2018 ILLINOIS VOLLEYBALLTHE FIGHTING ILLINI TABLE OF CONTENTS UNIVERSITY INFORMATION Nickname: ...... Fighting . Illini THE FIGHTING ILLINI RECORD BOOK Founded: ...... 1867 Head Coach Chris Tamas...... 3 Year-By-Year Illini History...... 56-65 Colors: ...... Orange and Blue Assistant Coach Rashinda Reed...... 4 All-Time Results...... 66-77 Conference: ...... Big Ten Assistant Coach Alfred Reft...... 5 Opponent Series Results...... 78-83 Division: ...... NCAA Division I Volunteer Assistant Coach Jen Tamas...... 6 Opponent Series Records...... 84 Director of Operations Andy Wenstrand...... 7 TV Appearances...... 85-86 Home Court: ...... Huff Hall (4,536) Support Staff...... 7 Illini vs . Ranked Opponents...... 87-88 President: ...... Timothy L . Killeen Director of Athletics Josh Whitman ...... 8-9 Illinois in the AVCA Rankings...... 89 Chancellor: ...... Dr . Robert J . Jones Ali Bastianelli ...... 10-11 Career Records...... 90 Enrollment: ...... 44,880 Blayke Hranicka...... 12-13 Season Records...... 91 Athletic Director: ...... Josh Whitman Jordyn Poulter...... 14-15 Single-Match Records...... 92-93 Senior Women’s Administrator: ...... Maria Ochoa Woods Beth Prince ...... 16-17 Team Records ...... 94 Ashlyn Fleming...... 18-19 Miscellaneous Records...... 95 Ticket Office Phone: ...... 217-333-3470 Jacqueline Quade...... 20-21 Annual Stat Leaders...... 96-97 Caroline Welsh...... 22-23 Huff Hall ...... 98-99 HISTORY Megan Cooney...... 24-25 Huff Hall Records...... 100 First Year: ...... 1974 Morgan O’Brien ...... 26-27 Illini Classic...... 101 Overall Record: ...... 957-554-7 ( 633). Lexie Smith ...... 28-29 Illinois in the NCAA Tournament ...... 102 Years in NCAA Tournament (Record): ...... 24 . (40-24) Emmaline Walters...... 30-31 Illinois Postseason Records...... 103 Kylie Bruder...... 32 Illinois’ Big Ten Championships ...... 104-105 Emily Hollowell...... 32 All-Time NCAA and Big Ten Champions. . . . . 106 SPORTS INFORMATION Diana Brown ...... 33 Illini By Number...... 107 SID:...... Libby Knight Taylor Kuper...... 33 Letterwinners...... 108-109 Email...... eknight2@illinois .edu Indiv . Career Match-By-Match Stats...... 34-36 All-America Profiles...... 110-119 Office Phone ...... 217-265-8171 Honor Roll ...... 120-123 Cell Phone...... 217-714-1218 Annual Team Finishes...... 124 2017 SEASON IN REVIEW Assistant Volleyball SID:...... TBA Season-Ending Notes...... 38-40 Email...... TBA Season Stats and Results...... 41 TEAM INFORMATION Office Phone ...... TBA Team/Opponent Match-by-Match Stats...... 42 Roster ...... Inside Front Cover The Big Ten in 2017...... 43-44 Radio/TV Roster...... Inside Back Cover Office Fax:...... 217-333-5540 Match Highs...... 45 2018 Schedule...... Back Cover Web Address: ...... www FIGHTINGILLINI. com. Match-by-Match Box Scores...... 46-54 Facebook ...... www .facebook com/IlliniVBall. Twitter/Instagram: ...... @IlliniVBall Mailing Address: Bielfeldt Administration Building 1700 South Fourth Street Champaign, IL 61820

TEAM INFORMATION 2017 Record: ...... 23-11 Big Ten Record: ...... 12-8/T5th Postseason: ...... NCAA Sweet 16 Starters Returning/Lost: ...... 6/1 (libero) Letterwinners Returning/Lost: ...... 12/5 Newcomers (Freshmen/Transfers):...... 3 (2/1)

