Former Brown University associate head coach Raleigh DeRose was hired by Interim Director of Athletics Jeri Beggs as the new head coach of the Redbird soccer program.
Appears InDeRose recently finished her eighth season overall with Brown and third as associate head coach. During her time there, the Bears won three Ivy League championships, competed in four NCAA Tournaments, had four undefeated regular seasons, and finished in the top 50 in the national RPI rankings for four consecutive years.
“The Missouri Valley Conference and Illinois State University women’s soccer are synonymous with success, and I could not be more appreciative to have the opportunity to lead such a storied program,” DeRose said. “This is a responsibility that I will embrace with pride while holding integrity, energy, and competitiveness to the highest standards.”
Prior to her time at Brown, DeRose served as an assistant coach at Knox College from 2014-15. A four-year student-athlete at Knox, DeRose captained the Prairie Fire soccer team and started 47 of her 52 matches played as a defender. A native of Peoria, DeRose earned a bachelor’s degree from Knox in 2014.
Kolarevic, Sanz win titles at MVC Women’s Tennis Individual Championships
Women’s tennis student-athletes Nevena Kolarevic and Nuria Sanz each took home titles in their respective singles flights at the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championship hosted by Missouri State at the Cooper Tennis Complex in October.
Competing in flight two, Kolarevic beat Mille Haagensen of Drake in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to win the championship. Sanz rolled to a 6-3, 6-4 straight-set win over Drake’s Darinka Stepan for the flight five title.
“I’m really proud of Nevena and Nuria, as they were pushed and came through with big wins,” said Illinois State head coach Maja Kovacek.
Grigsby, Lamonica selected for 2024 MVC Hall of Fame Class
Former All-American Boomer Grigsby ’07 and longtime sports information director (SID) Tom Lamonica, M.S. ’88, were among the six inductees into this year’s Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame class.
Grigsby was selected for his record-setting achievements as a Redbird linebacker, while Lamonica joins the class as the 2024 Paul Morrison Award recipient. They are the 16th and 17th Illinois State representatives in the MVC Hall of Fame, respectively.
A four-year letterwinner for the Redbirds, Grigsby played at Illinois State from 2001-04. He was a three-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2002-04) and is the only player in league history to accomplish the feat. He was also a three-time finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award (2002-04), given to the nation’s top NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision defensive player.
A former Illinois State SID and current School of Communication faculty member, Lamonica has combined his passions for sports, communication, and teaching—often in support of the MVC—for the past 48 years. His SID work over more than 26 years at Illinois State included covering football, men’s and women’s basketball, and volleyball.
Grigsby and Lamonica were inducted during the MVC’s annual hall of fame ceremony March 8 at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Championship in St. Louis.
Football’s Grandy named All-American
Senior tight end Cam Grandy received seven first-team All-America selections following the 2023 football season. Grandy earned the recognition from the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association, the American Football Coaches Association, FCS Football Central, the Associated Press, Phil Steele, Stats Perform, and Walter Camp Football Foundation.
A transfer from Missouri Western, Grandy was named a Missouri Valley Football First Team All-Conference performer at tight end and earned a spot on the league’s all-newcomer team.
Junior linebacker Amir Abdullah and freshman linebacker Tye Niekamp additionally received All-America recognition following the 2023 season.
Redbirds shine in NCAA Graduation Rate Report
Illinois State student-athletes achieved exemplary graduation rates, the NCAA announced in December.
The Redbirds recorded a 90% multiyear rate, which equals the national multiyear average for all division institutions for student-athletes entering from 2013-14 through the 2016-17 academic year. This marks the fifth-consecutive year that the Redbirds have earned a 90% or higher on the NCAA Graduation Rate Report.
Illinois State also recorded a single-year rate of 93%, higher than the NCAA’s overall single-cohort rate, which increased to 91% last year, the highest rate recorded.
Beggs appointed to NCAA Division I Committee on Academics
Illinois State Interim Director of Athletics Jeri Beggs has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Committee on Academics.
The committee supports the NCAA’s academic mission through the management of Division I academic matters, including policy, eligibility standards, and the NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program.
Beggs has served as Illinois State’s interim director of Athletics since May 2023. Prior to that, she was Illinois State’s faculty athletics representative for 14 years.
Redbirds to host 2024 MVC Softball Championship
Illinois State will host the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship May 8-11 at Marian Kneer Stadium.
The tournament will feature all 12 teams and will be played in a single-elimination format over four days. Ticketing information can be found at GoRedbirds.com.
