Jeri Beggs

Illinois State Redbird athletics is coming off what it calls a banner year for fundraising.

Illinois State Athletics has announced plans to discontinue its men’s tennis program, effective at the end of the spring 2026 semester.

Illinois State University's board of trustees on Friday approved a 5% tuition increase for new students arriving on campus this fall, with Chief Financial Officer Glen Nelson saying planners tried to minimize the impact of cost increases on those students.

The Illinois State football team came up one point short in the national championship game in Nashville two weeks ago, but athletics director Jeri Beggs says the university came out a winner in many ways.

On the heels of Illinois State football’s trip to the Football Championship Subdivision title game, the athletics department has announced a $2.5 million gift to the football program.

Illinois State University has officially renamed its football field at Hancock Stadium in honor of former Board of Trustees member and alumnus Jay Bergman and his late wife Lori.

Tuesday was the first day colleges and universities can make direct payments to student-athletes. This stems from a settlement in a landmark case involving student compensation. Illinois State University Athletics Director Jeri Beggs called it the most dramatic change ever seen in college sports.

Ryan Pedon led the Redbirds to their winningest season in eight years, and the team won the College Basketball Invitational title last season.

Several family members of the men who died in a 2015 plane crash joined retired Illinois State University Director of Athletics Larry Lyons and current AD Jeri Beggs at a ceremonial gathering Monday to mark the 10-year anniversary.

In 16 seasons, Brock Spack has compiled a 111-74 [60%] record and has led the Redbirds to six NCAA playoff appearances and two Missouri Valley Football Conference championships.