Josh Whitman may be getting another contract extension

Stephen CohnThu, Jul 16, 2026·1 min read

He’s already considered among the Big Ten — and country’s — best athletic directors.

This week, Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman may be getting another contract extension.

An agenda for Illinois’ Board of Trustees on Thursday shows Whitman’s contract is up for debate.

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The agenda reads: “Amend Multiyear Contract with Director, Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, Urbana.” No word on how long the extension could be or the pay increase that would come with it.

Since arriving in early 2016, Whitman has turned around the culture of the Fighting Illini, hiring big-name coaches leading Illinois back to relevance. Whitman could still one day be pursued for higher positions — say Big Ten commissioner?

College sports reporter Matt Fortuna was the first to report news of the potential extension Thursday morning.

Whitman’s contract currently runs through 2031.