the university of illinois

Transcription

08-09
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Season Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
2008-09 Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
The Jolette Law Era . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-7
Assembly Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9
Ubben Basketball Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11
Players in the Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13
The University of Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15
Academics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-18
Sports Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Strength and Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-21
National Exposure / Jolette Law Show . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
FightingIllini.com / Illini Sports Network . . . . . . . . . . .23
The Big Ten Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24-25
Think Pink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Traveling with the Illini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics . . . . . . . . .28-29
Champaign-Urbana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Campus Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
UI Athletic Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32-33
Community Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34-35
Notable Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36-37
Illinois Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Illini for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
University and Athletic Administration . . . . . . . . . .40-42
The Big Ten Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Summer Camp Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
The Courtsiders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Jolette Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48-51
Assistant Coaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52-54
Support Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55-57
MEET THE ILLINI
2008-09 Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60-61
Chelsea Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62-65
Lacey Simpson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66-69
Jenna Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70-73
Lydia McCully . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Macie Blinn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Fabiola Josil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Eboni Mitchell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Lana Rukavina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Whitney Toone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
2007-08 IN REVIEW
Season Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82-84
Final Statistics/Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85-88
2008 Postseason Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89-91
Big Ten Statistics & Honors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92-94
Game Summaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95-103
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
08-09 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
VOLUME 35
4 THIS IS ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Welcome to Illinois Basketball. Led by energetic coach Jolette Law, Illinois
Basketball has first-class facilities and competes in the best basketball
conference in the nation – the Big Ten. Take a look at everything Illinois
Basketball has to offer.
46 THE COACHING STAFF
Head coach Jolette Law continues a new era of Fighting Illini basketball. She
and her young, energetic staff saw success in their first season, but that is just
the beginning. Find out more about Coach Law and the rest of the Fighting
Illini staff.
58 MEET THE ILLINI
Illinois returns three starters and welcomes six newcomers to a team that was
seconds away from an NCAA Tournament berth last season. Senior Chelsea
Gordon and juniors Lacey Simpson and Jenna Smith lead the way. Meet the
2008-09 Fighting Illini.
80 2007-08 IN REVIEW
Illinois finished 20-15 overall, was runner-up in the Big Ten Tournament
and earned a WNIT bid for the fourth-straight year, its 11th postseason
appearance in the last 12 years. Look back on the all the big games and
individual honors from 2007-08.
104 OPPONENTS
Find out about Illinois’ 11 non-conference opponents, the Caribbean
Challenge in Cancun and the always tough Big Ten rivals, as well as the Big
Ten Tournament.
OPPONENTS
Regular Season Opponents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106-111
Big Ten Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112-114
2009 NCAA Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
HISTORY
Year-by-Year Results/Stats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118-119
Sweet 16 Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120-121
All-Time Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122-131
Illinois and the Rankings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132-133
Series Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134-140
Postseason History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
The Last Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
All-Time Jersey Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
RECORDS
116 HISTORY
Results and season highlights from Illinois’ first 34 seasons of women’s
basketball.
144 THE RECORD BOOK
See how the current Fighting Illini stack up with the greats of the past.
Complete individual and team records all in one place.
1,000-Point Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146-148
Individual Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149-153
Team Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154-156
Home Court Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157-158
Honor Roll/Team Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159-162
All-Time Letterwinners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
164 MEDIA INFORMATION
MEDIA INFORMATION
Media guidelines for covering Fighting Illini women’s basketball.
Illinois Sports Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
Covering the Illini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
Media Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168
Big Ten Composite Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
Travel Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
Champaign-Urbana Visitor’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
TV/Radio Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
THIS IS ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
QUICK FACTS
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jolette Law
Alma Mater, Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Iowa ’90
Record at Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-15 (One season)
Career Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-15 (One season)
Assistant Coaches . . . . . . . . . . .Karen Middleton (South Carolina ’91)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tamika Louis (Fresno State ’97)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Patrick Klein (Ohio State ’05)
Asst. to the Head Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Diane Hobin (Hofstra ’95)
Video Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andre Johnson (Illinois ’06)
Athletic Trainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paul Schmidt (Northern Illinois ’92)
Basketball Office Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217-333-8612
MEDIA RELATIONS
Women’s Basketball SID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Derek Neal
Office Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217-244-3707
Home/Cell Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .309-241-0804
E-Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]
Asst. Women’s Basketball SID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Emily Wickstrom
Office Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217-333-3592
Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]
Office Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217-333-5540
Press Row Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217-333-1227
Mailing Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bielfeldt Athletic Building
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1700 South Fourth Street
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Champaign, IL 61820
Web Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.fightingillini.com
RADIO INFORMATION
Flagship Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WDWS-AM 1400
Play-By-Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dave Loane
CREDITS
Executive Editor: Derek Neal
Editorial Assistance: Emily Wickstrom
Interior Design: Derek Neal
Cover Design: Victor Cortez
Cover Photography: Mark Jones
Interior Photos: Mark Jones, Darrell Beachy, Mark Cowan, Cary
Frye, Rae Anne Schoenbacher, Derek Neal, Assembly Hall, WNBA,
Houston Comets, Dave Saffran/MSG Photos and Rutgers
University.
Special Thanks: Mark and Beth Jones and the entire Tintype staff
for their outstanding photographic coverage of Illinois Basketball.
Printed by: Premier Print Group, Champaign, Ill.
2008-09 ILLINOIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL // 3
RECORDS
HISTORY
OPPONENTS
2007-08 Overall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-15
2007-08 Big Ten Record/Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-10/9th
2007-08 Postseason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WNIT Third Round
Starters Returning/Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3/6
Newcomers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
REVIEW
2007-08 AT A GLANCE
ILLINI
First Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1974-75
Overall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .494-469 (34 years)
Big Ten Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195-247 (26 years)
Assembly Hall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199-104 (22 years)
Years in NCAA (8) . . . . . . . . . . .1982, ’86, ’87, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’03
Years in WNIT (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2001, ’02, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08
Big Ten Titles (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997
COACHES
TEAM HISTORY
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42,326
Nickname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fighting Illini
Founded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1867
Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Orange and Blue
Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NCAA Division I
Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Ten
Home Court (capacity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Assembly Hall (16,618)
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B. Joseph White
Chancellor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Richard Herman
Athletic Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ron Guenther
Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Young
Senior Assoc. AD (Women’s BB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Terry Cole
Ticket Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217-333-3470
MEDIA
UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Illinois women’s basketball team has unfinished
business heading into the 2008-09 season.
Memories of coming within seconds of a Big Ten
Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth are
fresh in players’ and coaches’ minds, and the
Fighting Illini are ready to turn the corner after the
roller coaster ride that was last season.
The Illini made a historic and memorable run in the
2008 Big Ten Tournament, winning three games in
three days and advancing to the championship
before falling to Purdue on a buzzer-beater. It was
one of many close games Illinois played, as the team
had seven conference games that came down to the
final possession.
This season, the Orange and Blue and second-year
head coach Jolette Law are primed and motivated to
take the next step toward Law’s goals of winning a
Big Ten championship and becoming a national
power.
“Expectations are high because of what we’ve done,”
Law said. “We had that memory of being within
three seconds of an NCAA berth with us all summer
and it has been our motivation since the game was
over.”
Illinois returns three key players from last season’s
squad in senior Chelsea Gordon and juniors Lacey
Simpson and Jenna Smith. The trio logged over
3,400 minutes in 2007-08 and all three will be
entering their third seasons as starters. All will be
called upon to carry just as big of a load on the court
this season as well as develop into leaders off the
court.
“The leadership of our upperclassmen has been
fantastic,” Law said. “I would put those three against
the best in the country. They know what we went
through last year and they’ve been echoing
everything I’m saying to the newcomers. The whole
culture around here is changing and that’s a good
thing.”
4 // 2008-09 ILLINOIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Smith is coming off one of the most impressive
individual seasons in recent Illini memory, averaging
18.3 points and 9.4 rebounds as a sophomore to
break onto the national scene. She was named an
Associated Press honorable mention All-American as
well as first team All-Big Ten. Law expects much of
the same out of Smith in her junior season, though
she will no longer be an unknown to opposing
coaches and players.
“I just want Jenna to take off from where she was last
year,” Law said. “She’s no longer the hunter, she’s the
hunted. She has to work 10 times harder because she
is going to be facing double and triple teams the
entire season. She is going to have to be that much
more focused and prepared, and we’re going to push
her and take her to another level.”
Gordon is well-known in the Big Ten for her defense
and was continually called upon last season to guard
the opposing team’s top scorer. As the Illini’s lone
senior, she will look to be more of an offensive threat
in her final season to complement her stellar defense.
“On defense, we rely on Chelsea all the time,” Law
said. “Going into this year, I also want her to be
confident about her ball handling and her shot.
We’re also relying on her to be the mother of this
group. She’s the only senior and we’re asking her to
help leave a legacy at Illinois.”
The most versatile Illini, Simpson can play every
position on the court and may be asked to so this
season. She led last year’s squad in assists (110) and
steals (83), while also blocking 38 shots and scoring
in double figures in 12 games. She was especially
effective late in the season, averaging 11.3 points and
7.5 boards per game in the Big Ten Tournament and
WNIT.
Mixing with the three veterans are five talented
newcomers, all of whom will be expected to
contribute in their first season in the Orange and
Blue. The Illini also will add the services of Lydia
McCully, who redshirted last season but went
through a year of practice and is familiar with Law’s
system.
“We have a small roster, but it’s a community,” Law
said. “Collectively, we’re all on the same page and it’s
nine strong. We have no excuses. We are going to be
conditioned and physically and mentally ready for
the challenge.”
Illinois will be tested early this season, with an
especially grueling non-conference schedule that
includes ACC opponents Maryland, North Carolina
and Virginia. The Orange and Blue also will be
challenged on the road prior to the Big Ten season,
with seven non-conference games played away from
Assembly Hall.
“In order to be the best we have to play the best,”
Law said. “Those programs have what I want, and I
want them to fear Illinois. We are not a second-class
university or program, and we feel that we can
compete with the best.”
After the challenging non-conference slate, the Illini
should be more than prepared for the 18-game Big
Ten season and hopefully in the thick of a
conference race that has no clear favorite.
“Everybody is taking notice of the Big Ten because
we’re starting to recruit at a different level and play
the toughest competition,” Law said. “Across the
board, everyone in the conference is changing their
style.”
GUARDS
“I continually push Lacey, because she is destined to
be an All-American,” Law said. “She has been
working extremely hard and we’re just trying to get
her mentally ready for everything we are going to ask
out of her this year.”
The Illini backcourt will consist of three newcomers,
all of whom are expected to have long and exciting
careers with the Orange and Blue. Leading the way
is redshirt-freshman McCully (Bedford Heights,
Ohio), who Law hopes will play more like a veteran
SEASON OUTLOOK (CONTINUED)
after having a year of practice under her belt.
“(Gordon) had some breakout games last season,
so we know she can do it,” Law said. “(Simpson) is
my utility person. We’re going to train her as a
guard but also put her in the post. I want her to be
free in our offense so she can utilize her talents.”
Freshman Macie Blinn (Greenville, Ohio) will be
an immediate asset to the Illini with her threepoint shooting ability. In high school, the Ohio
All-Stater scored over 1,500 career points and
averaged 22.5 during her senior campaign.
“The way she has worked out in the preseason,
she’s probably one of the best shooters in the
league,” Law said. “Now we’re working on her
footwork, technique and touch. I’m constantly
impressed by her efforts because she wants to get
better and wants to learn.”
Also in the mix is junior Whitney Toone
(Brooklyn, N.Y.), who comes to the Illini after
spending two seasons at Okaloosa-Walton College.
Law sees Toone as a high-energy player with a
veteran presence.
“Whitney has an edge to her and she doesn’t quit,”
Law said. “Everything she does is at game speed.
Her playing experience is something we’re going to
need.”
Jenna Smith was one of only eight players in the
nation to average at least 18 points and nine
rebounds last season.
POSTS
Last season, most of the Illini offense ran through
Smith (Bloomington, Minn.) as she achieved a
number of individual accomplishments. She
scored in double figures in 34 of 35 games in
2007-08, and posted 16 double-doubles to lead
the conference while also leading the Big Ten in
minutes played (37.3). Smith also set the Illinois
single-season blocks record (59) needs just 28
points to reach 1,000 for her career. Despite these
figures, Law believes Smith is just scratching the
surface of her talent.
“I want her to continue to be hungry and continue
to be consistent while embracing what we’re trying
to teach her,” Law said. “She doesn’t need to put
the weight of the world on her back. If she does her
part, we will have other people around her to help.
She also knows that her great sophomore year
means nothing if she doesn’t continue to improve
as a junior.”
Spelling minutes for Smith and contributing in the
frontcourt will be freshman Lana Rukavina
(Wheeling, Ill.), who helped lead Wheeling High
School to a 104-21 record in her four years as a
starter. She averaged over 13 points and seven
rebounds in each of her last two seasons and can
knock down shots from the outside as well as play
on the block.
FEBRUARY
5
Michigan State*
8
at Indiana*
12
Northwestern*
15
at Purdue*
22
Penn State* (WBCA “Pink Zone” Game)
26
at Iowa*
7 p.m.
11 a.m.
6 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
5 p.m.
6 p.m.
3 p.m.
6 p.m.
8 p.m.
11:30 a.m.
7 p.m.
12 p.m.
2 p.m.
TBA
MARCH
1
at Minnesota*
5-8 Big Ten Tournament
21-24 NCAA First and Second Rounds
28-31 NCAA Regionals
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
APRIL
5-7 NCAA Final Four
TBA
^ Cancun Caribbean Challenge MTE
& United Center, Chicago, Ill.
