ISU athletic director wants long-term focus

NORMAL — New Illinois State University Athletic Director Gary Friedman says he wants the school's football team to build a winning tradition but he's looking for ideas to increase student interest in sports.

Friedman told The (Bloomington) Pantagraph that he doesn't have a number of wins or losses in mind for the football team. Instead, he wants a long-term focus on making the football program stronger. The Redbirds have had two consecutive winning seasons.

The new AD says long-term growth will be important if ISU plans to move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision. School President Al Bowman has said he'd like to.

Friedman came to Illinois State from Louisville.

He says he's also looking for ways to increase what has been relatively low student interest in athletics.