A landmark legal settlement could means fewer dollars for Illinois State University athletics — and fewer athletes.
ISU is preparing for an estimated $5 million drop in revenue over the next decade if a proposed legal settlement is approved.
The House vs. NCAA agreement aims to provide back pay damages for former Division I athletes over 10 years.
ISU interim athletics director Jeri Beggs said it will take creative ways to recover that money.
“We’re going to figure out how to deal with this reduction in NCAA money and we’re going to do that by selling tickets and selling sponsorships and selling our donors on the idea of supporting us in new and unique ways,” Beggs told reporters in a media briefing at the Aaron Leetch Stadium Club.
ISU takes the largest financial hit among all Missouri Valley Conference schools because it sponsors the most sports teams (19, counting track and field and swimming and diving separately).
The Redbirds might also need to reduce its number of student athletes if the legal settlement is approved.
"I think my staff feels most cared for and supported in many, many years."ISU interim athletics director Jeri Beggs
The proposed settlement caps how many student athletes can compete in each sport. Beggs said the university is currently about 50 athletes over that cap.
“You can see the positives the negatives of that,” she said. “Negative, what if they only came to be a walk-on on the football team and maybe now they don’t come to Illinois State.”
Beggs said fewer student athletes would reduce strain on the department's athletic supports, such as strength and conditioning, and academic services.
The new rules, however, would allow each student athlete under the cap to obtain a full scholarship, something that’s currently not possible in many sports, including baseball and softball.
Beggs said that gives schools more flexibility to attract and retain student athletes, but it would take additional dollars to make that reality.
Name, Image and Likeness (NIL)
ISU athletics projects a big jump in Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) money for its student athletes next year.
Beggs said revenue for student endorsement deals more than doubled in the second year as more students learned how to navigate NIL, and she projects 250% growth this year.
“Ten of our 17 programs are represented in NIL deals and we are hoping to have 17 out of 17 before the academic year is complete,” Beggs declared.
ISU has declined to provide more specific data on NIL arrangements, to keep other schools from gaining a competitive advantage. The NCAA does not require schools to submit NIL data.
The collective that raises money for ISU student athletes called Empower the Nest now has subgroups specifically to support men's (the 1998 Club) and women's basketball (Fly With Us).
Horton Field House
Illinois State's annual basketball game at Horton Field House will take — at least — a one-year hiatus.
Beggs said the university is in the midst of a $60,000 study to determine the extent of repairs that need to be done to the 61-year-old building so it can host large public events again.
“(Men’s basketball coach Ryan) Pedon loves that event. He thinks that’s a great recruiting tool for his team. So my goal if I’m sitting in this seat next year will be that we have it in 2025. It’s an incredible atmosphere,” Beggs said.
Last year's game was tarnished by an alleged racial slur that an opposing player said they heard from a fan. ISU later said it couldn't prove the player's claim.
AD search
Beggs said she plans to apply for the full-time position once the university forms a search committee.
University president Aondover Tarhule appointed Beggs interim athletic director following the sudden departure of Kyle Brennan in April 2023.
Beggs said she was worried at the time whether she would have the skill set for the job.
“I was basically brought in to calm the waters after some of the upheaval of that spring. This is what I found out. I didn’t know everything there was to know about 19 sports, but what I do know is campus. What I do know is community.
“Probably the thing I’m most proud of is I think my staff feels most cared for and supported in many, many years. That enables them to go out and do their best work,” she said.
Beggs said she had already turned in her retirement papers for her job as a marketing professor when she was appointed to the post.
“Luckily, I had only submitted them to ISU and honestly I think they had those ripped up within seconds,” Beggs quipped.