% Myrtle Beach, S.C.
* Big Ten Conference Game
Dates and times subject to change
“Lana is going to surprise people,” Law said. “She
is a quick learner and has a nice touch on her shot.
If she continues to be patient and wants to learn,
she will be an asset on our team.”
RECORDS
HISTORY
OPPONENTS
JANUARY
1
Wisconsin*
3
Minnesota*
8
at Michigan*
12
Ohio State*
Iowa*
15
18
at Wisconsin*
22
at Ohio State*
25
Indiana*
29
at Northwestern*
REVIEW
Gordon (Erie, Pa.) and Simpson (Zion, Ill.) lead
the way at the small forward position and will be
asked to help Smith carry some of the scoring load.
Both upperclassmen are strong defenders who have
shown flashes of their offensive talents, but Law
hopes for more consistency. Last season, Gordon
averaged 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game,
while Simpson averaged 7.2 points and 5.0
rebounds.
7:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
2 p.m.
7 p.m.
11 a.m.
ILLINI
WINGS
DECEMBER
4
Virginia (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)
6
vs. Bradley (Lexus Classic&)
at UW-Milwaukee
10
20
vs. North Carolina (Carolina Challenge%)
22
Purdue*
28
at Penn State*
COACHES
“I really feel like I have three point guards and if
you have three who know the game inside and out
,you consider yourself a dangerous team,” Law
said. “Lydia has the most experience, while Fab is
extremely quick and a great defender. Eboni is a
very crafty guard and her shooting is the most
consistent of the three.”
12 p.m.
1 p.m.
12 p.m.
8:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
TBA
TBA
TBA
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Freshmen Fabiola Josil (Coral Springs, Fla.) and
Eboni Mitchell (Decatur, Ga.) both came to the
Illini as highly-touted recruits and will see plenty
of time at both guard positions along with
McCully.
NOVEMBER
9
SIU-Edwardsville (Exhibition)
14
at IPFW
16
Eastern Illinois
19
Missouri
23
Temple
26
vs. Montana^
vs. South Dakota State^
27
28
vs. Maryland^
MEDIA
2008-09 ILLINOIS SCHEDULE
“To me, Lydia is in the best situation of anyone,”
Law said. “She was on the bench last season and
she watched. She knows my terminology, saw the
adjustments and could hear the coaching
corrections. Now it’s about applying what she
learned last year. She has a lot of natural ability and
can make everybody else on the court better as a
true point guard.”
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
Jolette Law became Illinois’ seventh
Head Women’s Basketball Coach on
May 11, 2007.
THE JOLETTE LAW ERA - YEAR ONE
Law picked up her first career victory with a 30-point
win at Eastern Illinois to open the season.
Jenna Smith became
Illinois’ first All-American
since 2000
4
4
played swarming “D”, leading
3 Illinois
the Big Ten in scoring defense.
Law led Illinois to 20 victories in her
first season, the most by an Illini
team in eight seasons.
4
THE JOLETTE LAW ERA - YEAR ONE
MEDIA
4
HISTORY
The Illini broke four school records,
incuding free throw percentage,
three-pointers made, blocks and
fewest turnovers
RECORDS
3
Illinois beat #19 Ohio State in
January, making it 14 straight
years that the Illini have beaten
a ranked opponent.
OPPONENTS
3 marking the 11th postseason appearance
Illinois advanced to the postseason WNIT,
ILLINI
4
Illinois wins the FIU
Thanksgiving Classic
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
The Fighting Illini made a historic run to the
Big Ten Tournament Championship game.
REVIEW
for the Illini in the last 12 seasons.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
ASSEMBLY HALL
When it’s time to take the court, Illinois has an
outstanding home in Assembly Hall. The Hall opened in
1963 and has served as home to Fighting Illini women’s
basketball since 1981. The Illini moved to Huff Hall for
five seasons from 1993-98, but returned to Assembly
Hall in 1999 after a multi-million dollar construction
project that brought the team a new locker room,
training room and dining area, as well as a new tunnel
area to accommodate network television trucks and team
buses. The most recent addition to The Hall was a $1.7
million state-of-the-art videoboard installed prior to the
2005 season.
A multi-purpose arena, Assembly Hall has welcomed
such stars as Aerosmith, Janet Jackson, Destiny’s Child,
and MC Hammer. Recently Dave Matthews Band,
Ludacris, Pearl Jam, Ja Rule, Kanye West, Aerosmith,
Elton John, Van Halen, Grease and Dave Chappelle have
highlighted the Assembly Hall schedule.
Illini women’s basketball continues to be popular in Champaign, especially among families. A mix of young and old alike have caught “Illini Fever” in recent
years. And now, under the leadership of new head coach Jolette Law and the Illinois marketing office, there is renewed excitement surrounding the program.
Young fans have a spot behind the Illini basket, where they can be loud in cheering on their favorite team. In addition, fans of all ages can celebrate their
birthday with a courtside party for up to eight people. For many games, birthday party space is sold out well in advance. The Illini band has taken ownership
and pride over playing at Illini home games and traveling with the team to the postseason. The Blue Crew, the raved student cheering section, gives
tremendous support to the Illini each game as well.
ASSEMBLY HALL
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
The University of Illinois’ Assembly Hall is one of the top arenas
in the nation. It seats over 16,000 fans for events, and women’s
basketball has averaged as many as 7,400 fans per night. The
Blue Crew student section, courtside parties and end zone
seating, along with the sea of orange shirts, make games at
Assembly Hall a fun and intimidating atmosphere.
In October 1998, Illinois moved into the state-of-the-art Richard T. Ubben Basketball Complex on the campus of the University of Illinois.
This $5.5 million dollar facility is a direct result of the university's commitment to excellence in athletics. It houses not only a full-sized
practice court, but its features include locker rooms for the coaches and players, a players’ lounge, video review room, training room and
weight room. The 40,000-square-foot facility is home to everything the players need to make it through the day. After classes, players can
spend time studying or using the computers in the video room. The locker room has lockers for each player and is adjacent to the players'
lounge and video room.
When it’s time to get taped before practice, the players just walk across the hall to the fully equipped training room which is located next to
the practice court. In the area of strength and conditioning, the players have use of the weight room, which has free weights, Nautilus
equipment, treadmills and a Stairmaster. The team utilizes both the weight room at the Ubben Complex and Huff Gym.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
UBBEN BASKETBALL COMPLEX
The Ubben Facility gives the Fighting Illini women a
practice court all their own. The men have a separate
practice gym on the other side of the buiding. Each side
contains a full-length court and 10 hoops. The players enjoy
their own locker room as well as a lounge – complete with
two brand-new big screen plasma televisions – study areas,
computers, video rooms, conference rooms, strength and
conditioning equipment and a training room.
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
UBBEN BASKETBALL COMPLEX
The Illinois coaching staff has had plenty of success in preparing
players for a future in the Women’s National Basketball Association
(WNBA). The new staff of Jolette Law, Karen Middleton, Tamika
Louis and Patrick Klein has helped develop 24 players that have gone
on to play in the league. The list is led by 2007 WNBA Finals MVP
Cappie Pondexter and 2008 All-Rookie Team member Matee Ajavon.
Pondexter, a former Law pupil at Rutgers, helped the Phoenix
Mercury to the 2007 WNBA Title by averaging 22.0 points and 5.6
assists in the finals. She followed that up by averaging 21.2 points and
4.2 assists per game in 2008. Ajavon averaged 8.0 points per game in
her first season with the Houston Comets.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
THE NEXT LEVEL
2007 WNBA Finals MVP Cappie Pondexter (above), Matee Ajavon (top left),
Essence Carson (top right), Tammy Sutton-Brown (bottom left) and Chelsea
Newton (bottom right) all developed at Rutgers with the help of Illini head
coach Jolette Law. Photos courtesy Rutgers University, the Minnesota Lynx,
Houston Comets, Dave Saffran/MSG Photos and the WNBA.
WNBA PLAYERS COACHED BY THE CURRENT ILLINOIS STAFF
Matee Ajavon
Vanessa Nygaard
Susan Borchardt
Heather Owen
Essence Carson
Tasha Pointer
Davalyn Cunningham
Cappie Pondexter
Jessica Davenport
Nicole Powell
Bethany Donaphin
Olympia Scott-Richardson
Rebecca Richman
Milena Flores
Kristin Folkl
Shawnetta Stewart
Usha Gilmore
Tammy Sutton-Brown
Carolyn Moos
Sue Wicks
Naomi Mulitauaopele
Candice Wiggins
Chelsea Newton
Lindsey Yamasaki
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
ILLINI IN THE PROS
WILLIAMS WINS WNBA CHAMPIONSHIP WITH DETROIT SHOCK
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
Angelina Williams, a 2005 Illinois alumna, became the first Illini to win a WNBA title when
the Detroit Shock defeated the Sacramento Monarchs, 70-65, on Sept. 9, 2006, in Detroit. In
April 2005, Williams was chosen by Phoenix in the second round of the 2005 WNBA Draft.
As the 18th overall selection and the fifth pick of the second round, Williams was the highestever UI draft pick. When she took the court in the Mercury’s season opener in June of ’05, she
became the first former Illini to play in a WNBA game. Prior to the 2006 season, Williams was
traded to Detroit for a pair of third-round picks.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Williams had a stellar career at Illinois, finishing fourth on the UI career scoring list with 1,639
points while also finishing among the career leaders in rebounds, assists, steals and blocked
shots. She was a three-time All-Big Ten honoree, including first team honors by the media in
2004-05.
ILLINI IN THE WNBA DRAFT
Yr
2005
2004
2000
Player
Angelina Williams
Cindy Dallas
Tauja Catchings
Team
Rd/Pick
Phoenix
2/5
San Antonio
2/8
Phoenix
3/5
Ovr. Pick
18
21
37
SEVERAL FORMER ILLINI
PLAY OVERSEAS
Former Illini stars Audrey Tabon (2003-08),
left, Janelle Hughes (2002-06), second from
left, Aminata Yanni (2000-04), second from
right, and Rebecca Harris (2006-08), far right,
are among the seven former Illini playing
professionally overseas. Tabon is playing in the
Netherlands, Hughes played with Club Riva in
Switzerland last year, Yanni played for the
Espérance Sportive Pully Basket Club in
Lausanne, Switzerland, and Harris is playing
for Sparta Praha in the Czech Republic.
In addition Iveta Marcauskaite (2000-02) is
playing in her home country of Lithuania,
Danyel Crutcher (2004-08) is playing in
Bulgaria and Angelina Williams (2001-05) in
Greece.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the state's classic land grant
university, dedicated to building on its tradition of excellence in education,
research and public engagement, and driven to innovate in each of these
missions. True to its commitment to provide access to top quality higher
education to all of Illinois, the Urbana campus regularly ranks among the
"best buys" among American universities.
More than 2,000 faculty members lead more than 40,000 undergraduate,
graduate and professional students in a process of discovery and learning in 16
colleges and schools and more than 80 research centers and labs.
Illinois provides a diverse learning environment with students and faculty
members from more than 120 nations, and a choice of 150 undergraduate
majors. Students have opportunities ranging from participating in research or
studying abroad, to leading one of more than 1,000 student organizations.
Illinois faculty members win the most prestigious national and international
awards, including Nobel and Pulitzer prizes, Guggenheim Fellowships, Tony
Awards, and National Medals of Science and Technology. Illinois alumni are
similarly recognized; 11 have won Nobel Prizes.
Campus resources include one of the world’s largest public university libraries,
with its online resources and precious rare book collections, including the
earliest specimen of printing in the world, the oldest book printed in moveable
type, and the first folio of Shakespeare (1623).
World-class research facilities include the National Center for
Supercomputing Applications, Beckman Institute and the Siebel Center for
Computer Science, and the campus community enjoys outstanding centers for
the arts as well as Big Ten sports.
Finally, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the only U.S.
institution of higher education ranking in the top ten in the three key metrics
of international education: international student enrollment, total number of
study abroad students, and the number of federally funded Title VI National
Resource Centers for international and area studies. The campus has
collaborative relationships with the best institutions around the world, which
benefit students and faculty alike.
In its 2008 rankings, U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges rated
Illinois as the No. 8 public university and the No. 38 national university.
Top: The Quad is the hub of all activity on the University of Illinois campus.
Middle: Illinois’ Union, located on the north end of the Quad.
Above: The Engineering Quad.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
2008 PUBLIC UNIVERSITY RANKINGS
RECORDS
MEDIA
University of California
University of Virginia
UCLA
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina
College of William & Mary (VA)
Georgia Tech
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
University of California-San Diego
University of Wisconsin
*2008 US News and World Report
HISTORIC FIRSTS AT ILLINOIS
1868 — first architectural instruction west of the Allegheny Mountains
1876 — establishment of the oldest continuous soil fertility research plots in
the Unites States, the Morrow Plots
1893 — first school of library science west of the Alleghenies
1922 — invention of sound-on-film movies
1935 — discovery of the essential amino acid threonine
1940 — invention of the betatron for high energy physics
1948 — first comprehensive college program for students with severe
physical disabilities
Established in 1876, the Morrow Plots are the oldest
1952 — construction of the pioneering ILLIAC and ORDVAC computers
experimental research fields in the United States.
