Community Support Fuels SIUE's Rising Momentum, Says Gavin

A New Chapter for SIUE Athletics

Andrew Gavin, the athletic director at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), has made a name for himself in the world of college athletics. Though he is no longer a newcomer to the SIUE athletic department, his role continues to be as challenging and rewarding as ever.

Gavin, 41, was appointed as SIUE’s ninth athletic director in April 2023. Prior to that, he served as the athletic director at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside since 2017. His journey to this position has been marked by a strong commitment to growth and development, both for the university and its student-athletes.

“It’s been a lot of fun. For me, growth is at the core of my mindset, and I feel like we’ve grown up a lot over the last couple of years,” Gavin said. “We’ve been able to experience the success of our teams and our student-athletes, especially what men’s basketball did last year.”

The men's basketball team had an unforgettable season in 2024-25, winning the Ohio Valley Conference and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. They were seeded as a No. 16 regional seed and faced off against No. 1 seed Houston, ultimately losing 78-40. This was the first NCAA appearance for SIUE since it moved to Division I in 2008.

“It was awesome to experience, first and foremost for coach Brian Barone and his student-athletes,” Gavin said. “What they achieved was cool, but I also found myself appreciating some of the alumni and fans who had been around SIUE and the program for a long time. Seeing their pride and excitement that we finally did it was special to see. Those people had lived through the Division I transition, and that was one of the most rewarding aspects of the whole thing.”

Community Support and Momentum

The community has shown immense support for SIUE athletics, particularly during the NCAA Tournament game against Houston. Local bars and restaurants, including SIUE partners Global Brew and Clubhouse Sports Lounge, were packed with fans watching the game.

“The community responded, and I would say they’re still responding,” Gavin said. “We want to take that momentum from March and keep it going. We want to sustain the excitement and the success from that experience. From the conversations in the community, you can tell it’s still a point of excitement and pride. If you look at season ticket holder numbers and a substantial increase in donors, there are indicators we’re keeping that momentum going.”

While the NCAA Tournament game may have been the highlight of the past year, Gavin has many other accomplishments to reflect on. One of them is the high graduation rate for SIUE student-athletes, which ranks second nationally among public institutions.

“That means you’re ahead of a lot of significant, well-established public institutions, and it’s something we’re proud of. It also means we’re No. 1 in Illinois, and we’re proud of that as well. It’s something we want to continue to emphasize.”

Facilities and Family-Friendly Initiatives

Another area of focus for the SIUE athletic department is the continued upgrade of facilities. While large-scale projects are in the works, Gavin emphasizes the importance of smaller, impactful changes that enhance the experience for fans and athletes.

“You can get paralyzed by the big facility vision, and we have multimillion-dollar facility plans, but we continue to do the small things that feel big to our fans and our student-athletes,” Gavin said. “Those things can enhance the atmosphere for fans and athletes, create a home-court advantage and bring more revenue to support our athletic department. I think we’ve done that in a lot of ways, with Eddieville at the forefront.”

Eddieville, named after the mascot Eddie the Cougar, brings food, beverages, apparel, and kid-friendly activities inside First Community Arena to enhance every game day. The initiative includes Eddie’s Kid Club, which offers benefits such as free admission, T-shirts, gameday credentials, and more.

“It’s been a blast to see people respond to Eddieville and what it means to come to an SIUE game. You connect with the community and see people you know,” Gavin said. “It’s become a thing to do in Edwardsville and the Metro East, and we’re certainly proud of that.”

Gavin also sees Eddieville as a way to engage future students. “Our ability to create family-friendly entertainment to connect kids with Division I athletics is important beyond athletics. We need young people in our community coming to this campus and thinking about coming to school here one day.”

Expanding the Future of SIUE Athletics

In July 2025, Gavin was elevated to vice chancellor/director of athletics, a title that reflects the university’s commitment to athletics. “I think it shows the commitment of the chancellor and the university to athletics,” he said. “In terms of what I do day-to-day, it doesn’t change a lot, but I appreciate the respect that it shows for what we do here.”

Despite the challenges posed by changes in the Division I landscape, such as the NIL rules and the transfer portal, Gavin remains optimistic. “We’re not alone in that, but I’m optimistic about our ability to deal with that and continue to get better. While it’s a challenge, it’s also an opportunity for SIUE athletics to grow and pass some of our peers.”

Looking ahead, Gavin is focused on expanding the connection between SIUE and the community. “Increasing season tickets and increasing our sponsorships is critical for us, and we’re always thinking about improving our facilities, both short-term and long-term.” He also mentioned the upcoming economic impact study, which will help quantify the value of Division I athletics for the university and the local community.

Gavin, a native of Madison, Ind., and his wife, Ashley, have four children, Peyton, Wyatt, Quinn, and Miles, ranging in age from 3 to 9. Edwardsville has become a second home for the entire family. “It’s an easy community to settle into with so many great people and everything you could ever need in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon,” he said. “Transitions are always challenging, and they don’t happen overnight for families, but this is an easy community to transition to.”