Jeri Beggs

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.

Illinois State University has formally introduced Jeri Beggs as its new athletics director. University president Aondover Tarhule says Beggs showed visionary leadership in her nearly two years in the interim role.

Jeri Beggs is now officially ISU's athletics director, after serving in that role on an interim basis since May 2023. Beggs was named to the position Wednesday following a national search that began in November 2024.

A new fundraising effort aims to give Illinois State University more flexibility in supporting its multiple sports teams.

Illinois State University is preparing for an estimated $5 million drop in revenue over the next decade if a proposed legal settlement is approved.

Andy Butler was one of the so-called Redbird 7 who died in a plane crash on April 7, 2015, while returning home from the NCAA college basketball championship game in Indianapolis.

Illinois State University opened its $11 million practice facility last fall. Interim athletics director Jeri Beggs says the facility has been useful for football and other outdoor sports during inclement weather.