1959 — development of PLATO, the first computer used for direct education
1970 — construction of the first visible-spectrum semiconductor laser
1977 — discovery of a third life form, distinct from the forms that produce plants, animals and bacterial, called Archaea
1977 — development of the quantum well laser, which made compact disc players possible
1990 — invention of the e-mail program Eudora
1993 — development of the first browser for the world wide web, Mosaic, which was developed into Netscape
1996 — development of a processing method that extends the life of microchips as much as 50 times
2001 — development of self-healing plastics
2003 — the University Library’s collection exceeds 10 million volumes, the largest collection of any public university in the world
2004 — development of the laser transistor
2005 — development of the world's fastest transistor and of a stretchable silicon that can be used to build high-performance electronic
devices onto rubber substances
2006 — discovery of synthetic molecule that causes cancer cells to self-destruct
2007 — student invention allows wheelchairs to be controlled by thought
2008 — development begins on Blue Waters - expected to be the world's most powerful academic supercomputer
•
The College of Engineering is ranked 5th
(tie) in undergraduate and 5th in graduate
programs nationally.
•
The College of Business is ranked 12th (tie) in
undergraduate programs nationally.
•
The accountancy program in the College of
Business is ranked 2nd nationally.
•
The College of Education is ranked 25th in
graduate programs nationally.
•
The Master of Fine Arts program is ranked
21st (tie) in the country.
•
The Ph.D. Chemistry program is ranked
7th (tie) nationally.
The campus currently has 14 undergraduate and 39
graduate programs and specializations ranked
among the top 10 nationally and seven
undergraduate or graduate programs ranked first
nationally.
PC Magazine (Dec 2006) ranks Illinois as the 6th
“Most Connected, Plugged-in, and High-Tech
Campus in the Country.”
The Harvard Graduate School of Education cited
(2006) the University of Illinois as an “exemplary
institution” for faculty satisfaction in the following
categories: nature of work, policy effectiveness,
work and family, and global satisfaction.
DesignIntelligence (Dec. 2006) magazine's
“America's Best Architecture and Design Schools
2006” ranked Illinois' Undergraduate and Graduate
Industrial Design programs #8 and Graduate
Architecture program #10 in the nation.
The Princeton Review named Illinois as one of the
nation's best value undergraduate institutions in the
new 2008 edition of its book, America's Best Value
Colleges.
REVIEW
The Graduate School of Library and
Information Science's program is tied for 1st
in the nation.
ILLINI
•
COACHES
According to the 2009 U.S. News & World Report's
graduate and 2008 undergraduate rankings:
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
Right: The Alma Mater Statue.
Far Right: An example of a UI dormitory.
Below: Altgeld Hall, the math building.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
ACADEMICS
Top: The Irwin Academic Center is a facility dedicated to the academic endeavors of Illinois’ studentathletes. It houses the academic staff, computer labs and study lounges; Above left: The lounge in the
front room of Irwin; Above Right: A new Irwin computer lab; Left: Another Irwin study lounge; Above: The
new Irwin presentation room.
The goal of each sports program within the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Illinois is to strive toward success. The DIA has taken
a comprehensive approach to the success of the student-athlete. The Illini Life Skills program is designed to meet the total needs of the student-athlete.
Sponsored by the NCAA, the Illini Life Skills program is comprised of five programming commitment areas viewed as critical to personal growth and
development. The commitment areas are: academic excellence, athletic excellence, personal development, service to campus and surrounding communities
and career development.
This comprehensive balance of academic excellence, athletic achievement and personal well-being is stressed daily by the staff and coaches. Inevitably, a
student-athlete’s playing days will end, but with the assistance of the Illini Life Skills program, each Fighting Illini athlete will be fully prepared for career
and personal challenges ahead.
Presentations and workshops in many of the above areas can be ordered from the Illini Life Skills menu on an individual or team basis. Each program is
tailored to the specific individual’s request.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: Among the elements
stressed by the academic services department to
assure student-athlete success are counseling and
tutorial services, a monitoring program and
state-of-the-art computer labs. The Irwin
Academic Center, the former Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity house, opened as a center to
consolidate academic services for studentathletes.
ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE: Athletically, the University
of Illinois has long supported a broad-based
sports program. Its coaching staff and facilities
are among the nation’s best. The UI’s support
units included excellent staffs for recruiting,
equipment, facilities maintenance, fund-raising,
publicity and promotions. Its sports medicine
staff not only assists student-athletes in strength
training and conditioning, but also in personal
health maintenance.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: As important as the
UI’s commitment is to the student-athlete’s
performance in the classroom and on the field, it
also considers the individual’s spiritual and
emotional needs, and his/her career objectives.
Fighting Illini student-athletes are afforded the
opportunity to attend a variety of seminars
during their collegiate experience, helping them
enhance their future following athletics. Among
the seminars offered are those in career
placement, financial planning, time and stress
management, sexual harassment, drug and
alcohol education and player/agent relations.
SERVICE: The DIA also sponsors a Student
Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), which is
made up of representatives from all 19 Fighting
Illini intercollegiate athletic teams.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT: The strong relationships
built within the vast Illinois alumni networking
system provide excellent opportunities for all
student-athletes, whether it be for summer jobs,
internships or in career placement after
graduation. Once the individual’s career is
established, the DIA asks for participation in a
follow-up program that allows student-athletes
to benefit from their predecessors’ experiences.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
ACADEMICS
COACHES
ILLINI
All three seniors from the 2007-08 women’s basketball team, Stephanie Chelleen (left), Rebecca Harris (right) and Audrey Tabon (not pictured) left Illinois with a
degree. Chelleen earned her degree in community health, Harris in speech communications and Tabon in rhetoric.
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
ACADEMICS
TROY COLLIER
ACADEMIC COUNSELOR
RECORDS
MEDIA
Troy Collier enters his second season
as academic counselor for the men’s
and women’s basketball teams,
monitoring the academic progress of
student-athletes and assisting them
in time management, study skills,
degree attainment and career
development.
In August 2007, the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics completed the expansion of
the Irwin Academic Services Center. With the great continued support from the Irwin
Family Foundation, the project assists student-athletes in many academic areas. The
$4.6 million expansion of the Irwin Center added 11,400 square feet allowing more
opportunities for student-athletes to achieve their academic goals. Student resource
areas comprised of a presentation room, a new general study area, individual tutoring
and study rooms, and a computer lab allow this all to happen. Student-athletes now
have more access to computers, better environments to meet with tutors, and the
opportunity to have more space to concentrate on their academic endeavors.
FOUR ILLINI NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
REVIEW
ILLINI
IRWIN ACADEMIC CENTER GETS EXPANSION
COACHES
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
Collier spent eight seasons as an
assistant men’s basketball coach prior to joining the Illinois
staff, most recently spending the 2006-07 season coaching at
Ball State. He also coached four seasons at Missouri State and
three at Eastern Illinois.
Four members of Illinois’ women's basketball team
were named to the 2007-08 Academic All-Big Ten
team. The Fighting Illini recognized were senior
Rebecca Harris (speech communication), juniors Lori
Bjork (political science) and Erin McCarthy (speech
communication), and redshirt sophomore Lacey
Simpson (sport management). Bjork was also named
to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic AllDistrict first team for the second-straight season.
ILLINI TEAMS EXCEL IN THE CLASSROOM IN 2007-08
• Fourteen of 19 Illinois athletic teams recorded over a 3.0 GPA in 2007-08
• Football’s Ryan McDonald was named an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic AllAmerican and Illinois had 12 athletes earn Academic All-District honors
• Thirty-eight (38) student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA in 2007-08.
• Two sports, women’s golf and women’s cross country, earned a perfect 1.000 in the NCAA
Academic Progess Rate (APR).
• 127 student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2007-08.
• Sixty (60) percent of all student-athletes earned over a 3.0 GPA in the spring, while 48
percent posted a 3.0 or better in the fall.
At Missouri State, Collier was responsible for practice and
game coaching, academics and recruiting, as well as the dayto-day operations of the basketball program. The Bears were
a combined 77-48 during his four years from 2002-06,
advancing to the finals of the MVC Tournament twice and
playing in the postseason NIT twice.
Prior to his time at Missouri State, Collier spent three years as
an assistant at Eastern Illinois, where the Panthers won the
2001 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament to advance to the
NCAA Tournament.
He earned an MBA and a master’s degree in sports
administration from Illinois in 1996 before spending three
years as a human relations and labor relations representative
for Hamilton Standard-United Technologies in Connecticut.
Collier received his bachelor's degree in sociology from
Eastern Illinois in 1994 where he was a three-year
letterwinner on the basketball team. A point guard, Collier
was team captain as a senior and helped the Panthers to the
NCAA Tournament during the 1991-92 season.
A native of Danville, Ill., Collier and his wife, Hayonna, have
one son, Aaron.
SPORTS MEDICINE
When it comes to sports medicine, the University of Illinois has the
finest in medical personnel to keep the Fighting Illini basketball
players healthy and on the court. The sports medicine staff’s No. 1
goal is the prevention of injuries, but in the unfortunate event of an
injury the staff works diligently to get the athlete back into playing
condition as quickly as possible.
MEDIA
• Certified assistant athletic trainer Paul Schmidt and two student
trainers are available to assess and rehabilitate injuries.
RECORDS
• The state-of-the-art training room features whirlpools centrally
located next to the locker room. The training room is located in
the Ubben Basketball Complex adjacent to the women’s practice
court and weight room.
HISTORY
• The staff and training room are available year-round to studentathletes.
OPPONENTS
• The Illinois sports medicine program provides athletes with
comprehensive rehabilitation and training programs to lessen
the impact of and quicken the recovery from injuries.
REVIEW
• The training room features the latest diagnostic and
rehabilitative equipment, including ultrasound, high-volt, inferential and microcurrent stimulation equipment; and Cybex
isokinetic exercise and testing devices.
ILLINI
PAUL SCHMIDT
ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
The
women’s
basketball
athletic training staff is headed
by Assistant Athletic Trainer
Paul Schmidt, who is in his
third season at Illinois and his
15th year working in college
athletics.
The Lombard, Ill., native spent
four years as the head athletic
trainer at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich.,
before coming to Illinois in August 2006. Prior to that
,he spent eight years working as an athletic trainer at
Syracuse University.
Schmidt received his B.S. in physical education from
Northern Illinois University in 1992 before spending
one year as an athletic trainer at the High Plains Sports
Medicine Clinic in Hays, Kan.
He then headed to Syracuse to pursue a master’s degree
and work as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the
Orange sports programs. Schmidt earned his M.S. in
exercise physiology from Syracuse University in 1996
and spent the next six years there as an assistant athletic
trainer.
Schmidt is an Illinois State Licensed Athletic Trainer, is
an American Red Cross Certified Instructor for First
Aid, CPR & AED, and is a National Academy of Sports
Medicine Performance Enhancement Speicalist. He is a
member of the National Athletic Trainers Association
and the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
There is no question that physical and mental
dominance of an opponent is the goal of every
major basketball program in the country, and a
sport-specific strength and conditioning program
plays a vital part in the success of any basketball
team. Jimmy Price, the strength and conditioning
coordinator for women’s basketball, is committed
to the physical and mental development of each
and every Illini basketball player.
“The bottom line is that the team which dominates
its opponent physically and mentally is going to
win the game,” Price said. “It is our personal
mission to put each player in the best possible
position to be successful on the basketball court.”
The strength and conditioning program is designed
to make each student-athlete a better basketball
player. There are many different contributing
factors to physical dominance in basketball. The
key is to be able to produce power in all three
planes of movement and have great single-leg
strength, balance, and stability. Basketball athletes
require a training program that has a main focus on
the development of power for the enhancement of
movement efficiency. Incorporating basketball
specific movements and single-leg strength
movements is paramount for basketball.
The Basketball Strength and Conditioning
program philosophies are based on 10 key
principles:
1. Ground Based Activities: Select lifting exercises
and conditioning drills that apply force with the
feet against the ground such as cleans, jerks and
squats.
2. Multiple-Joint Actions performed with both singleleg and double-leg exercises: Multiple-joint actions
improve your athletic performance by coordinating
simultaneous muscle contractions and movements
in a coordinating fashion.
3. Three-Dimensional Movements: Sport skills involve
movements in three planes of space simultaneously:
forward-backward, up-down, and side-to-side.
The incorporation of cable movement drills, multidirectional hops and bounds, and multi-directional
lunging patterns enhance a player’s ability to
change direction, have unilateral knee stability and
strength, and also will enhance an athlete’s court
athleticism.
4. Train Explosively: The amount of force required
for a given activity is regulated by the use of two
different types of motor units found in the body:
fast twitch and slow twitch. These factors mean a
fast twitch fiber can generate up to four times
greater force that a slow twitch fiber, which is key
to being explosive on the basketball court.
5. Progressive Overload and Force Application:
Application of the load has crucial impact on
maximizing performance and keeping sport
injuries to a minimum. Overload occurs when the
body responds to training loads greater than
normal. Speed of execution and intensity of load
are the key factors used to progressively increase an
athlete’s maximal power production.
6. Application and Periodization: Use different
combinations of volume and intensity to generate
different body responses. Volume and intensity are
determined according to each individual’s need and
time of the year.
7. Split Routine: The split routine allows good
recovery and rebuilding as well as at least two full
days of recovery from each exercise.
8. Speed Day/Strength Day: Each training day is
designated by the type and velocity of the
movements being performed.
9. Train the Correct Energy System: The primary
objective of conditioning is to improve your energy
capacity and, therefore, improve your performance.
This means that if your sport requires explosive
movements, then the training should be tailored
around this principle.
10. Proper Sports Nutrition: This concept is of the
utmost importance and is often most overlooked
by student-athletes. Every variable in this area
affects the outcome of the training day and the
future of the next session. Many student-athletes
take this area for granted, which is a critical mistake
because it is vital to completely replenish used
energy stores. If this does not happen, recovery for
the next workout will be compromised.
