Tom Daeger was named the first Commissioner of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference on November 21, 2011 and is currently in his 14th year as the leader of organization. He has led in the development of every aspect of the Great Midwest's structure and evolution as a NCAA Division II athletic conference, Daeger has aided the Great Midwest’s efforts to be a leader in the promotion of student-athlete welfare and success with a dedication to private, non-profit institutions in the Midwest Region.
Daeger has led expansion of the Conference from the initial six charter members to 13 members for the 2024-25 academic year. The Conference has also added sport sponsorship from an initial allotment of 11 championship sports in 2012-13 to 26 championship sports in 2024-25.
In addition to the full membership expansion over the course of the first six years, Daeger also developed the first men’s lacrosse championship in the Conference in 2016-17 which featured two associate members in Mercyhurst (PA) and Seton Hill (PA). Additional associate members (Wheeling, Davenport, Davis & Elkins) have since been added to bolster the sport sponsorship.
Daeger also guided creation of the Great Midwest - Mountain East Swimming & Diving Championships, the first co-sponsored championship by two Division II leagues in 2017-18. The unique partnership aided an increased student-athlete experience for the participating institutions from both conferences. He faciliated a similar partnership with Conference Carolinas for the sports of men's and women's bowling beginning in 2022-23.
His support of champonship development continued in 2022-23 with the creation of the first of its kind STUNT Championship. The league quickly expanded STUNT sponsorship to eight members in 2023-24 with associate members Mercyhurst, Hiram, and Davenport (2025) strenghening league sponsorship.
Success of the institutions, many of which recently transitioned as new NCAA Division II members, has blossomed in the alliance of likeminded institutions, with the Conference seeing regional and national success in a number of sports, including multiple team and individual national champions. Also flush with a membership of rich NCAA Division II tradition, as current members have won nine (9) men’s basketball national championships, three (3) women's basketball national titles, a women's golf national championship, and six (6) track & field national championsihps, the long-standing DII members are seeing renewed success in other sports as well, such as regional and national tournament berths in baseball, softball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, volleyball, men's and women’s tennis, and men's lacrosse.
With a devotion to the experience of member institutions, Daeger has established a full-time staff of five individuals that are focused in areas of compliance, digital media, sponsorships, and championship management. The conference office was established initially in the greater Indianapolis area prior to finalizing an office in downtown Indianapolis, blocks from the NCAA National Office.
The development of the Conference into a stable, successful entity has been Daeger’s focus since accepting the opportunity to create a league from scratch in 2011. He, in addition to the creation of the office structure, has overseen every aspect of the league’s transition including the implementation of an officiating program, league administration of officiating payments, development of supervisors of officiating in ten sports, professional development summits for league administrators, an increase in operational funding, marketing and strategic communication plan development and implementation, finalization of agreements with numerous corporate partners, the introduction of a committed digital network, original and continued branding efforts, as well as conference and regional events. The league has completed two five-year strategic plans under his guidance.
In addition to the conference development, he has also represented the Conference nationally. Daeger has served on a number of national committees, including most recently, on the NCAA Division II Membership Committee. The four-year term on the Membership Committee concluded in 2017-18 as Daeger stepped into the Chair role. He had served the committee the previous two years as Vice-Chair. In addition, Daeger completed a term as the President of the Divvsion II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and four-year term on the D2CCA's Executive Committee. Daeger has also previously served on a number of NCAA Regional Advisory Committees (RACs), including the Midwest Men’s Basketball, Baseball, and Men’s Soccer RACs.
The 2024-25 academic year marks Daeger’s 24th year in athletic conference administration. He was recognized for his contributions in athletics as a recipient of the Great Lakes Valley Confernece (GLVC) Bertram Alumni Award of Distinction recipient in 2023.
Prior to accepting the position of Commissioner with the Great Midwest, Daeger was the Associate Commissioner for the GLVC having been named to the role in 2008. He was the GLVC’s first full-time sports information director when hired by the league in 2006 and served in a variety of roles while with the conference for five years. While with the GLVC, he launched a new online presence, integrated a social media strategy, cultivated a licensing relationship, supported sponsorship solicitation, served as an NCAA site representative at multiple venues, developed broadcast partners, and led the compliance program for two separate terms. While with the GLVC, Daeger also served as Chair of the CoSIDA NCAA Legislation Committee and as Chair of the North Central Region of the Daktronics Division II All-American Baseball Program.
Daeger’s first conference office experience came from 2001-06 as Sports Information Director of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC). He was the first full-time sports information director at the NCAA Division III conference and aided the development of the league’s first football television and streaming partnerships. He also coordinated and assisted with 16 conference championship events and led the awards and media relations efforts for the conference.
Originally from Indianapolis, Daeger graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 2000. Following graduation, Daeger was employed by Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as a technical associate gaining experience in project management and computer programming. In addition to his work with EDS, Daeger stayed involved in athletics with roles as a sports reporter for The Southside Times, as a high school baseball assistant coach (2001), and as a color commentator for UIndy baseball contests.
Daeger has also coached collegiately, serving as a baseball assistant/hitting coach at UIndy in 2003. The Greyhounds finished 39-22 and advanced to the final game of the NCAA Midwest Regional.
A student-athlete at UIndy, Daeger was a four-year starter for the Greyhounds’ baseball team. He was the 1996 GLVC Freshman of the Year, All-GLVC honoree (1998), three-time Academic All-GLVC selection (1998-2000), and Academic All-District (2000). He helped UIndy to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a third-place finish in the Division II NCAA World Series in 2000, earning Team MVP honors. Daeger graduated as the school’s all-time hits and total bases leader.
Daeger continued his education at DII California University earning a Master of Science degree in Sport Management in 2006.
He and his wife, Tracy, reside in Indianapolis with their two children, Brody and Maddy.