VOLLEYBALL COACHING STAFF Head Coach: ...... Chris Tamas (Pacific ‘03) Record as Illinois Head Coach: ...... 2nd year Career Head Coaching Record: ...... 2nd year Assistant Coaches:...... Rashinda Reed (Georgia ‘05) ...... Alfred Reft (Hawai’i ‘06) Volunteer Assistant: ...... Jen . Tamas (Pacific ‘04) Director of Operations:. . . Andy Wenstrand (Florida Tech ‘04) ­Athletic Trainer ...... Maggie Marion The 2018 Illinois Volleyball Record Book was written by Libby Knight . Cover design by Adam Marantz . Photos by Volleyball Office Phone: ...... 217-333-8607 Cary Frye, Mark Jones, Craig Pessman and Andy Wendstrand . Volleyball Office Fax: ...... 217-333-4853

24 NCAA BIDS // 17 SWEET 16s // 3 FINAL FOURS ­// 1 THE FIGHTING ILLINI THE COACHING STAFF

THE CHRIS TAMAS FILE CHRIS Date of Birth: January 27, 1981 Hometown: Santa Barbara, Calif . Education: B .S . Sports Sciences/Management, University of the Pacific, 2003 TAMAS Family: Wife, Jennifer; Son: Jimmy, Daughter: Josephine HEAD COACH SECOND SEASON AS HEAD COACH COACHING EXPERIENCE 2017- Head Coach, University of Illinois SECOND SEASON AT ILLINOIS 2014-17 Assistant Coach, University of Nebraska 2015 National Champions, Runner-up finish in B1G 2016 Final Four appearance, B1G Champions 2013-15 Assistant Coach, California Polytechnic University Chris Tamas enters his second season as head coach of the Fighting Illini volleyball program after 2011-12 Assistant Coach, University of Minnesota being named to the position in February 2017 . Tamas (pronounced Thomas) is the eighth head 2011 NCAA Sweet 16 appearance coach in Illinois history . 2012 NCAA Elite Eight appearance 2009-11 Assistant Coach, University of California-Riverside In his first season at the helm of Illinois volleyball - and his first-ever season as an NCAA Division I head coach - Tamas led the Illini back to the NCAA Regionals for the program’s 17th Sweet 16 in its history . The Illini finished the 2017 season with a 23-11 overall record, including a fifth-place PLAYING EXPERIENCE showing in the with a 12-8 mark as well as a final ranking of No . 17 in the 2003-09 Professional Volleyball American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll . Along with team success, Tamas Protect Eye Orion (Netherlands) helped coach then-juniors Jordyn Poulter and Ali Bastianelli to AVCA All-America Third-Team Antigos Alunos (Portugal) honors as the duo became just the eighth and ninth two-time honorees in program history after Real Grupo (Spain) earning honorable mention accolades as sophomores . Erdemir (Turkey) Tamas came to Illinois following many years learning from some of the game’s great coaches, Dionysos (Cyprus) including John Cook at Nebraska and former U .S . National Team coaches Hugh McCutcheon Isku (Finland) and Ron Larsen . In all, Tamas is in his ninth year of collegiate coaching including two years at National Cup Championship with Dionysos and Isku Nebraska, two years at Cal Poly, two years at Minnesota and two years at UC-Riverside . Team captain for Real Grupo, Erdemir, Dionysos and Isku 1999, ‘03 USA Volleyball “My family and I are extremely excited about the opportunity to coach at the University of ‘05-06 2006 NORCECA Championships Gold Medalist Illinois,” Tamas said in his introductory press conference . “Huff Hall is one of the outstanding 2005 World Grand Champions Cup Silver Medalist volleyball venues in the nation, and I’ve always thought the Spike Squad was awesome . Illinois 2003 World University Games team captain has traditionally been one of the elite programs in the country and the Big Ten Conference is the COACHES 2003 World University Games USA flag bearer premier volleyball league in the nation . I can’t wait to work with our team and prepare to compete 2003 World University Games Bronze Medalist against the best . I’ve seen this team play for the past two seasons and I’m excited with the level 1999 World Jr . Championships team captain of talent we have and at the talent coming in . We look forward to hitting the ground running .” 1999 World Jr . Championships Silver Medalist Tamas is a 2003 graduate of the University of the Pacific with a degree in sports sciences . He 1999-2003 University of the Pacific was a four-year starter for the Tigers and a unanimous AVCA All-American first team selection 2003 AVCA First-Team All-America and team MVP during his 2003 senior season . In four years with the U .S . Men’s National Team 2003 Team MVP (1999, 2003, 2005-06), Tamas made 2001-03 MPSF All-America 34 appearances, and, in 1999, helped 2000 Most Improved Player the squad to a silver medal at the Four-year starter and team captain World Junior Championships in Havana . As national team captain in 2003, Tamas helped lead the United State to a bronze medal at the World University Games in Daegu, South Korea . A training camp invitee for the U .S . squad that eventually captured the 2008 Olympic gold medal, Tamas also helped U .S . teams to silver at the 2005 World Grand Champions Cup in Japan and, as a setter, to a gold at the 2006 NORCECA Championships in Mexicali, Mexico . As a professional, Tamas competed for six years overseas with clubs Protect Eye Orion (Netherlands), Antigos Alunos (Portugal), Real Grupo (Spain), Erdemir (Turkey), Dionysos (Cyprus) and Isku (Finland) . In Finland and Cyprus, Tamas helped his clubs to national cup championships . A native of Santa Barbara, California, Tamas and his wife, Jennifer (Joines) Tamas, have two children, Jimmy and Josephine . Jennifer was a volunteer assistant at both Nebraska and Cal Poly . She was a four-time All-American middle blocker at Pacific (2000-03) and silver medalist with the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics while playing professionally for eight years in Japan, , Russia, Azerbaijan and Puerto Rico . She was the U .S . Women’s National Team captain for four years .