“The use of these 10 principles is key in the process
of developing explosive, athletic basketball
players,” Price said. “It is crucial for basketball
student-athletes to maximize their explosive
potential on the court. We think this type of
training will have the greatest effect not only on the
vertical jump but also the other vital skills that it
takes to become a superior basketball athlete.”
Working closely with athletic trainer Al Martindale
and the coaching staff is the most effective way to
implement and monitor an effective workout
regime that best suits each student-athlete. Price
uses a hands-on method of coaching for teaching
proper techniques and lifting methods.
“It is a long and rigorous season. The team that is
in the best shape mentally and physically will rise
above the competition at the end of the season. All
of our training and practices are focused around
one goal: winning in March and April.”
BASKETBALL TRAINING PROGRAM GOALS:
• Maximize basketball athleticism through training
explosively in three planes of movement.
• Enhance lateral speed, change of direction, and first
step explosion.
• Enhance single-leg strength, speed and explosion for
the purpose of injury prevention.
• Enhance core strength and athletic flexibility through
sports specific sequence stretching.
• Increase level of anaerobic basketball conditioning and
mental toughness.
• Strengthen joints and faulty muscle imbalances in
order to prevent injuries and optimize movement
efficiency.
• Educate athletes on proper nutritional habits to
optimize lean body mass-to-fat mass ratio.
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
JIMMY PRICE
A key tool in the process of increasing an athlete’s explosive potential is the Vertimax.
With the Vertimax, athletes utilize varying levels of resistance provided by cords
while performing single- and double-leg jumping routines. Illinois players also utilize
many three-dimensional movement pattern drills in order to maximize first step
quickness and direction change efficiency. Jimmy Price, the team’s Strength and
Conditioning Coordinator, supervises all workout sessions.
RECORDS
HISTORY
OPPONENTS
REVIEW
Fighting Illini basketball players have the opportunity to maximize all components
of sports performance in a state-of-the-art facility within the Ubben Basketball
Practice Facility. Located just a few steps from the practice floor, the strength and
conditioning room incorporates cutting edge equipment and programs to help the
UI athletes maximize their potential and prepare them for the long and demanding
college basketball season.
ILLINI
BASKETBALL STRENGTH ROOM
A native of Amarillo, Texas, Price served in the United States
Marine Corps from 1996-2002, where he was a physical training
and nutritional liaison for the Marines of his detachment. After
graduation he worked for the Red Raiders in the areas of strength
and conditioning and sports nutrition. Price currently holds
certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
and Specialist in Performance Nutrition.
COACHES
Prior to joining the staff at Illinois, Price
served as an assistant strength coach and
sports performance nutritionist at Texas Tech University, where he
spent five years working with the football, men’s and women’s
tennis, track and field, and the men’s basketball team under Coach
Bob Knight. Price earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise sports
science with an emphasis in fitness, wellness and nutrition from
Texas Tech University.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Jimmy Price, CSCS, SPN is in his sixth
year with the Illini as an assistant
strength and conditioning coach and
sports nutritionist under Jim Zielinski.
Currently, Price serves as the strength
and conditioning coordinator as well as
the sports nutritionist for both the men’s
and women’s basketball teams.
MEDIA
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH
NATIONAL EXPOSURE
Illinois women’s basketball games are televised across the national airwaves.
This season, the Fighting Illini will be televised on CBS, ESPN2 and the Big
Ten Network. At least 11 regular season games will be televised nationally with
the potential for more, and at least six others will be streamed live on
BigTenNetwork.com.
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
In addition to seeing dozens of games over the airwaves, the Jolette Law Show
can be seen each week during conference play on WICD Channel 15 in
Champaign-Urbana and nationally on the Big Ten Network. The Jolette Law
show will air initially on WICD Sunday nights at 11 p.m. CT starting Jan. 4
and running through March 1. Big Ten Network air times will be announced
at a later date.
Highlight videos, blogs, game recaps, photos and feature stories can also be
found throughout the year at fightingillini.com, BigTenNetwork.com or other
national website such as ESPN.com.
FIGHTINGILLINI.COM
v
OVER 18 MILLION VISITORS IN 2007-08
v
RANKED 13TH NATIONALLY IN TOTAL PAGE VIEWS IN 2007-08
v
RANKED 12TH IN ALL-ACCESS VIDEO/AUDIO SUBSCRIPTIONS
MEDIA
The latest Fighting Illini women’s basketball videos, news, features and merchandise
are just a click away when fans set their computers’ internet home pages to
www.fightingillini.com.
RECORDS
Now, Illinois followers can experience more video, audio and original content than
ever before. In addition to the regular features of game notes, game stories, statistics
and photos, the site also provides blogs, wallpaper, podcasts and much more. Other
recent additions to the website have included RSS feeds and a desktop
communicator.
HISTORY
Potential Fighting Illini basketball recruits can head to fightingillini.com for all of
the features they’re looking for. Athletes have direct access to online facility tours,
important Illinois visit dates, academic, strength and athletic training information,
Illinois admission forms, and material on the NCAA Clearinghouse and all of
Illinois’ strong traditions.
OPPONENTS
People have taken notice.
ILLINI
REVIEW
The official Fighting Illini website has consistently been one of the most-accessed
collegiate athletics websites in the nation. CoachRonZook.com provided special indepth, wall-to-wall coverage of Illinois' highly successful Signing Day last February,
and, for the third year in a row, the site was near the top nationally in terms of
traffic on the CBS College Sports Network, which is comprised of more than 200
college athletic departments across the nation. In fact, during the week of Signing
Day, there were more than 580,000 page hits on the site by more than 85,000
unique visitors. There were more than 228,000 page hits on Signing Day alone.
For the 2007-08 school year, Illinois ranked 12th in the number of unique page
visitors, and 13th in total page views.
FIGHTINGILLINI.COM FEATURES:
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
• The latest news on Illinois’ 19 varsity sports
• Up-to-date results, schedules, statistics and game notes
• Feature stories on Illini student-athletes and coaches
• Student-athlete and coach biographies
• Stay up-to-date on Jenna Smith’s All-America campaign at jennasmith13.com
• Downloadable media guides, schedules and wallpaper
• Photo galleries
• Live radio broadcasts
• Audio and video clips
• Video features and highlight reels
• Plus much, much more!
ILLINI SPORTS NETWORK
All Illinois women’s basketball games will be
carried by the Illini Sports Network, which can be
heard primarily on WDWS AM-1400 and WDAN
AM-1490. The broadcasts can also be heard live
online at www.fightingillini.com.
Dave Loane returns as the play-by-play voice of
the Illini for the 20th straight season. Loane won
the prestigious Mel Greenberg Award in 2005 for
his commitment to women’s basketball and helping to advance the role of the media in women’s
baksetball.
Brian Moline and Mike Koon will serve as color analysts during the season. Moline and Koon also
will fill in as the play-by-play voice when Loane is on assignment.
Dave Loane is the long time play-by-play voice of
Illinois women’s basketball.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
BIG TEN NETWORK
THE BIG TEN IS NOT JUST A CONFERENCE, IT’S A CULTURE. AND THE BIG TEN NETWORK IS WHERE IT LIVES.
ABOUT THE BIG TEN NETWORK
The Big Ten Network is dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference and its 11
member institutions. The Big Ten Network provides unprecedented access to an
extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows; original programs in
academics, the arts and sciences; campus activities; and associated personalities.
Sports programming includes live coverage of more events than ever before, along
with news, highlights and analysis, all complemented by hours of universityproduced campus programming. The Big Ten Network reaches a national audience
through distribution arrangements with approximately 230 cable and satellite
companies.
QUICK FACTS
• Agreement: 20-year joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox
Cable Networks.
• Headquarters: Chicago, Ill.
• Launched: August 30, 2007, 8p.m. ET
• Programming: Approximately 400 live events, original programming, historic footage and
classic games; coaches' shows; up to 60 hours per year of original programming from each
university.
• Distribution: The Big Ten Network has signed national agreements with AT&T U-Verse,
Charter Communications, Comcast, DirecTV, DISH Network, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable,
Verizon FiOS and 230 cable operators. Select content is distributed through alternative
media platforms including the Internet, iPods, cell phones and other emerging
technologies.
ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING
The Big Ten Network goes beyond the games and gives fans more access to their
teams than ever before.
Big Ten Tonight: Big Ten Tonight is the only nightly sports program dedicated to
covering the Big Ten, setting it apart from all other sports highlight shows. Utilizing
a studio on each campus, Big Ten Tonight includes interviews with coaches and
players every evening. Big Ten Tonight is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans.
The Journey: The Big Ten Network's original reality series, The Journey, follows one
Big Ten team during the course of an entire season. Big Ten Network cameras take
viewers deep inside the program by capturing compelling moments during pre-game,
halftime and post-game speeches, on the team plane and buses, in practices, in the
classroom and away from the field. This fall, The Journey follows head coach Ron
Zook and the Illinois football team coming off their amazing run to the Rose Bowl.
Watch Illinois Football: The Journey at 9:30 p.m. ET every Tuesday this fall.
Big Ten Tip-Off Show: With
years of experience on the
court and on the
sidelines, no one knows
the Big Ten like our men’s
and women’s basketball
analysts. This 30-minute
pre-game show provides
the kind of inside
information and in-depth
analysis fans can’t get
anywhere else. During
the Big Ten Men’s and
Women’s
Basketball
Tournament, the show hits the road for a live pre-game presence from Conseco
Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with anchors providing coverage and analysis of all the
action
Big Ten Women’s Show: Every Monday at 7:30pm ET, the Big Ten Women’s Show is
dedicated to showcasing the best of Big Ten women’s athletics with highlights,
previews, analysis and features. The Big Ten has been a pioneer in promoting and
recognizing women’s athletics, and the Big Ten Network continues that tradition, not
just with this program but with the promise that the Big Ten Network will offer event
equality on all its platforms within three years of its launch.
Big Ten Short Stories: For every touchdown pass, goal, dunk, spike, kick-save, pin or
home run, there is an untold story about the people who made these memorable
plays happen. Going behind the scenes and beyond the highlight reels, Big Ten
Short Stories turns the spotlight on the people and places that make the Big Ten so
special. Whether it’s a feature on an amazing student-athlete, an iconic retired coach,
or a fabled football stadium, this is the show tells the story. Check local listings for
air dates and times.
BigTenNetwork.com: For video highlights of your Big Ten teams, human interest
features on your favorite student-athletes and all the latest happenings in the Big Ten,
log onto www.BigTenNetwork.com. The network’s online home also contains
statistics, schedules and more.
Selected events are available via live web stream on www.BigTenNetwork.com. In
2007, a handful of men’s basketball, ice hockey and softball games were available
online and plans for 2008 call for expanded coverage online.
BIG TEN NETWORK
*ESPN2 wildcard game of Feb. 22; 3 games to be distributed by BigTenNetwork.com
**Big Ten Network (9 ET) and BigTenNetwork.com wildcard games of Feb. 26
***Big Ten Network wildcard games of Mar. 1 and BigTenNetwork.com games
RECORDS
HISTORY
BIG TEN NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES
•
Illinois women’s basketball is slated to make at least nine regular season
appearances on the Big Ten Network this season with the possibility of two more
games being picked-up, plus every Big Ten Tournament game.
•
In all, the network will televise more than 50 regular season women’s games plus
all nine Big Ten Tournament games in 2008-09. All games will be produced in high
definition.
•
Last season, 11 Fighting Ilini women’s basketball games were televised nationally
on the Big Ten Network.
•
The network has a set on site at the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament in
Indianapolis, with anchors providing coverage and analysis of all the action.
•
In addition to unmatched women’s basketball coverage, the network televises more
than 35 live football games, 100 men’s basketball games and over 170 Olympic
sporting events, including volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, baseball, softball, tennis
and more, each season.
•
BTN televises dozens of Classic games and historical footage from ESPN and ABC.
•
Original campus programming produced by Big Ten member universities
showcasing their academic excellence, talented students and award-winning
programs if featured regularly.
•
Weekly coaches shows, including the Jolette Law and Bruce Weber shows, are shown
throughout the year on the network.
www.bigtennetwork.com
OPPONENTS
Illinois has built a state-of-the-art studio where the Jolette Law Show will be filmed
and where Illini coaches and players can to talk live to the Big Ten Network.
