Helping students accomplish goals that they may not have believed they were capable of achieving.
Favorite Quotes:“It is impossible to live a perfect day without doing something for someone who cannot possibly repay you.” – John Wooden
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” - Aristotle
“The reason most people fail instead of succeed is because they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment.” – unknown
Clarissa Gentzler
Hometown: Paxton, IL
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2003
Responsibilities: Coordinates grant-in-aid, athletic scholarships, special NCAA funds, and oversees distribution of textbooks for all varsity teams.
Education: Eastern Illinois University, B.A. Liberal Arts, 2000.
Professional Experience: Prior to moving over to Academics, worked in Payables Office from 2000-2003.
Best part of my job: Enjoy working with business and sports at the same time.
Favorite quote: "I find the great thing in this world is NOT where we stand but in what direction we are moving." - Oliver Wendell Holmes
Currently resides in: Paxton, IL
Family: Children, Vaughn, Aleeka, and Ariana.
Jan Glosser
Office Administrator & Administrative Aide
// jglosser@illinois.edu
Hometown: Greenfield, IL
Joined University of Illinois staff : 1994
Responsibilities: Works in cooperation with other departments on campus with the Application, admissions, and housing process for all varsity sports, organizes National Letter of Intent and Initial Tenders, maintains student-athlete files, and other regular office duties.
Education: Eastern Illinois University, B.S. Business Management, 2010.
Professional Experience: Prior to moving to Academics, worked for ten years as the Administrative Secretary for the men’s and women’s tennis programs at Illinois.
Best part of my job: Seeing the student-athletes every day.
Favorite quote: “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go”. – Oscar Wilde
Currently resides in: Philo, IL
Family: Husband, Steve; Children Kristi, Scott; Grandchildren, Colton, Rory, & Peyton.
Interest: Spending time with my grandchildren, traveling, and gardening.
Academic Counselors / Learning Specialists
Shari Clapp
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2002
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Baseball, Men’s Golf, Soccer, and Women’s Tennis, as well as athletics liaison to campus/new student registration.
Education: Oklahoma State University, B.S. Geography, 1992; Oklahoma State University, M.S. Geography, 1998.
Professional Experience: Prior to arriving in Champaign, worked in both educational administration and as assistant director of the academic advising and career counseling unit for student-athletes at Ohio University. Also served in academic support at University of Pittsburgh, Rider University, and Oklahoma State.
Jeff Guin
Hometown: Fort Walton Beach, FL
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2008
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Football; Supervises Academic website and Grades First Academic Software Management System.
Education: University of Florida, B.A. Elementary Education, 1995; University of Florida, M.A. Education, 1996; University of Florida, M.S. Sport Management, 1997; Currently working on Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership from University of Illinois.
Professional Experience: Administrative Assistant for men’s basketball at University of Illinois, 1997-2003; Assistant Basketball Coach at Western Illinois, 2003-06, and Florida Atlantic University, 2006-08.
Best part of my job: Meeting with recruits & their families, graduation day, & all the stuff in-between.
Favorite Quote: “Giddy-Up.” - Kramer
Currently resides in: Champaign, IL
Family: Wife, Betsy; Children, Ellee, Troy, and Luke.
cory harbor
Hometown: Dwight, IL
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2011
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Football & Cheerleading; Supervises Football Study Table Program.
Education: Missouri State University, B.S. Recreation and Leisure Studies, 2009; Missouri State University, M.S. Administrative Studies, 2010.
Professional Experience: Academic Counselor at Missouri State.
Best part of my job: Getting to know people from various backgrounds, helping young students adjust to college life, and aiding upperclassmen in their transition to the professional world.
Favorite Quote: "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it." - Lou Holtz
Currently resides in: Champaign, IL
Interest: Spending time with fiancee, family, friends, and pets and watching and participating in athletics.
kathy kaler
Hometown: Rantoul, IL
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2001
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Volleyball & Women's Golf; Coordinator of the Douglas C. Roberts Illini CHAMPS / Life Skills Program.
Education: Eastern Illinois University, B.S. Physical Education, 1979; Western Illinois University, M.S. Athletic Administration, 1986.
Athletic/Professional Experience: Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball at Eastern Illinois University. Teacher / Coach / Girls Athletic Director at Gardner-South Wilmington HS; Head Coach Women’s Basketball / Fitness Center Director / Physical Education Instructor at Danville Area Community College.
Best part of my job: I love working with student-athletes and being able to watch them grow over their careers and achieve success both in the classroom and in their sport. I also really enjoy being able to witness the impact our student-athletes make within our community through the Hometown Heroes program.
