Northwestern’s athletic director’s job given name

Northwestern University’s athletic director’s office will bear the names of a trustee and his wife who donated $16 million to the university.

Crain’s Chicago Business reported athletic director Jim Phillips’ office will be known as “Chris and Courtney Combe Vice President for Athletics and Recreation.” In a statement, Combe said he and his wife “share the value Northwestern places on educating student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the athletic field.”

Of the couple’s $16 million donation, $10 million will fund the athletic director’s office.

Other posts in Northwestern’s athletic office have been named after donors. The university’s women’s lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte-Hiller’s job is officially known as the “Combe Family Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach,” while Pat Fitzgerald is the “Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach.”