Chris Tamas was named the eighth head coach in Illinois volleyball history on February 10,

24 NCAA BIDS // 17 SWEET 16s // 3 FINAL FOURS ­// 3 THE COACHING STAFF RASHINDA THE REED FILE HOMETOWN Fairbanks, Alaska REED EDUCATION ASSISTANT COACH B .S ., Psychology, University of Georgia ‘05 SECOND SEASON PLAYING EXPERIENCE Southwestern Oregon Community College, 2000-02 University of Georgia, 2002-04 Professional Volleyball, 2005-09 VC Tirol Volleyball Club (2005-06) El Algar Volleyball Club (2006-07) Rashinda Reed begins her second season with the Fighting Illini after joining the staff as an assistant coach in Plantina Longa Volleyball Club (2007-08) March 2017 . COACHING EXPERIENCE Reed was most recently named the head volleyball coach at Northern Michigan University in December of 2016 following seven seasons as an assistant coach at a number of highly successful NCAA Division I and Division II Assistant Coach, University of Illinois, 2017-present programs, while also enjoying a strong collegiate and professional career as a middle blocker . Head Coach, Northern Michigan University, 2016-17 Assistant Coach, UAB, 2016 Reed spent the 2016 campaign as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she Assistant Coach, Northeastern University, 2015 guided a Conference USA all-conference honoree and helped manage year-round recruiting . In the summer, she Assistant Coach, Binghamton University, 2011-14 directed the Blazers’ highly successful summer camp, which involved 40 coaches and over 800 campers . Assistant Coach, University of Southern Indiana, 2009-11 Prior to joining the Blazers, Reed served as an assistant coach at Northeastern University for one season . She held the same position at Binghamton University from 2011 to 2014, helping the Bearcats capture the American East Conference Championship in 2012 and secure an NCAA Division I Tournament berth . While on the Binghamton University staff, Reed coached seven all-conference selections, including the conference’s 2014 Rookie of the Year and 2012 Setter of the Year . She was also responsible for coordinating the Bearcats’ summer camp, leading a staff of 12 coaches, managing the budget and designing on and off-court activities for over 200 campers . During her time in Binghamton, N .Y ., Reed also served as the club director of the Whirlwind Volleyball Club, where she managed 14 coaches and 140 athletes . Reed secured her first coaching position at the University of Southern Indiana, where she stayed from 2009 to 2011 and mentored one All-American, two all-Midwest Region performers and two all-Great Lakes Valley Conference honorees . In 2010, the Screaming Eagles reached the NCAA Division II Tournament . After graduating in 2005 from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Reed spent five seasons playing professional volleyball overseas . During that time, she competed for Austria’s VC Tirol Volleyball Club (2005-06), Spain’s El Algar Volleyball Club (2006-07), Holland’s Plantina Longa Volleyball Club (2007-08) and Finland’s PislaPloki Volleyball Club (2008-09) . She also continued her education, studying anthropology and Hungarian at the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary in 2005 and German at Innsbruck University in Innsbruck, Austria in 2006 . Reed started her collegiate career at Southwestern Oregon Community College, spending two seasons as a Laker and garnering all-Northwest Athletic Conference Second- Team accolades in 2002, before transferring to the University of Georgia, where she played from 2002-2004 . A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, Reed has been a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Assistant Coaches Committee since 2011 and is also a member of the Alliance of Women Coaches .