REVIEW
Time
9 ET
2 ET
9:30 ET
6:30 ET
Noon ET
6:30 ET
6:30 ET
2 ET
9 ET
7 ET
8 ET
6:30 ET
8:30 ET
6:30 ET
2 ET
6:30 ET
7 ET
8 ET
2 ET
7 ET
Noon ET
2 ET
Noon ET
9 ET
1 ET
Noon
6 ET
2 ET
4 ET
7:30 ET
9 ET
7 ET
TBD
8 ET
7 ET
6 ET
4 ET
7 ET
7 ET
2 ET
4 ET
5 ET
8 ET
7 ET
4 ET
8 ET
9 ET
5 ET
2 ET
12:30 ET
7 ET
7 ET
9 ET
5 ET
1 ET
11 ET
8 ET
9 ET
TBD
TBD
TBD
3 ET
8 ET
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
ILLINI
Network
Big Ten Network
ESPN
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
ESPNU
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
CBS
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
ESPN2
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
ESPN2
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
ESPN2
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
ESPN2
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network
TBD(*)
TBD(*)
TBD(*)
TBD(*)
Big Ten Network
TBD (**)
TBD (**)
TBD (**)
TBD (**)
TBD (**)
TBD (***)
TBD (***)
TBD (***)
TBD (***)
TBD (***)
COACHES
Game
Kansas State at Northwestern
Iowa at Kansas
Missouri at Illinois
Texas A & M at Michigan
Vanderbilt at Michigan
Hartford at Ohio State
Old Dominion at Michigan State
Central Michigan/Dayton at Ohio State
Marquette at Northwestern
UW-Milwaukee at Wisconsin
North Carolina at Ohio State
Maryland at Purdue
Virginia at Illinois
North Carolina State at Michigan
Iowa State at Iowa
Bucknell at Penn State
Notre Dame at Michigan
Northern Iowa at Iowa
Connecticut vs. Penn State
Cincinnati at Michigan
Michigan State at Penn State
Michigan at Ohio State
Illinois at Penn State
Minnesota at Wisconsin
Michigan State at Purdue
Minnesota at Illinois
Wisconsin at Northwestern
Michigan State at Ohio State
Iowa at Indiana
Texas at Purdue
Ohio State at Wisconsin
Iowa at Purdue
Minnesota at Iowa
Ohio State at Illinois
Minnesota at Ohio State
Illinois at Wisconsin
Penn State at Michigan State
Purdue at Indiana
Minnesota at Purdue
Wisconsin at Michigan State
Indiana at Illinois
Ohio State at Purdue
Michigan at Iowa
Illinois at Northwestern
Indiana at Ohio State
Michigan State at Minnesota
Michigan State at Illinois
Wisconsin at Purdue
Ohio State at Michigan State
Illinois at Indiana
Penn State at Michigan
Michigan State at Indiana
Purdue at Minnesota
Minnesota at Michigan
Illinois at Purdue
Northwestern at Ohio State
Indiana at Wisconsin
Ohio State at Minnesota
Michigan State at Wisconsin
Ohio State at Indiana
Iowa at Michigan
Penn State at Illinois
Minnesota at Northwestern
Wisconsin at Ohio State
Michigan at Purdue
Minnesota at Michigan State
Illinois at Iowa
Northwestern at Penn State
Michigan at Indiana,
Purdue at Michigan State
Iowa at Northwestern
Illinois at Minnesota
Penn State at Ohio State
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Date
Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Nov. 19
Nov. 20
Nov. 23
Nov. 25
Nov. 26
Nov. 30
Dec. 2
Dec. 2
Dec. 3
Dec. 4
Dec. 4
Dec. 5
Dec. 7
Dec. 9
Dec. 10
Dec. 11
Dec. 14
Dec. 19
Dec. 21
Dec. 21
Dec. 28
Dec. 29
Jan. 1
Jan. 3
Jan. 4
Jan. 4
Jan. 4
Jan. 5
Jan. 8
Jan. 8
Jan. 11
Jan. 12
Jan. 15
Jan. 18
Jan. 18
Jan. 19
Jan. 22
Jan. 25
Jan. 25
Jan. 25
Jan. 26
Jan. 29
Feb. 1
Feb. 2
Feb. 5
Feb. 8
Feb. 8
Feb. 8
Feb. 9
Feb. 12
Feb. 12
Feb. 15
Feb. 15
Feb. 15
Feb. 16
Feb. 19
Feb. 22
Feb. 22
Feb. 22
Feb. 22
Feb. 23
Feb. 26
Feb. 26
Feb. 26
Feb. 26
Feb. 26
Mar. 1
Mar. 1
Mar. 1
Mar. 1
Mar. 1
MEDIA
2008-09 BIG TEN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TELEVISION SCHEDULE
THINK PINK
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
FIGHTING ILLINI THINK PINK FACTS
• The Fighting Illini women teamed up with the UI men’s basketball
team to host “Pink Madness” on Oct. 12, 2007. Assembly Hall was
painted pink for the first practice of the year as 12,000 fans wore
pink Fighting Illini Basketball T-shirts designed to raise
awareness for the fight against cancer (see photo at bottom of
page).
• Proceeds from the sale of 20,000 pink T-shirts, coupled with a
$7,500 donation from the Orange Krush student support group,
helped Illinois raise a total of $47,500 for Coaches vs. Cancer at
Illini Madness.
• The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) began the
Think Pink initiative in 2007 (now called Pink Zone). The program
has raised over $1 million for breast cancer awareness and
research in only two years.
• Illinois hosted its second annual Think Pink game on Feb. 10,
2008, against Indiana. The Illini players and staff wore pink and
the largest crowd of the year turned out to help increase breast
cancer awareness.
TRAVELING WITH THE ILLINI
FIRST CLASS TRAVEL
One of the perks of playing at Illinois is the use of charter jets for hassle-free travel.
Charter flights offer more comfort and space for the players and allow for faster travel,
meaning less missed class time and more time to enjoy the city they’re traveling to. It
also means no time wasted in airport security lines or terminals.
MEDIA
SEE AMERICA
Fighting Illini at the Duomo in Milan, Italy – Summer 2006
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Chelsea Gordon holds up the leaning tower of Pisa – Summer 2006.
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
Every four years, the NCAA allows teams to travel abroad to play against foreign
teams during the off-season. In the summer of 2006 the Fighting Illini took a 10-day
excursion to Italy to play four games and experience the sights and sounds of another
culture. Illinois made stops in Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Milan and
Stresa, visiting countless historic sites and enjoying genuine Italian cuisine. It was
Illinois’ first trip overseas since 2001, when the Illini traveled to Russia. Future trips
abroad are in the works.
HISTORY
SEE THE WORLD
RECORDS
Illinois basketball is dedicated to playing the best teams in the nation and giving its
athletes a chance to see different parts of the country. In recent years the Illini have
made trips to Hawaii, Miami, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Arizona,
Florida, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Boulder, Colo., in addition to the
usual Big Ten spots. This year, the Orange and Blue will head to Cancun, Mexico, and
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Five Illini from last year’s squad on Miami Beach – Nov. 2007
The Illini in New York’s Times Square – Nov. 2004
AN EXAMPLE OF A CHARTER PLANE THE ILLINI FLY ON
RECORDS
MEDIA
DIVISION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
Top Left: Illinois Field, home to the
Illini Baseball team; Top Right:
Atkins Tennis Center; Left: The new
Demirjian Indoor Golf Facility;
Below: Assembly Hall; Bottom Left:
Armory Indoor Track Complex;
Bottom Right: Illinois’ Gymnastics
facility in Kenney Gym.
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA)
was chartered in 1892 as a not-for-profit
corporation of the State of Illinois. It was charged
with overseeing and conducting the University’s
intercollegiate athletic programs and associated
support services, and operated as a separate entity.
After the state legislature voted in June 1989 to
bring UI athletics within the university proper, the
DIA assumed the functions and responsibilities of
the Athletic Association. The DIA began
operations officially July 1, 1989, and now, more
than a century after University of Illinois athletics
began, the mission is still to achieve excellence
both in the classroom and in sport competition.
COACHES
ILLINI
The director of athletics is the division’s chief
executive officer, and reports directly to the
chancellor of the Urbana-Champaign campus.
The chancellor has final authority regarding the
athletic program in all areas except for budget and
major appointments. Those decisions rest with the
University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
The Athletic Board serves the DIA in an advisory
capacity. It is composed of 20 members, (nine
faculty, four alumni, three students and one
trustee); and the three non-voting (ex-officio)
members from the University administration. The
faculty and student members are nominated by
the Urbana-Champaign Senate and selected by the
chancellor.
The DIA does not receive state tax dollars and
over the years has been able to fully fund the
NCAA maximum allowable number of athletic
scholarships for student-athletes in each of its
sports programs, as well as to hire excellent
coaches and maintain and upgrade its facilities,
staying on par with the best major collegiate
programs across the nation.
This has been accomplished through revenues
derived from the following major sources: gate
receipts from football and men’s basketball ,
television and radio rights fees for those two
sports, corporate sponsorships and donations to
the I FUND. The I FUND contributions provide
the maximum allowable number of scholarships in
the 19 men’s and women’s sports at an average
annual cost of approximately $18,000 for in-state
ATHLETIC BOARD
student-athletes and about $31,000 for those
from outside Illinois.
FACILITIES
The DIA utilizes and maintains 15 facilities for
competition and the administration of 19
sports. The facilities include Memorial Stadium,
Assembly Hall, Huff Hall, Illinois Field, the
Outdoor Track & Field and Soccer Stadium, the
Armory, Atkins Tennis Center, Kenney Gym,
the University of Illinois Orange and Blue Golf
Courses, the Bielfeldt Athletic Administration
Building, the Ubben Basketball Practice Facility,
Eichelberger Field Softball Complex, the Irwin
Indoor Practice Facility, the Irwin Academic
Center and the Demirjian Indoor Golf
Complex. The DIA also broke ground on two
renovation projects in April of 2007 which will
expand Eichelberger Softball Field into Martin
Stadium and the Atkins Tennis Center to
include the Shahid and Ann Khan Outdoor
Tennis Complex.
The “Illinois Renaissance,” a $160 million
renovation project for Historic Memorial
Stadium, will be completed for the 2008
football season. New permanent stands were in
by the first kickoff of 2007, while major
construction of suites and club seating, in
addition to a new press box, cap the project.
Six years ago, a total refurbishing of the football
complex took place in time to host the NFL
Chicago Bears for the 2002 season. A second
renovation, which will be done in the fall, will
create a new strength and conditioning room as
well as an entire performance facility for
football. In 2000, the construction of the $12.5
million indoor football practice facility was
completed, located just east of the current football
complex and locker room. The football practice
field opens directly onto the East Outdoor
Practice Field.
William D. Adams, ex officio
Michael B. Bass, ex officio
C.L. Cole, faculty
Nicole Cowart, student
Cleo D’Arcy, faculty
Lawrence M. DeBrock, faculty
Thomas A. DiSanto, alumnus
John Erdman, faculty
Robert Falato, alumnus
James T. Frakes, alumnus
Ronald E. Guenther, ex officio
Jim Hanauer, student
Lou Margaglione, alumnus
Mallory Martin, student
Ann Nardulli, faculty (chair)
Kevin Renshler, faculty
Nancy Sottos, faculty rep.
Christopher Span, faculty
Robert Y. Sperling, Board of Trustees
Matthew B. Wheeler, faculty rep.
Top Left: Huff Hall, home to Illinois wrestling,
gymnastics and volleyball; Top Right: Bielfeldt
Athletic Administration Building; Above Left: The
press box at newly renovated Memorial Stadium;
Above Right: Eichelberger Field Softball Complex.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
DIVISION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA
OPPONENTS
Top Left: The changing leaf color beautifies one of
Urbana’s historic residental areas; Top Right: An ariel
view of Champaign-Urbana; Left Photos: CU’s electric
entertainment and nightlife.
REVIEW
Champaign County is a warm and welcoming
community with a dynamic mix of technology,
tradition and culture.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
The community is rich in culture and full of
activities. Champaign County provides a level of
entertainment opportunities unmatched by
other communities its size due in large part to
the presence of the University of Illinois.
Champaign County is proud to offer vibrant, yet
diverse attractions while maintaining friendly,
small town hospitality.
Literally a “crossroads,” Champaign County lies
halfway between the Windy City of Chicago and
St. Louis. East or westbound travelers find
Champaign halfway between Indianapolis and
Peoria.
Nearly 180,000 people call Champaign County
home. Add 40,000 University of Illinois students
and faculty and you see the diversity of a
population that makes Champaign one of the
most sophisticated counties in Illinois.
Four distinct seasons provide much of the flavor
of Champaign. The summer months provide
many outdoor activity opportunities with
hiking, canoeing and camping locations nearby.
Children can be entertained by a wide variety of
summer camps and water parks. With the fall
comes a beautiful display of changing leaf color
and the always brisk weather for the college
football season. Snow activities are the name of
the game in the winter, as well as Fighting Illini
basketball and other indoor sports. When spring
rolls around, the community shakes off the
winter chill and continues to enjoy fine cuisine,
entertainment and intellectual stimulation.
CAMPUS LIFE
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
The University of Illinois has over 1,087
registered student organizations, honorary
societies, and teams, giving students
opportunities to pursue interests in religion,
politics, ROTC, professional advancement,
service organizations, rights/freedom issues and
performing arts. With 60 fraternities, 26
sororities and 10 African American Greek
organizations, Illinois has the largest Greek
participation of any University.
MEDIA
The Japan House and Arboretum offer formal
and informal tearooms, stroll gardens, and art
and cultural classrooms.
TECHNOLOGY
RECORDS
The University of Illinois is the
founder of the National Center
for Supercomputing Applications
and currently houses the
“supercomputer.” NCSA opened
its doors to the national scientific
computing community in January
1986. Because of Illinois’ strong
tie to computer technology, the
school boasts over 70,000
computer
connections
for
students on the campus network.
There are also 110 buildings with
wireless access.
HISTORY
From rock shows to Broadway to family shows
to Fighting Illini basketball and much more, the
Assembly Hall has hosted the top names in show
business. Performers and events hosted at
Assembly Hall include The Rolling Stones, Dave
Matthews Band, Ludacris, Garth Brooks, Kanye
West, U2, Frank Sinatra, Nelly, Aerosmith, Tina
Turner, "Cats," Bill Cosby, Mikhail
Baryshnikov, The Harlem Globetrotters, Elton
John, Reba McEntire and Bruce Springsteen.
