CHICAGO (April 24, 2024) – Sherard Clinkscales, a veteran intercollegiate athletics leader with an extensive history of success as an administrator, coach, and student-athlete, has been named senior deputy athletics director and chief revenue officer at UIC, Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz announced Wednesday. Clinkscales will begin his tenure with Chicago's College Team next Monday, April 29.
 
"Sherard is a talented and experienced leader with a strong track record as a revenue generator and program builder," Lipitz said. "His competitive fire and personal dedication to the welfare of his student-athletes and the development of his staff will greatly benefit our department. We are excited to welcome Sherard and his wife, Monica, to our Flames Family."
 
"I am thankful and excited to partner with a respected leader in Michael Lipitz," Clinkscales said. "We have worked together before, so I know we share the same priorities and commitment to all-around excellence. I look forward to serving UIC's student-athletes, coaches, and staff as we navigate the dynamic landscape of college athletics and elevate the Flames together."
 
Clinkscales comes to Chicago following seven highly successful years (2016-23) as Director of Athletics at another Missouri Valley Conference institution, Indiana State University. He led a 15-sport Sycamore athletics program that served 450 student-athletes and earned 11 NCAA Championship berths in six different sports (including baseball's trip to the 2023 NCAA Super Regional), as well as eight MVC titles in four sports. In 2021, Clinkscales hired Josh Schertz who led Indiana State men's basketball back to national prominence. Under his leadership, Indiana State also posted the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) score in school history (985 in 2019), introduced a refreshed athletics logo and comprehensive branding package that strengthened the Sycamores' visual identity, developed a facilities master plan to bring all athletics venues to a single location, and prioritized student-athlete wellness by offering world-class experiences in nutrition, athletic recovery and strength and conditioning.
 
During his time in Terre Haute, Clinkscales served on numerous national and conference committees, including the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee (2021-23), the NCAA Nominating Committee (2019-23), the MVC Commissioner Search Committee (2020-21) and the MVC Legislative Committee (2018-23).
 
Prior to his success at Indiana State, Clinkscales spent five years as senior associate athletics director at North Carolina State University from 2011-16, playing a key role on the senior administrative team for one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's most vibrant athletics programs. At NC State, he served as sport supervisor for five sports, including the Wolfpack baseball program that advanced to the 2013 NCAA College World Series, its first trip to Omaha in 45 years. Clinkscales also oversaw the Wolfpack's student-athlete health and wellness support units and worked closely with the Wolfpack Club athletic fundraising program.
 
Clinkscales began his administrative career at the NCAA, where he served as assistant director of championships from 2009-11. He was the staff liaison for five NCAA Division II and Division III championship events, assisting each sport committee with site and team selections.
 
A talented baseball pitcher, Clinkscales enjoyed 17 years as a player, coach and scout at the college and professional levels from 1992 through 2009. He was a first-round selection by the Kansas City Royals in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, spending three years in the Royals' organization and the 1995 season in the Chicago Cubs' system before injuries cut short his playing career.
 
Clinkscales then turned to scouting, highlighted by two separate stints with the Atlanta Braves as an area supervisor (1997-99) and a professional and amateur scout (2001-06). Between those two stops, he served three seasons (1999-2001) as assistant director of scouting for the Tampa Bay Rays.
 
A skilled teacher of the game, Clinkscales returned to the college ranks from 2006-09 as the pitching coach for the University of Notre Dame, where six of his Fighting Irish hurlers were selected in the MLB Draft. Notre Dame also finished among the top three in several BIG EAST Conference pitching categories during his tenure in South Bend.
 
Clinkscales was a two-sport student-athlete in baseball and basketball at Purdue University, graduating from the West Lafayette, Indiana, school in 1994 with his bachelor's degree in history. He went on to earn his master's degree in sports management from North Carolina State University in 2016.
 
For more information on UIC athletics, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UICFlames) and Instagram (@uicflames).