2006-07 Annual Report Report 2006-07 Annual Division of Collegiate Athletics, University of Illinois of Illinois University Division of Collegiate Athletics, 2006-07 ANNUAL REPORT Division of Collegiate Athletics University of Illinois DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS Dear Fellow Illini: athletic program remains second to none, and, in 2006-07, the Fighting Coach Law joins a stable of Illinois head coaches that I believe is the Illini continued to set the academic standard against which other collegiate strongest in the country. Under their supervision, Illinois teams continue am pleased to present you with the student-athletes are measured. Many of the coming pages highlight these to reach new heights, competing every year for Big Ten titles and NCAA 2006-07 Annual Report for the impressive academic achievements. championships. Our head coaches lead with dignity and honor, and they I Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at serve as role models and advisors for the young men and women wearing the the University of Illinois. Years from now, Our commitment to academic excellence remains strong. In 2007-08, Illinois uniform, helping to prepare them for life beyond sports as successful 2006-07 will stand as a watershed year in our we will open the doors on a nearly $5 million expansion of the Irwin professionals, contributing members of their communities, and positive program’s proud history. Every champion Academic Services Center. The expansion will add over 11,000 square influences on future generations. must persevere in the face of adversity. This feet of space, more than doubling the original building’s size. The facility year we surmounted numerous obstacles will feature individual and group study rooms, tutor space, and additional Another cause for excitement is the Big Ten Network. The Big Ten to grow stronger, more united, and more focused on the core values of computer labs. It will be unmatched by any student-athlete academic center Network, which launches in August 2007, will provide a new platform for our program: scholarship, sportsmanship, integrity, loyalty, and the in the country. the excitement of Big Ten athletics to reach fans across the country. All our pursuit of victory. programs will benefit from increased media exposure, and the additional The Irwin Academic Services Center expansion is one of several building revenues from the network will fund many new initiatives. The strength of our organization — our people — was never more on projects we have underway. This year we opened the doors on the Demirjian display than during the 2006-07 campaign. The Fighting Illini coaches, Indoor Golf Facility. We have also broken ground on Martin Softball Of equal importance to the extraordinary efforts of our coaches, student- student-athletes, and staff responded to many challenges, working tirelessly Stadium, which, combined with Eichelberger Field, will form one of the athletes, and staff over the past year has been the continued enthusiasm of to uphold the reputation of the University of Illinois and Fighting Illini nation’s premier softball venues. our local community and Illini fans around the world. Our men’s basketball athletics. Now, galvanized by fire, our program has emerged from the flames team has played in front of 45 consecutive capacity crowds at the Assembly and stands ready to wear the crown of a champion. No building project, however, has captured the imaginations of Illini Hall. Over 11,000 new season tickets have been sold for the 2007 football fans worldwide like the Illinois Renaissance, the renovation of Memorial season. Donors continue to give in record amounts to our annual fund, and Our women’s track and field team wore that crown this past season, winning Stadium. Memorial Stadium is undergoing the most sweeping renovations our endowment has increased steadily over the past several years. the 2007 Big Ten Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. in its eight-decade existence. A new 5,000-seat permanent seating structure It was their second Big Ten title in three years, and the 11th conference will open for the 2007 football season, and renovations to the main stands It is a privilege for each of us to be involved in one of the nation’s top athletic championship under head coach Gary Winckler. Our men’s tennis team will be completed for the 2008 season. programs at one of the world’s foremost universities. This is a privilege that 1 is another Fighting Illini program that has exemplified the on- and off- we must never take for granted. Guard against complacency. In athletics, ANNUAL REPORT ATHLETICS 2006-07 ILLINOIS DIVISION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE the-court excellence that we expect. Last spring, the men advanced to the The excitement regarding the renovated football stadium is matched only by as in life, there is no