The Illini Union allows more than 83,000
students to attend or participate in over 200
programs, lectures, musicals, and concerts in a
given year, while Foellinger Auditorium seats
1,750 for concerts, speakers, and special events.
OPPONENTS
The Assembly Hall, which seats 16,618, is the
largest Illinois arena outside of Chicago's United
Center.
REVIEW
SHOWS AND CONCERTS
ILLINI
RECREATION
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
The University’s recreation department offers
many amenities for all students. In addition to a
wide variety of club sports (ice skating, hockey,
soccer, volleyball, etc), many students take part
in intramural athletics in numerous sports (flag
football, basketball, softball, volleyball,
bowling).
The outdoor recreation department designs and
gives students day trips for the following
activies: bike trail riding, canoeing/kayaking,
cross country skiing, hiking in Allerton State
Park and horseback riding.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Illinois presents a rich variety of cultural
programs for education and entertainment.
Performance centers and theatres present the
world’s finest operas, ballets, and plays, and
auditoriums host popular performers of music
and shows. Great museums, lectures, and
presentations by the world’s top scholars enrich
both the campus and the community.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts: four
theaters seat about 4,000 and annually host 350
student and professional performances, as well as
commencements, lectures, and other events,
many of them free.
Top Right: IMPE cardio machine room;
Upper Right: Dave Matthews has made two stops
to Champaign;
Above Right: Green Street, the hub of Illinois
student nightlife;
Above: Nelly performs at the Assembly Hall;
Right: Chicago native Kanye West came to
Champaign for his “Touch the Sky” tour.
The University hosts four cultural centers —
Afro-American; Asian-American; La Casa
Cultural Latina; Native American.
ILLINOIS ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
2007-08 ILLINOIS ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS
•
The Illinois football team capped off an amazing turnaround season with a trip to the Rose
Bowl, its first since 1984. The squad finished tied for second in the Big Ten and Coach Ron
Zook was the conference and national Coach of the Year. The Illini nearly swept the Big Ten
awards with Rashard Mendenhall named the Offensive Player of the Year and Arrelious Benn
the Freshman of the Year. Linebacker J Lemand earned nine All-America honors to become a
consensus All-American.
•
The Illinois men’s gymastics team reached the NCAA Team Finals for the sixth-straight year,
finishing third. Freshman Paul Ruggeri was crowned the NCAA High Bar Champion, earning
All-America laurels on high bar as well as floor and vault. Six other Illini gymnasts earned AllAmerica honors.
•
Illinois’ women’s cross country team, led by sophomore Angela Bizzarri, took sixth at the NCAA
Championships. Bizzarri earned All-America honors for the second straight year and later went
on to become the only athlete in the track and field program's history to claim All-America
honors in all three seasons during the same school year.
•
The Illinois’ women’s gymnastics team took second place (195.750) at the Big Ten
Championships, it’s highest finish in the conference meet since winning the competition in
1990. The Illini then took third place (195.425) at the NCAA South Central Regional, the highest regional finish in program history, narrowly missing advancing as a team to the NCAA
Championships for the first time. Illini freshman Allison Buckley became Illinois' first NCAA
All-American by earning second team honors on the balance beam with a sixth-place finish in
session I of the NCAA Championships.
•
Illinois’ men’s golf placed 17th at the NCAA Championship. On the year, Illinois won three tour
naments as a team while three different players — Chris DeForest (D.A. Weibring Invitational),
Scott Langley (Argonaut Invitational) and Matt Hoffman (Fighting Illini Spring Invitational) won
tournaments individually for the first time in school history. The Illini placed third in the Big
Ten Tournament and defeated a number of ranked teams in placing third at the NCAA Central
Regional.
•
Two Illini teams finished their seasons in the NCAA Top-10: men’s gymnastics (3rd) and
women’s cross country (6th).
•
Fifty (50) Illini were named to All-Big Ten teams and 21 were All-Americans.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
•
•
•
•
•
•
HISTORY
•
OPPONENTS
•
Arrelious Benn, football
Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Allison Buckley, women’s gymnastics
South Central Region Gymnast of the Year
Wes Haagensen, men’s gymnastics
Nissen-Emery Award Finalist
Amy Kruse, women’s gymnastics
South Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year
Scott Langley, men’s golf
Rashard Mendenhall, football
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
Momei Qu, women’s tennis
Arthur Ashe Jr. National Scholar Athlete
Danelle Woods, women’s cross country
Ron Zook, football
National Coach of the Year
Big Ten Coach of the Year
REVIEW
•
ILLINI
AWARD WINNERS
RECORDS
MEDIA
ILLINOIS ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
Tiara Armstrong, women’s track & field - Indoor 60m H
Julie Crall, women’s gymnastics - Balance Beam
Briana Cunningham, women’s track & field - Outdoor 400m H
Aja Evans, women’s track & field - Outdoor Shot Put
Wes Haagensen, men’s gymnastics – High Bar
Gakologelwang Masheto, men’s track & field - Indoor 400m
Mike Poeta, wrestling - 157 pounds
Daniel Ribeiro, men’s gymnastics - Pommel Horse
ALL-AMERICANS
Angela Bizzarri, women’s cross country, track & field
Ross Bradley, men’s gymnastics
Allison Buckley, women’s gymnastics
Jon Drollinger, men’s gymnastics
Aja Evans, women’s track & field
Wes Haagensen, men’s gymnastics
Rachel Hernandez, women’s track & field
Trent Hoerr, men’s cross country
Kyle Hudson, baseball
Jimmy Kennedy, wrestling
J Leman, Football
Brian Liscovitz, men’s gymnastics
Ella Masar, soccer
Rashard Mendenhall, football
Martin O’Donnell, football
Mike Poeta, wrestling
Daniel Ribeiro, men’s gymnastics
Paul Ruggeri, men’s gymnastics
Jenna Smith, women’s basketball
Omoye Ugiagbe, women’s track & field
Danelle Woods, women’s track & field
Tyler Yamauchi, men’s gymnastics
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Paul Ruggeri, men’s gymnastics - High Bar
COACHES
NATIONAL CHAMPION
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
ILLINI IN THE COMMUNITY
The University of Illinois women’s basketball
team, along with the rest of the student-athletes
from Illinois’ 19 sports, knows the importance
of giving back to the commuity. Through a
program called “Hometown Heroes,” the Illini
student-athletes have the opportunity to
participate in many different community service
activities. The program is organized through the
Academic Services office and works with a
number of groups in the Champaign-Urbana
area. The following is a list of regular events at
which you will find Illinois student-athletes:
CHALLENGER BASEBALL LEAGUE
ULTIMATE BASKETBALL CHALLENGE
Illini student-athletes participate each month in
honoring middle school students who excel in
the classroom, in athletics, and are actively
involved in their church youth group.
The Fighting Illini men’s and women’s basketball
teams have teamed up with the Illinois
wheelchair basketball teams for the Ultimate
Basketball Challenge since 2006. The four teams
combine to play a wheelchair game at Huff Hall
that raises money for both Coaches vs. Cancer
and the Wheelchair basketball programs.
WBCA “PINK ZONE”
The WBCA Pink Zone™ initiative is a global,
unified effort for the Women's Basketball
Coaches Association's (WBCA) nation of
coaches to assist in raising breast cancer
awareness on the court, across campuses, in
communities and beyond. Illinois has
participated in the nation-wide event since it
started in 2007.
ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAM
The Adopt-A-School program is a joint
partnership with Champaign and Urbana
Elementary and Middle Schools through their
One-to-One Mentoring Program. Individual
student-athletes or entire teams make regular
visits to their assigned adopted school to read,
play and interact with students.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Visits to after school programs at both
Champaign and Urbana Elementary Schools are
scheduled throughout the year.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
Each year, Illini student-athletes, led by the
women’s tennis team, host a holiday party and
provide presents for kids in the Big Brothers Big
Sisters program. The kids play games and make
crafts with student-athletes and receive their
presents from Santa.
BOY SCOUTS
Student-athletes have been involved with local
boy scouts in various ways ranging from
speaking at meetings and Blue Gold Banquets,
to hosting troops on campus visits.
Young people with various disabilities from the
Challenger Baseball League attend various
events and have the opportunity to meet
Fighting Illini student-athletes.
CRISIS NURSERY
Each year, Illini student-athletes volunteer their
time at the Crisis Nursery Holiday Shop
assisting young shoppers in purchasing presents.
C-U AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES STUDENT
OF THE MONTH
DARE (DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION)
PROGRAM
Every year, student-athletes speak at graduation
ceremonies in an effort to encourage youth to
stay away from drugs and violence.
DCFS (DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES)
Fighting Illini student-athletes are given the
opportunity to attend a holiday party to
brighten up the holidays for kids who have been
placed in foster homes within the C-U area.
DON MOYER BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
Students-athletes visit the local Boys and Girls
Club to play games and talk with local kids who
take part in their activities.
GET KIDS IN ACTION PROGRAM
Get Kids In Action is a student-athlete
mentorship program designed to promote daily
physical activity by school children through
weekly classroom visits.
GIRL SCOUTS
Fighting Illini female student-athletes
participated in the U Rock Conference this
spring.
HOSPITAL VISITS
Illini student-athletes make regular trips to Carle
Foundation Hospital to visit with kids in the
Pediatric Oncology Center as well as on the
pediatric floor. Student-athletes also take part in
the Pediatric Oncology Holiday Party held each
year.
ILLINI IN THE COMMUNITY
NURSING HOME VISITS
SAAC CAMPUS CLEAN UP
Illini student-athletes are given opportunities
each semester to visit senior citizens in local
nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
During these trips, student-athletes may play
bingo, do crafts, play games or just visit with the
residents.
Every April, SAAC assigns each intercollegiate
athletic team an area of campus to beautify.
SAAC reps organize their teams in helping to
do their part to spruce up our campus.
MEDIA
RECORDS
This outreach program puts our student-athletes
in a position where they can promote the
importance of literacy to young people.
Student-athletes work with elementary school
students one-on-one or in small groups, reading
books or playing word games in an effort to help
children improve their reading skills and
vocabulary.
Each November, SAAC organizes a clothing
drive and donates all clothing collected to a
local shelter.
HISTORY
READING ILLINI
SAAC CLOTHING DRIVE
OPPONENTS
RELAY FOR LIFE
Several teams and individual student-athletes
raise money for the American Cancer Society by
taking part in its annual Relay for Life.
REVIEW
SCHOOL VISITS (ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE)
COACHES
ILLINI
Student-athletes make regular visits to schools in
the Champaign-Urbana area to address a variety
of topics such as the importance of staying in
school, making good grades, staying away from
drugs and alcohol, and treating others with
respect. Visits can be made to individual
classrooms, school groups, or all-school
assemblies.
SPECIAL SPECTATORS
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Fighting Illini student-athletes partner each year
with the non-profit organization, Special
Spectators, to bring children undergoing
treatment in the Carle Hospital Oncology
Center to a football game. Prior to the game,
student-athletes from other sports visit with the
kids at a tailgate party held in their honor.
STAY IN BOUNDS (CHARACTER EDUCATION
PROGRAM)
Illini student-athletes visit local schools to
promote and teach citizenship through sports
while encouraging students of the importance of
good character and ethical conduct.
STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAAC)
CANNED FOOD DRIVE
During the 2007 spring sports festival, SAAC
accepted canned goods from fans supporting that
weekend’s spring football game, men’s tennis
match and softball games. All the donated items
were given to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank.
NOTABLE ALUMNI
Lou Boudreau
Professional Baseball Hall of Famer (deceased)
Charles Bowsher
Former U.S. Comptroller General (1981-1996)
James Brady, Press secretary during Reagan
Administration; wounded during Reagan assassination
attempt; namesake of The Brady Bill on handgun control
MEDIA
DeeDee Bridgewater
Grammy nominated jazz vocalist
Nancy Brinker, Breast Cancer Foundation
RECORDS
Dee Brown, Author of “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee”
Avery Brundage
Former president of the International Olympic Committee
(deceased)
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
Hal Bruno Jr.
Retired director of political coverage for ABC News
Dick Butkus, College Football and NFL Hall of Famer
James Cantalupo, Former Chairman and CEO of
McDonald’s Corp. International (deceased)
ROBERT JOHNSON
Owner of the Charlotte Bobcats NBA franchise; 2003
Sports Illustrated’s Most Influential Minority in Sport;
Former CEO of Black Entertainment Television
Max Abramovitz, Architect/ Assembly Hall (deceased)
ILLINI
John B. Anderson, 1980 Presidential candidate
Mark Andreessen
Programmer of Netscape internet browser
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
Nelson Algren, Chicago Writer
John Chancellor
Political analyst and newscaster for “NBC Nightly News”
(deceased)
Bill Geist, Journalist on “CBS Sunday Morning”
Dr. Shou-Po Chao, General Secretary of Taiwan
Rick George, President of the PGA Champions Tour
Steven Chen, Computer designer
John Georges, CEO of International Paper Co.
Doris Kelly Christopher
Founder of The Pampered Chef
John Coleman, Founder of the Weather Channel
Scott Altman, Astronaut
Michael Arrington
President and CEO, Recon Management Services
Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador
Barbara Bain, Actress
Arnold Beckman, Founder/chairman emeritus of Beckman
Instruments (now SmithKline Beckman)
Director of USA Basketball; Former president of the Phoenix
Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks
George Chandler, Actor, played Uncle Petti on “Lassie”
(deceased)
Michael Colgrass Jr.
