CHICAGO – The UIC Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced four staff updates on Monday, welcoming several talented individuals to its finance, sports performance and external operations units.
 
Bill Thomas re-joins the Flames' staff as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Finance & Administration, beginning his second full-time stint with UIC Athletics after previously serving in a similar capacity from 2008-22. In his role, Thomas will oversee all financial and business operations for UIC Athletics, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position.

Prior to his first tenure at UIC, Thomas spent three years (2006-08) as the Associate Athletic Director for Business and Facilities Operations at Saint Louis University. Thomas managed the athletic department budget, while also coordinating accounting of ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and seating-based gifts. It was the second time Thomas served with the Billikens' athletics department, having also worked as Director of Ticket Operations from 1995-99, when he managed SLU's men's basketball season ticket database and accounted for the yearly ticket sales revenue. He also assisted with the department's ticket system conversion to Ticketmaster in that time.

Between his two stays at Saint Louis University, Thomas served as Assistant Director of Ticket Operations for the NFL's St. Louis Rams from 1999-2006. While there, he coordinated the franchise's accounting of ticket sales revenue. He also assisted with the development of ticket sales strategies including the design of brochures, direct mail outreach, print advertisements and e-mail initiatives. Early in his tenure, the Rams also earned the team's first Super Bowl title (Super Bowl XXXIV in January 2000).

Thomas spent 1993-95 as the Assistant Ticket Manager at Western Kentucky University. He was responsible for all money deposits generated by ticket sales and administered policies regarding donor seating and season ticket allocation.

In the spring of 1993, Thomas interned with the special projects coordinator for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. He analyzed blueprints regarding the construction of Gund (now Rocket) Arena. Thomas also performed strategic research of NBA arenas to gather design and logistics information.

Thomas attended the University of Akron, where he received his bachelor's degree in business management in 1991. Thomas then attended Kent State University and earned his master's degree in sports administration in 1993.  
 

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Brian Davis has been promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Marketing & Ticket Sales following three years as UIC's Assistant Athletics Director for Ticket Sales & Operations. In his new role, Davis will supervise both the Flames' marketing and ticketing units, working to further develop UIC Athletics' digital and social media marketing strategies, as well as its game promotions and in-game productions. During his first three years at UIC, Davis helped raise ticket revenues to their highest post-COVID levels while streamlining gameday and season ticket operations.

Davis arrived on campus after serving as the Supervisor, Athletic Programs for the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District in south suburban Chicago. He managed all tennis and aquatics programs at H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, while managing, scheduling and providing direct oversight of several key areas of the operation including special events, tennis and aquatics programs, and more.

Prior to moving to Illinois, Davis worked for the Trenton Thunder Baseball Club from 2015-20, rising to the role of Manager, Group Sales in September 2019. The Thunder are the Double-A affiliate for the New York Yankees. Davis supervised a team of group sales account executives, while also generating and maintaining budgets for group sales, bat boy, and internship programs. Davis regularly exceeded sales goals each year and consistently increased revenue for the Thunder. Davis also developed a strong sense of giving back to the community in Trenton and beyond. He was actively involved with the Vs. Cancer Foundation, The Miracle League and Special Olympics Delaware.

Davis earned a Master of Science in Sport Administration from the University of Cincinnati in 2021. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Politcial Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2014.
 

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Alex Dee has been named Assistant Sports Performance Coach for UIC Athletics, marking a return for the former Flames' student-athlete, who earned his undergraduate degree from UIC in 2019 and his graduate degree from the University in 2021. He will be tasked with overseeing sports performance duties for the UIC baseball, track & field/cross country and swimming programs.

A freshman All-American on the Flames' baseball team in 2016, Dee is returning to the UIC sports performance unit where he got his start in the profession as an intern in 2018. He later completed interships at Marquette and Clemson and served as interim sports performance coach at Denver, before moving into full-time roles as an assistant director of sports performance at Oral Roberts (2021-23) and Wichita State (2023-25).

A native of La Crosse, Wis., Dee is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength & Conditioning Association. 
 

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Jennifer Samples will join the UIC Athletics staff on Sept. 15 as Director of Marketing & Ticket Sales after spending the past six years as a digital communications strategist in the UIC College of Nursing. Her role will not only entail being a key member of the Flames' marketing and ticket sales operations through digital and social media initiatives, but also contributions to the development, creative services and communications units within UIC Athletics.

An experienced writer, editor and designer with several publications in the Chicagoland area, Samples is a double degree holder from Roosevelt University, earning her bachelor's degree in journalism and history in 2010 and her master's degree in history in 2012.

 
For more information on UIC athletics, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UICFlames) and Instagram (@uicflames).