4 // 2018 ILLINOIS VOLLEYBALL THE COACHING STAFF ALFEE THE REFT FILE HOMETOWN Oxnard, Calif . REFT EDUCATION ASSISTANT COACH B .A ., English, University of Hawai’i, 2006 FIRST SEASON PLAYING EXPERIENCE UC Santa Barbara, 2002-04 University of Hawai’i, 2004-06 Professional Volleyball, 2007-13 Budva, Montenegro (2007-08) Lisbon, Portugal (2008-10) Illinois volleyball head coach Chris Tamas named Alfee Reft as the newest assistant coach for the Fighting Illini Montpellier, France (2012-13) volleyball program on March 26, 2018 . USA Volleyball, 2006-10, 2012-15

Reft comes to Illinois after spending the last two years serving as a volunteer for the USA Women’s and Men’s COACHING EXPERIENCE National teams and assisted in the running of daily practices with technical feedback to players, while also working as assistant director and head coach of Team Rockstar Volleyball Club from 2014-18, where he organized club Assistant Coach, Illinois, 2018- training methodologies and managed teams, parents and season duties for the club . Asst. Director, Team Rockstar Volleyball Club, 2014-18 Volunteer, USA Volleyball National Teams, 2016-18 He was also the founder of Peak Volleyball Academy, where he developed and created a company that focused on Founder, Peak Volleyball Academy, 2015-18 training and development of multi-level and skill volleyball athletes from 2015-18 . Assistant Coach, University of Minnesota, 2010-12 Reft started his collegiate coaching career as an assistant with the University of Minnesota from 2010-12, where Coach, Laguna Beach Volleyball Club, 2008-10 he helped develop training plans, worked with recruiting and match prep and helped lead UM to a NCAA Sweet 16 Coach, TCA Volleyball Club, 2006-08 appearance .

Prior to joining the Gophers, Reft served as a coach for the TCA Volleyball Club from 2006-08, before moving to the Laguna Beach Volleyball Club from 2008-10 .

A member of the USA Men’s National Team from 2006-10 and 2012-15, Reft was on the roster for the FIVB World Championship and the FIVB World League in 2010 . He was also part of the Silver Medal team at the NORCECA Continental Championships in 2009 and also part the FIVB World League roster that year .

In 2008, Reft was an alternate for the US Men’s Olympic Team that won the Gold Medal in Beijing . He was also the designated libero for the U .S . National Team when they won the Gold Medal at the Pan-American Cup in 2008 and played in every match at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand where the USA National Team claimed a Bronze Medal .

As a professional, Reft competed for seven years with clubs in Budva, Montenegro (2007-08), Lisbon, Portugal (2008-10) and Montpellier, France (2012-13) . In 2008, Reft helped his club win the European Cup Bronze Medal .

A standout libero for the University of Hawaii from 2004-06, Reft was named an AVCA First-Team All-America as well as Asics/Volleyball Magazine Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 after totaling 272 digs and set a new Hawaii single-season record with 2 .67 digs per set . He also earned AVCA Second-Team All-America honors in 2006 following his senior season . Reft transferred to Hawai’i in 2004 from UC Santa Barbara and became the starting libero for the Warriors . That year, he sent the school-record for digs in the rally-scoring era for Hawai’i with 238 .