Composer; 1978 Pulitzer Prize winner in Music
Albert Babb, Pioneer in hemodialysis
JERRY COLANGELO
Godfrey Danchimah, comedian
John Darling, Former Chancellor, Louisiana State University
Andrew Davis
Film director/producer (“The Fugitive,” “Under Siege”)
Thornton Gilchrest, President, National Safety Council
S. Malcolm Gillis, Former President, Rice University
Harold “Red” Grange
College Football and NFL Hall of Famer (deceased)
Richard Greenberg, Film maker
Jerry Hadley, Opera star
George Halas, Founder of Chicago Bears (deceased)
Erike Harold, Miss America 2003
Leanne Harvey
Former General Manager, New Orleans Zephyrs
Ollie Watts Davis, Opera Singer
Dorothy Day
Founder of the Catholic Worker Movement (deceased)
Jean Driscoll, Wheelchair athlete; Eight-time winner of the
Boston Marathon
Alan Dysert
Actor, played Sean Cudahy on “All My Children”
Dwight “Dike” Eddleman, Olympic high jumper and Final
Four and Rose Bowl participant (deceased)
Andrea Evans, Soap Opera actress
Lee Falk, Cartoonist (The Phantom, Mandrake the
Magician) (deceased)
Perdita Felicien
World Champion and Olympic hurdler
Michael Filerman, TV producer
George M.C. Fisher, CEO of Eastman Kodak
Dan Fogelberg, (Attended) Composer and recording artist
Rich Frank, Former President of Disney Studios
Steve Friedman, TV producer, director
MANNIE JACKSON
Former Pro Basketball player, Owner of Harlem Globetrotters
Dale Gardner, Astronaut
HUGH HEFNER
Founder of Playboy Magazine
NOTABLE ALUMNI
Bobby Mitchell, Professional Football Hall of Famer
Jacob Morowitz
Owner, USA Trading Company
Tom Murphy, Retired chairman of General Motors
Scott Mutter, Artist/Photographer
Steve Nagel, Retired astronaut
MEDIA
Malden Nesheim, Emeritus Professor, Provost Emeritus,
Cornell University
Larry Parks, Actor, “The Al Jolson Story” (deceased)
DERON WILLIAMS
2008 Olympic Gold Medalist, Plays for the NBA’s Utah Jazz
Francine “Penny” Patterson
Taught Koko the gorilla to communicate through Sign
Language
ANG LEE
Film Director (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon,” and “The Hulk”)
Thomas Siebel, Founder of Siebel Systems
Eric Halverson, Former opera star, bass
Greg Philbin, Member of the band REO Speedwagon
Sharon Hendrick, Wheelchair track Olympian (1984, 1988)
Irna Phillips, creator of the Soap Opera
Beth Henley
1981 Pulitzer Prize Award winner for “Crimes of the Heart”
Ron Popeil, Ronco Inventions
Nicole Hollander, Cartoonist (Sylvia)
Richard Powers, Author, National Book Award winner
Sam Skinner, Secretary of Transportation; Chief of Staff
during the George Bush Sr. Administration
Sue Ann Huseman,
Former President, Monmouth College (1994-97)
James “Scotty” Reston
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (deceased)
Ralph Snodsmith, TV gardening guide
Billy Morrow Jackson, Painter
Bobby Richards, Olympic pole vaulter
Godfrey Sperling Jr., Syndicated columnist for the
Christian Science Monitor
Jesse Jackson Jr., (Attended) Politician
Alan Ruck
Actor, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Spin City”
Donald Johanson
Anthropologist, discoverer of oldest known hominid, “Lucy”
Fidel Ramos, Former President of the Philippines
Stephen Sample, President, USC (1991-Present)
Arte Johnson
“Laugh-In” television personality
E. Roger Sayers
Former President, University of Alabama (1988-96)
Shiela Johnson
CEO Salamander Hospitality
Gerald Schoenfeld, Shubert Organization
Jawed Karim, co-founder of YouTube
Katherine Kendall, Retired United Nations Social Affairs
Director
Charla Krupp, Former Editor, Glamour magazine
Gene Shalit, “NBC Today Show” film critic
Albert Shanker
American Federation of Teachers (deceased)
Allen Sherman, Comedian, co-developer of TV game show
“I’ve Got a Secret” (deceased)
Annette Lu, Vice President, Taiwan
Shel Silverstein
(Attended) Author and songwriter (deceased)
Roger Simon, Chief Political Columnist, Politico.com; New
York Times Best Selling author
Justin Spring
2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Men’s Gymnastics
Mark Steinberg
Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Golf, IMG
John Strohm, Founded World Wildlife Fund (deceased)
Dennis Swanson,
President & General Manager, WNBC-TV (New York)
Joe Tanner, Astronaut
Barbara Ann Teer
Founder & CEO of National Black Theater
Nancy Thies, Olympic gymnast, sportscaster
Lynne Thigpen, Tony Award-winning actress, “An American
Daughter” (deceased)
Naomi Lynn, Former Chancellor, University of IllinoisSpringfield (1991-2001); First Hispanic woman president
of an American public university.
Craig Virgin, Olympic Runner
Marvin Wachman, Former President, Temple University
(1973-1982); Author, “The Education of a University
President “
Jack Mabley, Newspaper columnist
Carol Marin, Television journalist/anchor
Prentice Marshall, Federal Judge (deceased)
Arnold Weber
Former President, Northwestern University (1985-95)
Lynn Martin
Secretary of Labor during the Bush Administration
William Wegman, Artist
Fred Marx, Co-director and editor of “Hoop Dreams”
Jack Welch, Former CEO of General Electric (1981-2001)
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Actress
Cheryl West, Playwright
Tim McCarthy, Secret service agent during President
Ronald Reagan Administration (wounded during 1981
assassination attempt)
Tug Wilson
Former Big Ten Commissioner; Olympian (deceased)
Leslie B. Worthington, President of U.S. Steel Corp.
Jim McNeely, Grammy nominated jazz pianist
Donna Mills, movie and television actress
Erie Mills, Opera star
ROGER EBERT
Pulitzer Price-Winning Film Critic
Rosalyn Yalow, 1978 Nobel Prize-winner in physiology &
medicine
Timothy Zahn, writer
OPPONENTS
Peter Palmer, Actor, singer (Broadway)
REVIEW
Ray Ozzie, Microsoft Chief Software Architecht
ILLINI
Suze Orman, financial advisor and author
COACHES
Jerry Orbach, Actor (deceased)
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Robert Novak, Columnist and CNN political commentator
HISTORY
RECORDS
Ray Nitschke
Professional Football Hall of Famer (deceased)
ILLINI SPIRIT
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
ILLINOIS LOYALTY
We’re loyal to you Illinois
We’re “Orange and Blue,” Illinois
We’ll back you to stand
’Gainst the best in the land
For we know you have sand,Illinois Rah! Rah!
So crack out that ball Illinois
We’re backing you all Illinois
Our team is the fame protector;
On boys, for we expect a
Victory from you Illinois
Chehee, Cheha, Cheha-ha-ha Go Illini Go
Chehee, Cheha, Cheha-ha-ha Go Illini Go
Illinois, Illinois, Illinois
Fling out that dear old flag of
Orange and Blue
Lead on your sons and daughers,
Fighting for you;
Like men of old, on giants
Placing reliance, shouting defiance
Oskee-wow-wow!
Amid the broad green plains
That nourish our land,
For honest labor and for learning we stand,
And unto thee we pledge our heart and hand,
Dear Alma Mater, Illinois
OSKEE-WOW-WOW
Old Princeton yells her tiger
Wisconsin her varsity
And they give the same old
Rah! Rah! Rah!
At each university
But the yell that always thrills me,
And fills my heart with joy,
Is the good old Oskee-wow-wow,
That they yell at Illinois
Chorus
Oskee-wow-wow, Illinois
Our eyes are all on you
Wave your Orange and Blue Rah! Rah!
When your team trots out before you
Ev’ry man stand up and yell
Back the team to gain a victory
MARCH OF THE ILLINI
We are marching for dear old Illini
For the men who are fighting for you
Here’s a cheer for our dear Alma Mater
May our love for her ever be true
While we’re marching along life’s pathways,
May the Spirit of old Illinois
Keep us marching and singing
In true Illini Spirit
For our dear old Illinois
HAIL TO THE ORANGE
Hail to the Orange. Hail to the Blue.
Hail Alma Mater, Ever so true.
We love no other, So let our motto be
Victory, Illinois, Varsity.
ILLINI FOR LIFE
MEDIA
Former University of Illinois student-athletes, coaches and staff will always be a part of
the Fighting Illini family and will be welcomed back to campus with open arms. The
Varsity “I” Association, which consists of all former athletes and letterwinners from
across the decades, is committed to keeping members in touch with each other and with
the current Illini teams long after they’re finished on the playing field. The Varsity “I”
has newsletters, reunions and other events that bring together teammates and friends
with the goal of making Varsity “I” a family.
REVIEW
ILLINI
COACHES
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Above: 1997 Big Ten Player of the Year and 1998 Big
Ten Medal of Honor winner Ashley Berggren returned in
the spring of 2008 to speak to graduating studentathletes at the annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet. Left:
Several former Illini returned for the March 2 game vs.
Purdue for the annual women’s basketball reunion.
Below: A majority of the 1997 Big Ten Championshp
team returned to campus for the squad’s 10-year
anniversary in the spring of 2007.
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
In April 2007, over 20 players and staff from Illinois’ 1997 Big Ten Championship
women’s basketball team gathered at the Bielfeldt Athletic Building to catch up and
relive their memories on the 10th anniversary of the historic season.
UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION
PRESIDENT B. JOSEPH WHITE
The president is responsible to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, a 13member governing body, nine of whom are appointed for six-year terms by the
governor of the State of Illinois. A student trustee is elected by the student body from
each campus annually, and the governor appoints one of these student trustees to
have an official vote on board matters. The governor serves as an ex officio member
of the board.
•
To develop the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign into the nation’s
preeminent public research university.
OPPONENTS
White took office as the 16th president of the University of Illinois on Jan. 31, 2005.
In his inaugural address, he set forth five strategic priorities for the University:
•
To develop the University of Illinois at Chicago into the nation’s premier urban
public research university.
•
To position the University of Illinois Medical Center and health sciences
colleges for the next quarter century of education, research and clinical care.
REVIEW
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
B. Joseph White is the chief executive officer of the
University of Illinois and its three campuses in UrbanaChampaign, Chicago and Springfield, a higher education
system with total enrollment of 70,000 students and a 2009
budget of $4.1 billion. Each of the campuses has a
chancellor who reports to the president. White lives in an
official residence on the east side of the Urbana-Champaign
campus and maintains offices in Urbana and Chicago.
•
To develop the University of Illinois at Springfield into one of the nation’s top
five small, public, liberal arts universities.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
•
To develop the Global Campus Partnership to make the University of Illinois
the quality leader in online higher education.
On June 1, 2007, White announced the University of Illinois’ $2.25 billion Brilliant
Futures fund-raising campaign, focused on endowing professorships and student
scholarships.
White is familiar with both public higher education and the Midwest. He spent
nearly three decades affiliated with the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He
served for a decade as dean of its Stephen M. Ross School of Business and its highly
ranked undergraduate, MBA, doctoral and executive-education programs. He also
served as interim president at the University of Michigan in 2002. White’s field of
academic expertise is organizational behavior and industrial relations.
White has private-sector executive experience, including six years at Cummins
Engine Co. Inc. and a year helping rebuild a Wall Street firm devastated by 9/11. He
is a director or trustee of several companies and has served on the boards of two
health-care systems.
White is currently on the boards of directors of the American Council on Education,
the National Merit Scholarship Corp. and the Chicago 2016 Olympics Evaluation
Committee. He is also on the Board of Governors of the Argonne National
Laboratory.
White received the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award from the Illinois
Commission on Diversity and Human Relations in 2007, the Leadership Award
from the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation in 2005 and an honorary
doctorate in humane letters from Wabash College (Indiana) in 2003. He is a member
of Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma honorary fraternities.
White, 61, is a native of Detroit who was reared in Kalamazoo. He earned his
bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in international economics from the
Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1969 and an MBA, with
distinction, from Harvard University in 1971. He received his doctorate in business
administration in 1975 from the University of Michigan.
White has written, taught and lectured extensively on leadership, management,
higher education and organizational change. He is the author of The Nature of
Leadership: Reptiles, Mammals, and the Challenge of Becoming a Great Leader
(AMACOM, 2007).
CHANCELLOR RICHARD HERMAN
Dr. Richard Herman is chancellor of the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the state’s flagship public
research university. Chancellor Herman leads a campus of
more than 42,000 students and nearly 3,000 faculty
members. As chief executive of a campus with a $1.4 billion
budget, he promotes excellence in education through
innovation, diversity, public engagement, environmental
sustainability, and a global perspective primed for the 21st
century. The university is renowned for its interdisciplinary collaborations, advances
in human understanding, community outreach, and life-changing scientific
developments.
A mathematician, Herman was named chancellor in May 2005. He came to Illinois
in 1998 as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, the institution’s chief
academic and budget officer. His leadership at Illinois has led to an increase in
research funding, a more diverse faculty and student body, and strong relationships
with universities around the world.
Herman is a well-regarded leader who helps shape national science policy. He
consistently stresses the need to better position the sciences to engage the emerging
needs of society. He chairs an initiative called the Science and Mathematics Teacher
Imperative, sponsored by the National Association of State Universities and LandGrant Colleges, to increase the number of middle and high school science and math
teachers.