Favorite Quote: “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
Currently resides in: St. Joseph, IL
Interest: Following the success of all of our current and former Illini; biking, walking, jogging, and woodworking.
MELINDA McCORMICK
Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2011
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Softball, Swimming & Diving, and Women's Gymnastics; Tutor Coordinator .
Education: Miami University, B.A. English/Journalism and Film Studies, 2004; Purdue University, M.Ed. Educational Studies, 2011.
Athletic/Professional Experience: Volleyball at Miami University. Championship Staff Assistant at NCAA; Graduate Assistant for Student-Athlete Academic Services at Purdue University.
Best part of my job: Building different relationships with every student-athlete and being there for them for both the successes and failures.
Favorite Quote: "Turns out not where, but who you're with, that really matters." - DMB
"Everything happens for a reason." - My mom, every time I couldn't see the big picture.
Currently resides in: Champaign, IL
Family: Husband, Dustin.
Interest: Concerts, movies, traveling and spending time with friends.
Carla Suber
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2006
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Football.
Education: Florida A&M University, B.A. English, 1992; University of Pennsylvania, M.S. Ed Secondary Education, 1995; Temple University, M.Ed. Counseling Psychology, 2000.
Athletic Experience: Swim team at Florida A&M, 1988-1992.
Best part of my job: Students! They are hilarious!
Favorite Quote: “Never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill
MIKE TRAMe
Hometown: Lebanon, IL
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2009
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Men's & Women's Cross Country, Men's Gymnastics, Men's Tennis, Men's & Women's Track & Field, & Wrestling; Supervises Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Education: University of Illinois, B.A. Political Science, 1994; University of Illinois, Ed.M. Higher Education Administration, 2007.
Athletic/Professional Experience: Head Volleyball Coach at Parkland College, 2004-2009.
Best part of my job: Helping student-athletes make their dreams become a reality both in their academic lives and in their sports.
Favorite quote: "You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is a real joy." - Arthur Ashe
"Losers visualize the penalities of failure, but winners visualize the rewards of success." - Rod Gilbert
Currently resides iin: St. Joseph, IL
Family: Wife, Michelle; Children, Stephanie and Mackenzie.
Interest: All sports, cheering on the Illini, traveling, and spending time with my family .
Annie White
Hometown: Tolono, IL
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2007
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Football.
Education: University of Illinois, B.S. Kinesiology, 2001; University of Illinois, M.S. Sport Management, 2004.
Athletic/Professional Experience: Pitcher on inaugural softball team at UI, 1999-2000; Served as a G.A. and then as an intern at Irwin Academic Center, 2002-05; Academic counselor at University of Cincinnati, 2005-07, and worked with Baseball, Men’s & Women’s Soccer, Men’s Golf, Women’s Basketball, and Football during those years.
Best part of my job: Working with student-athletes on a daily basis & watching them mature and develop into well-rounded adults.
Favorite Quote: “Do, or do not. There is no try.” - Yoda
Currently resides in: Urbana, IL
Family: Husband, Kelly; Child, Henry.
Interest: Disney and Ice Cream.
DEBBY WILLARD
Hometown: Springfield, IL
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2007
Team Assignments/Responsibilities: Work with all varsity sports, with exception of football.
Education: DePauw University, B.S. Microbiology, 1984; Eastern Illinois University, M.A. Administrative Education, 2005.
Professional Experience: Microbiology Research Lab and secondary education.
Best part of my job: Working with students on a one to one basis.
Currently resides in: Monticello, IL
Family: Husband, Troy; Children, Sara and Jeff.
Sports Nutritionist
SUSAN KUNDRAT
Hometown: Jefferson, IA
Joined University of Illinois staff : 2007
Responsibilities: Coordinate nutrition education, cooking classes, and performance nutrition for teams.
Education: Waldorf College, A.A. 1986; Minnesota State University, B.S. Dietetics, 1988; Iowa State University, M.S. Human Nutrition, 1993; Beth Israel Hospital, Dietectic Internship, 1989; Certified Specialist Sports Dietetics, 2007.
Athletic/Professional Experience: 3 sport All-Region at Waldorf College (softball, basketball, and volleyball). Starter for Minnesota State women's basketball team for two years.
Best part of my job: Helping athletes meet their potential and learning how to not only boost performance with nutrition, but be healthy for the rest of their lives after sport .
Favorite Quote: “Make the most of every opportunity to succeed."
Currently resides in: Savoy, IL
Family: Daughter, Georgia.
Interest: All sports, writing, travel, camping, and hiking.