A native of Oxnard, Calif ., Reft graduated the University of Hawai’i with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2006 and is married to Matthew Ryan Pest .

24 NCAA BIDS // 17 SWEET 16s // 3 FINAL FOURS ­// 5 THE COACHING STAFF JEN THE TAMAS FILE HOMETOWN Santa Clara, Calif . TAMAS EDUCATION VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH B .S ., Business/Communication, Pacific, 2004 SECOND SEASON PLAYING EXPERIENCE 2004-12 Professional Volleyball Pinkin de Corozal (Puerto Rico) Chieri Volleyball (Italy) TAB Queenseis (Japan) Fakel Novy Urengoy (Russia) Jen Tamas enters her second season on the Illinois volleyball coaching staff after joining the Illini as a volunteer Llaneras de Toa Baja (Puerto Rico) assistant coach in March 2017 . Azerrail Baku (Azerbaijan)

Tamas (pronounced Thomas) joins her husband following volunteer assistant stints with him at Nebraska from 2003, 05-08 USA Volleyball 2015-2017 and at Cal Poly from 2013-14 . ‘10-12 2012 Pan-American Cup Gold Medalist 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix Gold Medalist “Jen is the best volunteer coach in the country,” said Chris Tamas . “Not only will she teach our team how to 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix Gold Medalist improve as players but more importantly, she will be an excellent role model . Her resume speaks for itself and the 2008 Summer Olympics Silver Medalist players will learn a lot from her experience as former All-American, professional player, and Olympian . Furthermore, Four-year USWNT Captain I know she will have a great impact on their personal lives just as she has had on mine . She is an amazing coach, wife, mother and friend and I could not be more grateful adding her to our staff .” 2000-03 University of the Pacific “I have always always admired the way Illinois has played,” said Tamas . “Their players always hustle and compete 2003 AVCA First-Team All-America with the best in the country . I look forward to working with the team and helping them take their game to the next 2003 Big West Conference Player of the Year level . It is an honor to be a part of this program .” 2000-02 AVCA Second-Team All-America 2000 Big West Conference Freshman of the Year The former Jen Joines was a four-time All-American middle blocker at Pacific (2000-03) and silver medalist with 2000-03 First-Team All-Big West Conference the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics . She played professionally for eight years in Japan, Italy, Russia, Four-Year Six-Rotation Middle Blocker Azerbaijan and Puerto Rico and was the U .S . Women’s National Team captain for four years . COACHING EXPERIENCE As a middle blocker with the United States Women’s National Team, Jen Tamas made more than 60 appearances Volunteer Assistant Coach, University of Illinois, in eight years while serving as captain for four years . Aside from assisting the U .S . to silver at the 2008 Beijing 2017-present Summer Olympics, Tamas helped lift the country to gold at the 2012 Pan-American Cup . Volunteer Assistant Coach, University of Nebraska, 2015-17 She was the 2003 Big West Conference Player of the Year and 2000 Big West Freshman of the Year at Pacific, where Volunteer Assistant Coach, Cal Poly, 2013-14 the four-year six-rotation middle led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament each year . Tamas earned communications and business degrees at Pacific .

A native of Santa Clara, California, Tamas and her husband have two children, Jimmy and Josephine .

6 // 2018 ILLINOIS VOLLEYBALL SUPPORT STAFF

THE WENSTRAND FILE ANDY HOMETOWN Bellevue, Nebraska WENSTRAND EDUCATION DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS B .S ., Ocean Engineering, Florida Tech, 2005 SECOND SEASON

Andy Wenstrand joined the Fighting Illini volleyball staff as the director of operations in June 2017 .

Wenstrand comes to Illinois following five and a half years at Nebraska, where he served in a number of roles, most recently as the Director of Creative and Emerging Media for the athletic department since February of 2016 . While with the Huskers, Wenstrand oversaw the department’s creative efforts, as well as directing the design and branding efforts of Nebraska Athletics while assisting in various content creation across the department’s digital platforms .

