EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE Director of Athletics Andrew Gavin has made another addition to his leadership team, announcing Eric Crist as the Associate Athletic Director for Events and Facilities.
Crist comes to Edwardsville from the University of New Mexico, where he served as the Director of Parking & Event Operations. At UNM, he oversaw parking and event management for all athletic and special events that took place at athletic facilities.
"I couldn't be more excited and honored to join the SIUE Cougar family," said Crist. "I look forward to the opportunity to serve our student-athletes, department, campus, and the Edwardsville community. I'm thankful that Director of Athletics Andrew Gavin and Deputy Athletic Director Jaci DeClue have provided me with this opportunity to enhance our facility and event operations department under their leadership."
At SIUE, Crist will oversee, direct, and supervise all aspects of the management and operations of home athletic contests and athletics facilities.
"We're thrilled to welcome Eric back to Illinois and add him to our team at SIUE," Gavin said. "This position is critical to our success, as it works with so many internal and external stakeholders to ensure we're providing a first-class event experience for student-athletes, officials, and fans. Throughout the process, Eric demonstrated an impressive combination of experience, attitude, and commitment that will serve him well in this role."
Prior to UNM, Crist served two years as the Assistant Athletic Director of Event & Facility Operations at Fort Lewis College. He oversaw the completion of the new gym court design in Whalen Gymnasium and soccer lights installation on Dirks Field. The renovations to Whalen included a new ticket office, concessions, Hall of Fame monitors, and general facelifts to the interior and exterior of the facility.
Before FLC, Crist spent 2019 through 2021 as the Athletic Director at Schlarman Academy in Danville, Illinois, as one of the youngest High School Athletic Directors in the country at age 23.
He started his career as a Graduate Assistant for Operations and Event Management for Athletics at Eastern Illinois from 2017-19, serving as a Game Day administrator for 20 NCAA Division I programs.
In additional to his work as a high school and collegiate administrator, Crist has been contracted to work NCAA Division I conference basketball tournaments for the Big Ten, MAC, OVC and Big Sky, as well as the OVC Indoor Track & Field Championships and OVC Women's Soccer Championships.
Crist has also served as a site administrator for Illinois High School Association State Championships in several sports and has experience as a Gatorade Summer Camps Coordinator.
A native of Tuscola, Illinois, Crist earned his bachelor's degree in Sports Management (2017) and master's degree in Sports Administration (2019) from Eastern Illinois University.
What they're saying about Eric Crist:
"Eric is a tireless worker who consistently produces game environments that both enhance the fan experience and help generate revenue. He has a passion for serving the student-athletes and it shows in his drive and collaborations to create excitement for the University through the visibility that intercollegiate athletics can deliver."
- Brandon Leimbach, Executive Director of Development, UC Irvine
"The impact that Eric Crist had on the University of New Mexico Athletics in the area of event management and facilities in a short time was outstanding. Eric maximized the talents of our staff, adjusted, created new protocols for event management and parking operations, and grabbed the opportunity to host Mountain West and NCAA championships by the reins. Eric has made our department better. I know he will have a transformational impact on SIUE athletics because that is what he does. I am excited for Eric as he takes on this new challenge and know there was nobody more deserving of this opportunity. I can't wait to see how SIUE succeeds and moves forward on the facilities and events front and am looking forward to seeing Eric flourish as a Cougar."
- Brandon Kendrick, Assistant Athletic Director, University of New Mexico Athletics
"Eric Crist is an outstanding young administrator. He is a tireless worker who strives for perfection in the all the tasks he takes on. After getting his start working with us at Eastern Illinois, it is great to have him back in the Ohio Valley Conference working for SIUE Athletics. He will be a wonderful addition to Andrew's staff and the student-athletes at SIUE."
-Tom Michael, Director of Athletics, Eastern Illinois