Herman serves on President’s Bush’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
(PCAST), advising the President on math and science education. He assists the
Council on Competitiveness as co-chair of its High Performance Computing
Initiative and as a member of the steering committee for the council’s Energy,
Security, Innovation and Sustainability Initiative. -Higher Education F
Herman served as chair of the Council of Presidents of the Universities Research
Association Inc., and currently is a member of the Business-Higher Education
Forum. He has served as chair of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics and as a
member of the National Science Foundation's Advisory Committee for the
Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. In 2008, Herman was elected to
the prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Support for Herman’s research on mathematical physics and operator algebras has
come from the National Science Foundation and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, and through the National Defense Education Act. He is a member of
the honorary societies Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.
Herman holds a bachelor’s degree from Stevens Institute of Technology; he received
his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Maryland in 1967. He taught at
UCLA, then joined Pennsylvania State University in 1972, where he was chair of the
Department of Mathematics from 1986 to 1990. He served as dean of the College
of Computer, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences at Maryland from 1990 to 1998.
Chancellor Herman and his wife, Susan, are active in the Champaign-Urbana
community, where Mrs. Herman helped found the 40N/80W Arts Council. The
Hermans enjoy three children and six grandchildren.
Guenther has overseen a series of dramatic changes that have local, regional and
national media, alumni and fans marveling at his ability to recruit top-level coaches,
successfully engineer a $175 million fundraising and resource operation and create a
model program producing outstanding student-athletes. He is currently leading a
second major capital campaign to expand and renovate facilities, strengthen
endowment and increase annual giving to offset the rising cost of tuition. The
centerpiece of the campaign is the Memorial Stadium Renaissance, which is the
largest renovation project of the historic stadium that was built in 1923. The
Renaissance project will make Memorial Stadium one of the premier football venues
in the nation.
Under Guenther’s leadership, Illinois has steadily improved its performance on the
field and in the classroom. Off the field, Illinois student-athletes have continued to
benefit from outstanding academic service programs, matching the overall campus
grade point average and producing nearly 100 Academic All-Big Ten award winners
annually in all sports. The Irwin Academic Center is proof of the commitment
toward academic success as more than $7 million was invested into expanding the
building in 2007.
Guenther has also spearheaded a revolution for funding for championship-level
programs and facilities as the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has opened
necessary additional revenue streams totaling more than $3 million through working
partnerships with corporate sponsors and management of the Illini Sports Radio
Network.
Now in his fourth decade with the University of Illinois, Guenther was the Most
Valuable Player on the 1966 Illinois football squad under Head Coach Pete Elliott.
Guenther earned his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Illinois
in 1967 and an M.S. in administration in 1968 before embarking on a successful
career in coaching, athletic administration and business.
Guenther was named the 17th Director of Athletics on May 14, 1992 after serving
for two years with the University of Illinois Foundation as Director of Major Gifts
and for three years as a partner with The Barofsky Association, a Chicago-area
investments and marketing firm. From June of 1988 to March of 1989, Guenther
served as Interim Director of Athletics for External Operations, administering the
One of the nation’s top athletic fund raisers, Guenther has been instrumental in
soliciting gift commitments totaling more than $175 million toward capital
improvements at Illinois during the last 16 years. Additionally, Guenther has led a
$116 million Memorial Stadium renovation project, which will see completion in the
fall of 2008. Endowment fundraising under Guenther’s leadership has gone from $2
million invested to $26 million in 2007. In the same fashion, the annual fund has
grown from $2.4 million to more than $7 million this year. The Loyalty Circle,
which represents donors giving over $10,000 annually, began with nine families in
1993 and now tops 450 today.
Firmly committed to delivering the Illinois message across the state and Midwest,
Guenther served from 1983 to 1987 as assistant athletic director for Chicago
operations, renewing a commitment that continues today to reach out to the
thousands of Chicago-area alumni, donors and fans.
Guenther spent eight years at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., including a
stint from 1975-79 as director of admissions and also as an associate head football
coach. From 1979-83, he served as the vice president of development and public
affairs at North Central.
Before moving to North Central College, Guenther was offensive line coach at
Boston College from 1971-74, helping to develop nine National Football League
players. From 1968-71, Guenther was a teacher and coached football, wrestling and
track and field for the Evanston Township and Glenbard High School systems in
suburban Chicago.
Born Oct. 3, 1945, Guenther is a native of Elmhurst, Ill. and a graduate of York High
School. He lettered at Illinois in 1965 and 1966, helping Illinois to a 24-14-1 record
in his four seasons. Guenther earned MVP honors on a squad that produced five AllAmericans in 1966.
He was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 22, 2005.
Guenther and his wife, Megan, reside in Champaign.
REVIEW
Guenther spent the previous three years within the Division of Intercollegiate
Athletics as associate athletic director for development, coordinating the “Campaign
for Excellence in Athletics.” Among the projects completed under his watch are: the
Irwin Academic Center, Illinois Field for baseball, the UI Outdoor Track and Field
and Soccer Stadium, the Atkins Tennis Center, the Shahid and Ann Khan Outdoor
Tennis Complex, the Ubben Basketball Practice Facility, the Demirjian Golf Facility,
the Martin Softball Field at Eichelberger Stadium and the Irwin Football Complex,
housing coaches offices, locker rooms, sports medicine, strength and conditioning
facilities and meeting rooms for Illinois football.
ILLINI
development program, public relations, promotions, tickets, merchandise and
summer camps.
COACHES
In his 17th year as Director of Athletics at the University of Illinois, Ron Guenther
has returned his alma mater to the national elite in competing for championships in
19 intercollegiate sports with outstanding coaches, staff and facilities, including two
straight Top-25 finishes in the NACDA Director’s Cup competition and an NCAA
title for the Illinois men’s tennis program in 2003. In 2001, he was named the
NACDA/Continental Airlines Central Region Athletic Director of the Year. The
MVP of the 1966 Illinois football squad, Guenther continues to move the Illini
athletic program on a breakneck pace toward a position of competing at a
championship level in all programs.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS RON GUENTHER
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
Dana Brenner
Associate
Athletic Director
Kent Brown
Asst. Athletic Director
Media Relations
Steve Greene
Director of Development
Big Ten Network
Chris Hanna
Marketing & Sales
Mike Hatfield
Associate Director
of Development
Warren Hood
Associate
Athletic Director
Kathy Hug
Event Management
Vince Ille
Associate
Athletic Director
Marty Kaufmann
Corporate Sponsorship
Pat Kreger
Associate Director of
Development, Chicago
Tom Michael
Academics
Howard Milton
Associate Director of
Development
Chris Peacock
Compliance
Nancy Sottos
Faculty
Representative
Chris Tuttle
Director of
Varsity “I” Associatioin
Brian Walsh
Summer Camp
Director
Shawn Wax
Assoc. Athletic Director
External Relations
Matthew B. Wheeler
Faculty
Representative
Lenny Willis
Director of Facilities
Susan Young
Associate Athletic Director/
SWA
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
DIA ADMINISTRATION
THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
BIG TEN CONFERENCE
1500 West Higgins Rd. // Park Ridge, IL 60068
(847) 696-1010 // Fax: (847) 696-1011 // www.bigten.org
Big Ten universities provide approximately $100 million in direct financial aid to more than 8,500
men and women student-athletes who compete for 25 championships, 12 for men and 13 for women.
Conference institutions sponsor broad-based athletic programs with more than 270 teams.
MEDIA
Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that
enforce the priority of academics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness
in all aspects of its student-athletes' lives, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that each individual have
the opportunity to live a Big Life.
James E. Delany
Mark Rudner
RECORDS
The Big Ten Conference is a union of 11 world-class academic institutions who share a common
mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. The
conference's 100-plus years of history, strong tradition of competitive intercollegiate athletic
programs, vast and passionate alumni base, and consistent leadership in innovations position the Big
Ten and its entire community firmly on the Big Stage.
• The NCAA collects two types of graduation rates - the
federal graduation rate, which accounts for all entering
freshmen who receive aid and graduate within six years,
and the Graduation Success Rate (GSR), which reflects
the mobility of student-athletes by accounting for
transfers. Based on the most recent federal graduation
rate average for the 1996-99 entering freshmen classes,
Big Ten student-athletes graduated at 71 percent. In
comparison, the student body at conference institutions
graduated at 73 percent while all Division I studentathletes graduated at 62 percent. The Big Ten's GSR was
82 percent compared to the Division I average of 77
percent.
• Over the past two years, the Big Ten has reached a series
of milestone media agreements to provide the conference
with its greatest television exposure ever, including
extensions with CBS (for basketball) and ABC/ESPN (for
football, basketball and volleyball) and the creation of the
Big Ten Network, a national network devoted to Big Ten
athletic and academic programs. The Big Ten Network
Valerie Todryk
Women’s Basketball
SID Contact
JAMES E. DELANY
Commissioner
BRAD TRAVIOLIA
Deputy Commissioner
RICH FALK
THE BIG TEN FOOTPRINT
OPPONENTS
• Big Ten Universities house on their campuses 10 of the
nation's 35 largest academic libraries. Collectively,
conference libraries hold nearly 70 million bound volumes
and the institutions work collaboratively to build and
share their resources with other league members.
Scott Chipman
REVIEW
• Since 1992, the Big Ten has created in excess of 2,000
new opportunities for women student-athletes and
established 28 new women's teams.
ILLINI
• Big Ten Universities have more than four million living
alumni and over 300,000 undergraduate students
attending Big Ten universities.
Associate Commissioner - Officiating Programs
CAROL A. IWAOKA
Associate Commissioner - Governance
MARK D. RUDNER
Associate Commissioner - Television Administration
ANDREA WILLIAMS
Associate Commissioner - Basketball Operations
SCOTT CHIPMAN
Assistant Commissioner - Communications
WENDY FALLEN
Assistant Commissioner - Championships
CHAD HAWLEY
Assistant Commissioner - Compliance
DARYL SEATON
Assistant Commissioner - Branding
MIKE MCCOMISKEY
Assistant Commissioner - Technology
COACHES
operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and launched
in August of 2007. It showcases a wide array of sports as
well as original programming produced by conference
institutions and represents a 20-year partnership
between the Big Ten and Fox.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
• Big Ten Universities are members of the nation's only
conference whose constituency is entirely composed of
institutions that are members of the AAU, a prestigious
association of major academic and research institutions
in the United States and Canada.
HISTORY
BIG TEN FACTS
JOLETTE LAW SUMMER CAMPS
2009 JOLETTE LAW SUMMER CAMP DATES
OPPONENTS
HISTORY
RECORDS
MEDIA
COACHES
ILLINI
REVIEW
Day Camp 1: June 8 – 10
Middle School Shootout: June 12
Overnight Camp: June 21 – 24
Team Camp: June 27 – 29
Day Camp 2: July 15 – 17
Elite Camp: August 1 – 2
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Contact the Sport Camps & Clinics Office at (217) 244-7278,
visit our website at www.fightingillini.com/camps
or email us at [email protected] for more details!
THE COURTSIDERS
The Courtsiders were formed in 1981 and is the official support
group for the University of Illinois women’s basketball team. The
Courtsiders are a dedicated group of fans who are vocal at home
games and follow the team to several away games throughout the
season. They also sponsor and coordinate the season-ending
banquet celebration for the team and staff.
JOIN THE COURTSIDERS!
Many women’s basketball alumni and parents of players belong to
Courtsiders as a way to stay in touch with the basketball program
and their loyal fans. Courtsiders operate with strict compliance to
NCAA, Big Ten and University of Illinois rules and regulations.
Membership, banquet and bus trip checks are made payable to the
University of Illinois as all club proceeds and disbursements are
made through the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Benefits of the Courtsiders include:
• Access to hospitality room at all home contests
• Pre-game “scouting report” from a member of the coaching staff
• Advance registration for bus trips
• Priority registration and seating at the annual awards banquet
• Periodic newsletters
• Personal ID card and name badge
• Periodic social events with the coaching staff
Jenna Smith took home team MVP honors at last year’s annual Courtsiders Awards
Banquet.
2008-09 Courtsiders Board Members with the coaching staff
Front Row L-R: Jean Bender, Diana Lesny, Second Row L-R: Diane Hobin, Connie Peacock (Secretary),
Jolette Law, Susan Hoel, Michele Smalling, Tamika Louis. Back Row L-R: Andre Johnson, Karen Middelton,
David Lesny (Vice President), Chuck Zelinsky (Treasurer), Patrick Klein, Dave Chestnut (President), Stan
Morgan. Not pictured: Marilyn Blanzy, Sue Hansen, Donna Keagle, Doris Young
RECORDS
HISTORY
OPPONENTS
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
The sign-up sheet for the trips or for other group rides to away
games will be in the Hospitality Room on the lower concourse at
Assembly Hall or by calling Dave Chesnut (217) 892-2181.
REVIEW
Saturday, December 6 – Bradley @ United Center
Sunday, February 8 – at Indiana
Sunday, February 15 – at Purdue
ILLINI
2008-09 PLANNED COURTSIDERS BUS TRIPS
COACHES
The hospitality room at the Assembly Hall has many major benefits for
Courtsiders members. In the room, you can meet other Courtsiders members
and discuss the upcoming game, the progress the team is making, or the new
freshmen. There is also room for you to leave your coat in a safe environment.
MEDIA
Membership is open to any person with an interest in women’s basketball at
an annual rate of $25 for an individual or $40 for a family membership.
Membership applications are available on the Illinois women’s basketball
website at www.fightingillini.com or by contacting David Lesny at
[email protected].
The Courtsiders host the annual postseason awards banquet.

the university of illinois

Transcription

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