UANNUALniversity of Illinois REPORT 1 2008-09 2008-09 ANNUAL REPORT 2008-09 Annual Report Director’s Address ............................................................................................................3 The Olympics ................................................................................................................4-5 Men’s Gymnastics .........................................................................................................6-7 Men’s Golf .....................................................................................................................8-9 Men’s Basketball ....................................................................................................... 10-11 Women’s Cross Country.......................................................................................... 12-13 Wrestling .................................................................................................................... 14-15 Men’s Tennis ............................................................................................................. 16-17 Women’s Gymnastics ............................................................................................... 18-19 Volleyball ................................................................................................................... 20-21 Softball ....................................................................................................................... 22-23 Women’s Track and Field ........................................................................................ 24-25 Women’s Tennis ..............................................................................................................26 Baseball ............................................................................................................................27 Football ............................................................................................................................28 Soccer ...............................................................................................................................29 Men’s Track & Field .......................................................................................................30 Women’s Basketball........................................................................................................31 Swimming & Diving ......................................................................................................32 Men’s Cross Country .....................................................................................................33 Women’s Golf ................................................................................................................34 National Champions ......................................................................................................35 Awards .............................................................................................................................36 Medal of Honor Winners // Athletes of the Year .................................................37 Sport Results // Big Ten Rankings // Director’s Cup .......................................38 Academic Excellence // Outstanding Scholar-Athletes........................................39 Student-Athlete of the Week // Chi Alpha Sigma // Academic All-Big Ten .......40 Academic All-American // Team GPA ...................................................................41 Life Skills ................................................................................................................... 42-43 Diversity ...........................................................................................................................44 Marketing .........................................................................................................................45 Corporate Sponsorship .................................................................................................46 Athletic Communcations ..............................................................................................47 Compliance .....................................................................................................................48 Video ................................................................................................................................49 Finance .............................................................................................................................50 Varsity “I” Association ..................................................................................................51 Annual Fund ............................................................................................................. 52-65 Endowments ...................................................................................................................66 Planned/Estate Giving ..................................................................................................67 Community Service.................................................................................................. 68-69 Big Ten Network ............................................................................................................70 2 CREDITS Executive Editor: Kent Brown Cover and Interior Design: Cassie Arner Contributing Writers: Cassie Arner, Kassie Barry, Derrick Burson, Steve Green, Chris Hanna, Marty Kaufmann, Michael Koon, Tom Michael, Derek Neal, Ben Taylor, Chris Tuttle, Emily Wickstrom, Leslie Wilhite Photography: Mark Jones, Kathy Kaler, The Tintype Photography 2008-09 ANNUAL REPORT Dear Illini Faithful, average with well over 50 percent of the individuals posting GPAs of 3.0 or better. Seven teams had GPA averages over 3.25. When you look back in Illinois athletics history, it is difficult to find a season that gave us more production on the field of play across ALL of our athletic BALANCED BUDGET: For the 17th straight year, the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics was teams than we saw in 2008-09. Among our 19 sports, 15 went on to NCAA able to operate its $70 million budget in the black. We pride ourselves on being able to provide postseason action, which is something we haven’t done here at Illinois since — the best resources for our student-athletes while also maintaining strong fiscal responsibility. We well, maybe ever. Our success was evident by our highest finish in the 2008- continue to pay tuition in full to the University for the maximum allowable scholarships in each of 09 NACDA/Learfield Sports Director’s Cup at No. 20. We did all this while our 19 sports, which for this past year was nearly $9 million, with an additional $4.5 million spent adhering to our criteria for excellence: integrity, academic performance, balanced on student-athlete support services. budget, championship programs, gender and ethnic equity, facilities and caring community. FACILITIES: While we didn’t open any new facilities during the 2008-09 school year, we have been in a building frenzy over the past five years. The Memorial Stadium renovation has given us CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAMS: I think the most exciting thing about this past more resources than we ever dreamed it would provide, with more hospitality opportunities for the season was the number of teams that have taken their programs to new levels. general public as well as our own DIA staff. In 2008-09, we were able to enjoy the previous year’s One of my greatest memories of 2008-09 was the amazing run of our women’s gymnastics team. additions to the Irwin Academic Center, Eichelberger Softball Complex and Khan Tennis Center. Coach Bob Starkell and his staff have been building up to this year, becoming one of the 12 elite teams to make the NCAA Championships. Another outstanding turnaround came from a youthful INTEGRITY: At Illinois, having success on the field must be done so with the highest emphasis on women’s tennis team. In just three years at the helm, coach Michelle Dasso has taken her squads to integrity. We require that all coaches, staff and student-athletes adhere to the rules and regulations two NCAA Tournaments and its best finish in 2009, advancing to the round of 32. First-year head put forth by the NCAA as well as operate with the utmost ethics. We are proud that behind the coach and former Olympian Tonja Buford-Bailey set a high standard in her inaugural season with leadership of our compliance office, the number of infractions has decreased, while the number a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, while also crowning a national champion, Angela of educational opportunities has increased greatly. Bizzarri, in the 5,000 meters. Coach Mike Small’s team won its first Big Ten title since his era as an athlete and led the Illini to their second-straight NCAA Tournament, finishing 21st. GENDER AND ETHNIC EQUITY: The DIA strives for the excellence in making diversity We also have teams that have continued to excel year after year. Women’s cross country a large part of the athletic mission at Illinois. For the past four years, the athletic department finished in the top-10 for the third straight year (10th), while men’s tennis advanced to the NCAA has put resources into “Identity,” a program to educate the Illinois campus on the opportunities Sweet 16 for the eighth-consecutive season. Men’s basketball made the NCAA Tournament for the to be involved in Illinois athletics, whether as a student-athlete or as a supporter. This program ninth time in 10 years and men’s