Prior to his role as Director of Creative and Emerging Media, he served as the Huskers’ Assistant Director for Digital Communication from August of 2013 to February of 2016, before starting his time in Lincoln with the Marketing and Fan Experience department in January of 2012 .

Along with his work at Nebraska, Wenstrand has also spent time as the Director of Operations and Media Relations for the Jacksonville Sharks and as the director of operations for the Texas AF2 Holdings .

Wenstrand is a native of Bellevue, Nebraska .

VOLLEYBALL SUPPORT STAFF

Becky Corbly Libby Knight Kathy Hug Kathy Kaler Maggie Marion Equipment Manager Athletics Event Management Academic Counselor Assistant Athletic Communication Trainer

Sara Burton Emily Schilling Giana O’Connor Ryan Deppa Joel Schmidt Senior Associate Strength & Marketing Office Manager Video Services Athletic Director Conditioning

24 NCAA BIDS // 17 SWEET 16s // 3 FINAL FOURS ­// 7 ADMINISTRATION JOSH WHITMAN DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS ILLINOIS, 2001 THIRD YEAR AT ILLINOIS

Illinois alumnus Josh Whitman was hired as the University’s 14th permanent full years at the helm, DIA has generated more than $50 million in donated dollars, director of athletics on February 17, 2016 . At the time of his hiring, Whitman, then highlighted by $20 million toward the football performance center and one of the 37 years old, was the youngest athletics director in the Autonomy 5 . In a relatively largest single gifts in DIA history, $7 million from the Demirjian family to create the short time, Whitman’s “We Will Win” mantra and message of unity, optimism, and new stadium and related facilities for soccer and track and field . In total, DIA has bold action have rekindled the fire in the hearts of Illini fans everywhere . received 15 gifts of $1 million or more during Whitman’s tenure . The annual fund, meanwhile, has experienced year-over-year growth in consecutive years for the first Whitman has formulated an aggressive agenda since his hiring . Highlights have time in more than a decade . included launching the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame, opening construction of a new $79 .2 million football performance center scheduled to open prior to the Internally, Whitman reorganized the department’s leadership structure and created 2019 season, and creating plans for Demirjian Park, a new home for the Illinois the Committee on Diversity and Inclusivity, which hosted DIA’s first Diversity soccer and track and field programs opening by 2021 . He has also undertaken an Summit in the spring of 2018 . He has led a comprehensive effort to develop a new ambitious fundraising effort to renovate and expand the Ubben Basketball Practice DIA mission statement (Unify . Develop . Inspire . Achieve .) and is working actively to Facility and is studying the potential addition of Division I hockey to the Fighting implement that mission statement into DIA’s daily activities . Fiscally, he has also Illini sport portfolio . helped return DIA to an operating surplus for the first time in six years .

Whitman has hired six new head coaches, including iconic football coach Lovie Since Whitman’s arrival, the competitiveness of the Illinois programs has seen Smith, who led the Chicago Bears to Super Bowl XLI; Brad Underwood, who has won marked improvement . In the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, Illinois has more than 73 percent of his games in five years as a Division I head coach; and advanced 18 spots, from 54th in 2015-16 to 36th in 2017-18 . In the 2017-18, the women’s basketball coach Nancy Fahey, who arrived in Champaign-Urbana having 36th place national finish was good for 7th place in the Big Ten . During Whitman’s COACHES already been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame . Other Whitman tenure, Illinois teams have made 18 NCAA postseason appearances, highlighted by head coach hires are Chris Tamas for volleyball, Evan Clark with women’s tennis 13 teams finishing in the top 16 nationally and five finishing in the nation’s top and Nadalie Walsh with women’s gymnastics, all of whom led their respective four . In addition, three Illinois student-athletes have captured individual national programs into NCAA postseason play in 2017-18 . Whitman also restructured the championships (wrestler Isaiah Martinez, 2016; men’s gymnast Brandon Ngai, Illinois men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country 2016; and men’s gymnast Alex Diab, 2018) . In Big Ten competition, the men’s golf programs, bringing those six programs under a single, unified coaching structure program has won three consecutive Big Ten crowns and men’s gymnastics captured led by veteran coach Mike Turk . the conference title in 2018 .

