Illinois State Redbirds

ISU To Allow Limited Attendance For Spring Football

By Eric Stock • Feb 5, 2021

Fans at Hancock Stadium — WGLT file photo

Illinois State University athletics has announced it will allow up to 20% capacity for its spring football schedule at Hancock Stadium this season, but tailgating will not be allowed.

ISU Women’s Basketball Wins By Forfeit

By Eric Stock • Jan 22, 2021

Redbird Arena locker rooms — Eric Stock / WGLT

The Illinois State University women’s basketball team picked up a win Friday and didn’t have to take the floor.

New ISU AD Faces 'Upside Down' Year In College Sports

By Eric Stock • Jan 6, 2021

Illinois State University athletics ushers in a new era during a time when college athletics has been changed dramatically, and perhaps permanently.

MVC Postpones ISU-Valparaiso Series Due To COVID

By Eric Stock • Dec 23, 2020

ISU basketball team sitting at courtside — Emily Bollinger/ISU Athletics

The first home weekend series of 2021 for the Illinois State men’s basketball team won’t happen as scheduled.

ISU Strength Coach Powering Through Health Issues To Retirement

By Eric Stock • Dec 5, 2020

Jim Lathrop watching football practice — GoRedbirds.com

Jim Lathrop has been helping student-athletes build their bodies for decades. Now, his body is breaking down.

MVC Adjusts Conference Basketball Schedules

By Joe Deacon • Nov 20, 2020

UPDATED 4:30 P.M. | The Missouri Valley Conference is altering its conference basketball schedules in consideration of the escalating COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID Brings Many Unknowns As ISU Hoops Practices Begin

By Eric Stock • Oct 15, 2020

Basketball players gather in a huddle — ISU Athletics

Dan Muller is used to dealing with lots of unknowns heading into a basketball season. But his ninth season as Illinois State University men’s hoops coach will most certainly include more unknowns than any other.

Lyons: A ‘Pretty Good Time’ To Leave With ISU Athletics On Hold During Pandemic

By Eric Stock • Oct 8, 2020

Illinois State University Athletics Director Larry Lyons said he planned to tell university president Larry Dietz last spring that he planned to retire. Then the pandemic hit, so he decided to wait as the university and athletics waded through months of uncertainty and health concerns.

ISU Student-Athletes To Stage March 'For Black Voices'

By Eric Stock • Sep 2, 2020

Luke Nelson competing in pole vault — GoRedbirds.com

A group of Illinois State University student-athletes has planned a march and rally Friday in response to ISU athletics director Larry Lyons' remark that “All Redbird Lives Matter” and the athletic department’s action plan for social change which followed.

ISU's Lyons On Action Plan: 'We Are Trying To Get Better'

By Eric Stock • Sep 1, 2020

Mya Robinson competing in track event — GoRedbirds.com

Illinois State University athletics director Larry Lyons said Tuesday he is working to better educate himself about the experiences of Black athletes as he looks to repair the damage his “All Redbird Lives Matter” remark has caused.

Pandemic Stirs More Uncertainty For ISU Athletics

By Eric Stock • Aug 21, 2020

Illinois State University Athletics Director Larry Lyons said coaches and athletic department staff are reinforcing the need for mask compliance and social distancing after seeing a rise in coronavirus cases among student-athletes.

ISU Football Could Lose Payday With U of I Opener Nixed

By Eric Stock • Jul 9, 2020

Illinois State University Athletics Director Larry Lyons could soon find out whether the term "guarantee" means the same thing in a pandemic world.

Dan Muller On Life As A Coach In Quarantine

By Eric Stock • May 16, 2020

Phil Fayne and Dan Muller — GoRedbirds.com

College coaches are notorious for working all the time.

ISU Athletics Mourns Death Of 'Iconic' Voice Steve Adams

By Eric Stock • May 11, 2020

Larry Lyons and Steve Adams — GoRedbirds.com

A voice synonymous with Redbird athletics is silenced.

ISU, IWU Prep For Sports To Return, Not Knowing When Or How

By Eric Stock • Apr 19, 2020

College athletic departments are preparing for the return of sports, even though they don't know when that will be or what it might look like in a COVID-19 world.

ISU Hoops Squads To Tour, Play In Italy

By Eric Stock • Jul 29, 2019

Matt Chastain and Dan Muller — Eric Stock / WGLT

Both Illinois State basketball teams will soon be traveling to Italy in preparation for the upcoming season.

ISU Athletics To Sell Beer, Wine At Select Events

By Ryan Denham • Jul 18, 2019

Seating inside Redbird Arena — Staff / WGLT

Fans will soon be able to buy beer and wine at Illinois State University Athletics events—and not just in premium seating locations.

ISU's DeJong Still A Student Of Science As MLB Career Surges

By Eric Stock • Jun 18, 2019

Paul DeJong celebrates — Jeff Roberson / AP

Paul DeJong didn't put away his curiosity for science when he graduated from Illinois State University.

ISU Softball Welcomes 8-Year-Old Teammate Through Team Impact

By Eric Stock • Mar 25, 2019

Coen Frambes and Keyshawn Evans — Randi Armstrong / Illinois State University

One of Illinois State softball's most valuable players this season will never throw a pitch, hit a ball or steal a base.

Ex-Redbird Winge Blazes Trail With NBA's Denver Nuggets

By Eric Stock • Mar 14, 2019

Nikola Jokic and Katy Winge — Katy Winge

Illinois State alum and basketball player-turned-broadcaster Katy Winge is getting to live out her dream job.

ISU Considers New Roof For Horton Fieldhouse

By Eric Stock • Feb 21, 2019

Illinois State University's Horton Fieldhouse is set to get a new roof.

ISU Seeks Indoor Practice Facility Without Public Money

By Eric Stock • Feb 6, 2019

Illinois State University athletic director Larry Lyons said he's trying to lay the groundwork for a new indoor practice facility that would have to be funded entirely by private dollars.

ISU's Cirone Set To Join MVC Hall Of Fame

By Eric Stock • Jan 31, 2019

One of Illinois State University's most decorated athletes will soon be inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame.

National Softball Honor Named For ISU's Fischer

By Eric Stock • Oct 8, 2018

Illinois State softball coach Melinda Fischer will have a national award named in her honor.

Experience Fuels Lofty Goals For Redbird Hoops

By Eric Stock • Oct 3, 2018

Illinois State men's basketball coach Dan Muller isn't shy about his lofty expectations for the Redbirds this season.

10 ISU Hoops Games Featured on ESPN Networks This Season

By Eric Stock • Oct 2, 2018

The Missouri Valley Conference has announced Illinois State men’s basketball will be featured 10 times this season as part of the league’s live event package with ESPN, according to a news release issued by the Valley.