Illinois State University’s new indoor practice facility is getting more use than expected, according to interim athletics director Jeri Beggs.
Beggs said the venue has been useful for more than just football on bad weather days, which was the primary motivation to build an indoor facility. ISU's softball, golf and track and field teams also have found it to be a practical practice space, she said, which has alleviated some of the space concerns at Horton Field House and saved wear and tear on outdoor playing surfaces.
“Coming into spring, it is being used pretty much all day long from morning until 7 or 8 at night,” Beggs said on WGLT’s Sound Ideas. “We are going to have to figure out how we balance out student-athlete and team usage versus community usage whenever we get those bathrooms in.”
The $11.5 million facility opened last fall with no restrooms.
Beggs said that appears to have been an intentional cut that came prior to her taking over as athletics director.
“I was not a part of the process back then, but it was my understanding it was to limit the costs,” Beggs said.
That would have been under then-athletics director Kyle Brennan, who resigned a year ago after a pricey donor trip came to light.
A $3 million pledge fell through when donor Aaron Rossi was charged with tax and mail fraud. He has since pleaded guilty and faces sentencing June 5.
Beggs said ISU athletics is still actively fundraising for the indoor facility, but did not say how much money still needs to be raised to cover bond payments.
While ISU plans to rent the practice facility to other schools and teams, Beggs said the facility is not intended to be a big money maker for athletics.
“I don’t think there are enough hours in the day to generate lots of revenue,” Beggs said.
NIL changes
On another matter, Beggs said she welcomes NCAA loosening its rules on Name Image and Likeness [NIL]. She issued a statement to the ISU athletics community about the changes earlier this month.
Beggs, who serves on the NCAA’s Division I Committee on Academics, said the association is now letting schools work with the collectives lining up NIL deals for student-athletes. And they can provide guidance to student-athletes to make sure they are getting a deal that works for them.
“There are a lot of people out there who are not looking out for the best interests of student-athletes, whether they be so-called agents. Student-athletes and parents were not getting good information," she said.
Schools still can't pay the athletes themselves.
Beggs said ISU's collective seems motivated to raise money for student- athletes who are at greater risk of transferring to another school.
“If they want to hang on to their best players, they are going to have to build up NIL dollars that they can try to keep them when someone comes knocking,” she said.
Recently, the NCAA proposed a new subdivision within Division I athletics, one that would allows schools to directly arrange NIL deals for student-athletes.
“It certainly got people talking,” said Beggs, who would like to see the NCAA explore separating football from all other sports in determining funding, scholarships and other factors, adding that many mid-major schools feel the NCAA basketball championship is the one common bond they share with schools from the major conferences.
‘When Women Win’
A new initiative at Illinois State athletics aims to celebrate women's achievements in sports and beyond.
Beggs said the "When Women Win" campaign will ride the wave of publicity women sports are enjoying now thanks to Caitlin Clark and other college stars.
“We want to empower women. We want to look for opportunities to celebrate women leaders in our community, programs that already exist in our community, and also our women’s athletic programs,” said Beggs, adding the campaign will use social media, marketing and sponsorships to showcase women leaders in Bloomington-Normal.
ISU hosted a speed networking and mentoring event for female student-athletes last week.