Whitman has been a visible presence and frequent speaker at Illini events Whitman, a former Academic All-American at Illinois, emphasizes strong performance nationwide . He has canvassed the country, meeting with supporters of the program by the Fighting Illini student-athletes in the classroom as well . In each year of his from coast to coast, which has led to a spike in fundraising . In Whitman’s first two tenure, student-athletes have posted a combined GPA of above 3 15. . Fifteen of the

During his first year on the job, Whitman launched the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame and celebrated the 28-person inaugural class with a black-tie Gala in Chicago in June 2017. 8 // 2018 ILLINOIS VOLLEYBALL ADMINISTRATION

Whitman made a big splash right off the bat, hiring as head football coach just days after officially taking over as Director of Athletics at Illinois.

19 teams, along with more than 60% of the individual student-athletes, earn GPAs above 3 .00 . In the last two years, Illinois student-athletes have garnered a total of 426 Academic All-Big Ten selections . Teams have also set records for APR scores .

Prior to coming to Illinois, the 40-year-old Whitman spent nearly six years as an athletics director at two universities . He came to Champaign-Urbana following almost two years as director of athletics at Washington University in St . Louis, a nationally recognized NCAA Division III program with 19 varsity sports and approximately 500 student-athletes . During Whitman’s tenure, the program posted seven top-five NCAA finishes, a combined GPA of 3 .35, and a graduation rate of 99 percent . Before joining Washington University, Whitman served as the director of athletics at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, another of the nation’s leading Division III programs . Combined at those two institutions, Whitman’s teams earned four national titles and 24 top-five team finishes, plus 34 conference championships .

Whitman has two Illinois degrees . He graduated with Bronze Tablet honors in 2001 while earning a bachelor’s degree in finance . In 2008, he graduated summa cum Whitman played tight end for the Fighting Illini from 1997-2000. laude from the Illinois College of Law before serving as a judicial law clerk for Judge Michael Kanne on the U S. . Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit . From 2005 to 2008, he worked for DIA and former Illini athletics director in various ILLINOIS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HISTORY administrative capacities . 1892-94 Edward K . Hall 1894-95 Fred D . Dodge On the gridiron for the Fighting Illini, Whitman was a four-year starting tight end 1895-98 Henry H . Everett from 1997-2000 and two-time First Team Academic All-American . He then spent 1898-1901 Jacob K . Shell parts of four seasons as a player in the , including stints 1901-36 George A . Huff with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and . 1936-41 Wendell S . Wilson 1941-66 Douglas R . Mills Prior to embarking on his career in athletics administration, Whitman practiced 1966-67 Leslie Bryan (interim) law in Washington, D .C ,. with Covington & Burling LLP, a firm with a preeminent 1967-72 E .E . (Gene) Vance sports practice that represents, among other clients, the National Football League . 1972 Charles E . Flynn (interim) 1972-79 Cecil N . Coleman Whitman grew up in West Lafayette, Ind ., and is married to Hope Whitman . Their 1979 (interim) daughter, Tate, was born in 2016, and their son, Will, was born in July of 2018 . 1980-88 Neale R . Stoner He remains a licensed attorney and is a member of the National Association 1988 Ronald E . Guenther (interim) of Collegiate Directors of Athletics . Whitman’s leadership has earned national 1988 Dr . Karol A . Kahrs (interim) attention, highlighted in early 2018 when Sports Business Journal named him to 1988-91 their prestigious Forty Under 40 list . In July 2017, Whitman was selected Central 1991-92 Robert Todd (interim) Illinois Business Magazine’s Forty Under 40 Man of the Year . The Whitmans 1992-2011 Ronald E . Guenther have become engaged in several Champaign-Urbana community organizations, 2011-15 Michael J . Thomas including the United Way, Coaches vs . Cancer, and the Tom Jones Challenger 2015-16 Paul Kowalczyk (interim) League . He and Hope are also significant contributors to the I FUND . 2016- Josh Whitman

24 NCAA BIDS // 17 SWEET 16s // 3 FINAL FOURS ­// 9