Northwestern’s athletic department finds itself at a critical point in the future of Northwestern sports following last week’s news that athletic director Jim Phillips will become the next ACC commissioner. Compiling an impressive search committee for the new AD hire, NU officials hope to continue on the road to national prominence following an excellent football season, promising starts for both basketball teams and continued success of various non-revenue sports.
Phillips leaves Northwestern after 12 years at the helm, and during that time he led initiatives that will serve Northwestern Athletics for years to come. The most impressive of these projects was the lakefront Walter Athletics Center, which cost $270 million and has been referred to as the nicest facility in college sports.