Illinois State Athletics launched the public phase of the Keep Rising campaign, a special fund to help the department offset the loss of revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact across college athletics.
Illinois State Director of Athletics Larry Lyons announced that he plans to retire near the end of the calendar year, closing the book on a distinguished 33-year run as an athletics administrator at ISU.
The Illinois State Athletics Department has partnered with brand marketing consultant and best-selling author Jeremy Darlow to assist Redbird student-athletes in developing and growing their personal brands.
Former Illinois State baseball star Neal Cotts was one of those student-athletes fortunate enough to land in that two percent. After three stellar seasons on the diamond for the Redbirds, Cotts was drafted No. 69 overall by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2001 draft. He went on to pitch in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins.
Last May, Illinois State student-athletes set a semester departmental grade-point average (GPA) record of 3.31 during the Spring 2019 semester, topping the previous mark of 3.24 set during the previous two semesters, and five teams tied or beat their previous team GPA records.
Illinois State Director of Athletics Larry Lyons rewarded three head coaches with contract extensions in early November: head baseball coach Steve Holm, head women’s basketball coach Kristen Gillespie and director of track and field/cross country Jeff Bovee.
The Illinois State Athletics Department announced today that it will offer beer and wine sales at public concession stands in general seating areas at Hancock Stadium and Redbird Arena beginning in the fall of 2019. Plans to allow beer sales at Adelaide Street Field, Marian Kneer Stadium and Duffy Bass Field are also being finalized.
Illinois State won six team titles during the 2018-19 season, which resulted in the Redbirds being crowned as the Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Champion.
Illinois State won six team titles during the 2018-2019 season, which resulted in the Redbirds being crowned as the Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Champion.
Illinois State Director of Athletics Larry Lyons announced the hiring of Normal native and former Indiana assistant coach Caitlin Hamilton as the program’s new head swimming coach.