staying the same. Every day our program is either championship match of the NCAA Tournament. The National Runner-Up the enthusiasm surrounding our football team itself. Ron Zook’s energy and getting better or getting worse. The standard we expect is excellence. Our finish capped the men’s 10th consecutive 20-win season. intensity have taken the Illini Nation by storm. Featuring a crop of exciting goal is victory. Victory on the field. Victory in the classroom. Victory in life. young talent, including the highest rated recruiting class in school history, Whatever your role in this endeavor, my challenge to you is the same. Do Other team accomplishments during the 2006-07 seasons included a Sweet Coach Zook’s squad is poised to begin its ascent up the Big Ten standings. something every day to make Fighting Illini athletics stronger. Join in our Sixteen appearance by our women’s soccer team, whose 16 wins matched Illini fans have responded, purchasing more new season tickets than in any cause. If you do, one day soon we will all wear the crown of a champion. the school record for victories in a season, and an eighth consecutive season in our program’s history. As these young players gain experience, and 20-win season recorded by our men’s basketball team. Notable individual as the stadium renovation draws to a close, Illinois football stands on the achievements included Big Ten Baseball Player of the Year Lars Davis and verge of a new era of unparalleled success. Big Ten Gymnast of the Year Wes Haagensen. Yours in athletics, Like football, women’s basketball promises to reap the benefits of new and These on-the-field accomplishments, while extremely important, remain energetic leadership. In May, Jolette Law became the seventh head coach of secondary to our primary purpose at the University of Illinois: to educate the Fighting Illini women’s basketball program. In 12 seasons as an assistant Fighting Illini student-athletes and prepare them to lead successful lives at Rutgers University, Coach Law helped the Scarlet Knights to two Final Ronald E. Guenther following completion of their athletic careers. In that area, the Illinois Fours and a 2007 National Runner-Up finish. Director of Athletics MEN’S TENNIS 23-9 (8-2 BIG TEN) // BIG TEN RUNNER-UPS // NCAA FINALISTS he 2006-07 season was nothing less than an exciting ride for fans, opened with a 4-0 victory in the opening round against Western Michigan On the nation’s biggest collegiate stage, the national title dual placed alumni, coaches and players alike, as Illinois once again proved it is to snap the Broncos’ 11-match win streak before coming-from-behind Illinois head-to-head with undefeated and top-ranked Georgia. In the T among the best collegiate men’s tennis programs in the nation. Under against Michigan, 4-2, in the second round. On top of advancing to the match, Illinois dropped the doubles, but still came out fighting in the direction of second-year head coach Brad Dancer, the 2007 Fighting NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the eighth time in the last nine years, Illinois singles. Unfortunately, the singles strength of the Bulldogs held up until Illini recorded their 10th straight 20-win season and finished NCAA finished the season on a 17-match home winning streak and extended its the end as they clinched a 4-0 victory for the NCAA title. Spicijaric runner-ups behind undefeated No. 1 Georgia. home postseason win streak to 12. and Rowe, for their efforts in leading Illinois to the title match, were selected to the NCAA All-Tournament team after the finish. Illinois finished No. 5 in the final Fila ITA poll, marking the sixth-straight From there, Illinois took its top-10 finish for the program — including four top-five finishes during that momentum into Athens, Ga., With the team portion of the 2007 NCAA Tournament in the books, span — tying for the second-best streak in the country behind UCLA’s where they went on to script Anderson and Rowe embarked on their singles and doubles journey to close eight. The Illini also ended the season with an impressive streak of nine wins the most exciting story of the out the season. No. 4-seeded Anderson battled all the way to the semifinals, in their last 11 matches. postseason. while Rowe exited in the first round after a loss to eventual semifinalist Alex Playing one of the toughest schedules in the country to open the season, the Illini entered the dual-match season with seven ranked opponents THE ILLINI ENDED THE SEASON WITH AN IMPRESSIVE slated for the month of January. Despite the challenge, Illinois went 6-1 STREAK OF NINE WINS IN THEIR LAST 11 MATCHES. in those matches before hosting the USTA/ITA National Men’s Team Indoor Championship in Chicago. Making the quarterfinals for the sixth- straight year at Indoors, Illinois had mixed results overall, going 1-2 at the In the round of 16, the Illini Slovic of Washington.