Tom Douple, former Southern Utah athletics director, was selected as the fifth Commissioner in Mid-Continent Conference history on September 22, 2005.

An active member of the Mid-Continent Conference Joint Council, Douple brings a wealth of experience in college athletics with him to the Mid-Con. While at Southern Utah, Douple oversaw the upgrade of SUU’s athletics facilities, which included the opening of a new academic center, a new weight room and new training facility. He also spearheaded the effort to add office areas for baseball, softball, soccer, golf and tennis, as well as renovate the football and basketball offices and the basketball locker rooms. Additionally, Douple guided SUU through the NCAA Certification process in 2005.

During Douple’s tenure, the Thunderbirds claimed 22 Mid-Continent Conference championships and three Mid-Con Sportsmanship awards. Southern Utah also saw a substantial increase in fund-raising through marketing, promotional and corporate partnership programs implemented during Douple’s five years in Cedar City.

Douple was also a driving force behind the creation of the Great West Football Conference and currently serves as chairman. His duties with the Great West Football Conference included the development and implementation of the league’s constitution, by-laws, scheduling, policies and procedures.

Prior to his tenure at Southern Utah, Douple served as the chairman of the Louisiana State Games. He also spent nine years as the athletics director at Southeastern Louisiana University and had stints as an assistant athletics director at LSU and Cornell. Douple began his career as a teacher and a coach for eight years in the East Baton Rouge school district.

A native of Lebanon, Pa., Douple is a 1976 graduate of LSU where he received his degree in industrial education. He was also a varsity track athlete for the Tigers, earning a berth on the 1975 All-SEC Track & Field team and posting school-record times in the two-mile run and the four-mile relay in 1976.

Douple and his wife Anita have three daughters, Stephanie, Amy and Emily. The Douples reside in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.