SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

James Thomas Bell has been on the job as Southern Illinois University’s new athletic director for about seven weeks now. The man better known as Tommy hasn’t been able to see a football game at Saluki Stadium or a basketball game in the SIU Arena with the new title yet. Bell has been “interacting with as many people as possible,” in his words, in taking over for Mario Moccia as the captain of the Saluki Athletics vessel. Bell mentioned his current priorities are dealing with getting missing staff pieces hired in place before the fall semester begins. He is familiar with the territory after coming from the same position at Western Illinois University and a nearly identical job at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne from 2007 until 2013.-Justin Walker. The Daily Republican. Read More.