Milan grad serves as CFO of IU Athletics

It was a bittersweet celebration for Simpson this week

(BLOOMINGTON, Ind.) – Marcy Simpson has been an IU fan long before she ever arrived on campus. 

It all began when Marcy and her father watched the Hoosiers win the NCAA basketball championship from their Milan home in 1987

“We didn’t have cable at the time and can still remember my dad moving the antenna to tune the games in,” she recalled. 

Marcy graduated from Milan in 1995 and earned a Bachelor’s degree from IU's Kelly School of Business. 

After graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Kyle, who is also a Milan graduate, and the couple made Bloomington their home.

She was hired by Indiana University in 2000 and has held multiple roles including Director of Finance for residential programs and services. 

In 2018, Simpson was named Executive Associate Athletic Director/Chief Financial Officer for IU Athletics. 

Her tenure has come at a time when athletic departments have had to navigate some major transitions within collegiate sports. 

She has helped guide the athletic department through the challenges associated with COVID-19 as well as the development of NIL and NCAA Revenue Sharing. 

Despite those challenges, this has been a dream come true for Simpson.

“Never in my wildest dreams from being a kid and watching the Hoosiers, to going to school here, did I ever fathom this is an actual job,” Simpson told The 812. 

She added, “I am so fortunate for the opportunities I have been given. When I go into the office and overlook the football field, even before these past few seasons, I have always felt like this is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

IU’s championship football season

Marcy was among the IU administrators who flew to Miami ahead of the championship game on Monday. 

She was amazed by the number of IU fans from across the country who were in South Florida for the big game. 

“There were so many fans there and people that we knew. Even my college roommate, who is a Jac-Cen-Del graduate, was there and we spent time reminiscing about our college days,” she recalled. 

The trip took an extremely difficult turn for Marcy on Sunday when she received the call that her father, Bob Russell, had passed away at the age of 81. 

“I felt so horrible that I wasn’t back home, but my siblings and mom put me on speaker phone and they said you're right where dad would want you to be,” she said. 

The IU Hoosiers won their first-ever college football championship the following night by defeating Miami 27-21. 

She had the opportunity to celebrate on the field with her husband and their three kids, Brady, Tucker and Miles.

While she is responsible for managing finances for a major university athletic department, she hasn't forgotten her roots in Milan. 

She comes back several times a year and remains very proud of her hometown. 

“I want to thank all the teachers at Milan that work so hard everyday. I have friends there that are amazing and the community is amazing, and I hope they all know how proud I am of them,” Simpson said. 

Simpson also offered advice for current students who may want to pursue a similar career path as hers. 

“Be honest, kind and giving and as long as you work hard you get repaid tenfold. Find something that you truly love to do and where your heart is,” she added. 

Her husband, Kyle, graduated from Milan in 1996 and currently serves as Assistant Athletic Director and basketball coach at Bloomington South High School.