MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University Athletics has announced the hiring of Sophia Tedesco as Director of Student-Athlete Success and Support.
Tedesco returns to Western Illinois after most recently serving as the Director of Softball Operations at the University of Illinois, where she managed the day-to-day operations of a Big Ten Conference softball program while supporting student-athlete development, academic coordination, and program administration.
"We are excited to have Sophia leading our Student-Athlete Success and Support Center," said Dr. Jeremy Robinett, Acting Administrator in Charge of Athletics. "Her previous experiences as both a WIU student and a graduate assistant within Athletics position her well to support our student-athletes and advance co-curricular initiatives with our campus partners."
The Student-Athlete Success and Support (SASS) Center at Western Illinois University is dedicated to promoting holistic student-athlete success through academic support, skill development, and connections to campus and community resources. The center helps student-athletes navigate academic requirements while providing resources to support their success at Western Illinois, within the Ohio Valley Conference, and under NCAA guidelines.
In her new role, Tedesco will oversee initiatives designed to enhance the overall student-athlete experience, including academic support, personal development, campus resource coordination, and programs focused on student-athlete success and retention.
Prior to joining Illinois, Tedesco spent two years at Western Illinois as a graduate assistant, serving in several roles across the athletic department. She worked as a Compliance Graduate Assistant, Director of Football Operations Graduate Assistant, Player Personnel & Relations Graduate Assistant, and Co-Director of Football Camps.
During her time with Leatherneck Athletics, Tedesco played a key role in supporting football operations, managing team travel for more than 100 personnel, coordinating department communication, assisting with student-athlete onboarding, and serving as a liaison between athletics and campus partners, including academics, compliance, housing, dining, and sports medicine.
"I'm incredibly grateful to be back at Western Illinois University in this new role," said Tedesco. "I look forward to supporting our student-athletes and collaborating with our coaches, faculty, and staff to help them succeed in the classroom and beyond."
Tedesco also previously served as the Head Men's Basketball Manager and Social Media Coordinator at Saint Michael's College, where she assisted with team operations, travel coordination, statistics, and digital content creation.
Tedesco earned her bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Political Science, with a minor in Religious Studies, from Saint Michael's College. She later earned her Master of Science in Sport Management from Western Illinois University.
Tedesco also participated in the NCAA/NFL Administrators Academy and gained professional experience with the Atlanta Falcons during the organization's 2025 training camp operations.
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