blog posts Five Illini athletics programs earn NCAA academic recognition Apr 14, 2016 9:15 am Baseball, men's golf, women's golf and women's tennis and volleyball received the Public Recognition Award, which is given to the teams with an APR among the top-10 percent of its sport nationally Farina snags Big Ten Softball Player of the Week honors Apr 18, 2017 2:30 pm The Rolling Meadows, Ill., native had a standout week with a .636 batting average (7 for-11), including a pair of doubles, four RBI, two runs scored and nine total bases. Trio of matches on tap for Illini this weekend Apr 18, 2019 1:30 pm The Illinois women's tennis team wraps up its regular season with three matches at home, as the Illini welcome Penn State, Northern Iowa and No. 18 Ohio State to Atkins Tennis Center. Fighting Illini spring sports fest features 13 events across four days Apr 18, 2023 11:15 am Kicking off Thursday evening with the Orange and Blue Spring Football Game, Spring Sports Fest will feature seven athletic programs hosting 13 events over four days - all free and open the public, with several promotions planned. AD Whitman's update on Illini Athletics Apr 21, 2020 8:00 am With an unforeseeable return date, Whitman is encouraged by the resilience of student-athletes and athletic staff. 'I'm always amazed at the creativity and ingenuity that people can show in the face of challenge.' Martinez, Choquette earn Big Ten Medal of Honor Apr 24, 2018 9:15 am Track and cross country star Nicole Choquette and national champion wrestler Isaiah Martinez were awarded the B1G Medal of Honor Monday at the Illini Oskee Awards celebration Sedlock named Illinois' first ever National Pitcher of the Week Apr 27, 2016 9:45 am Cody Sedlock was named the National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America, becoming the first pitcher in Illinois history to earn a national pitcher of the week award. Illinois tennis begins Big Ten tournament play Friday Apr 28, 2017 9:30 am The Illinois Fighting Illini begins play at the 2017 Big Ten Tournament on Friday at 3:30 p.m. CT from the Schwartz Tennis Center in West Lafayette, Ind. Witherspoon fifth overall pick by Seattle, becomes highest drafted DB in Illini history Apr 28, 2023 9:30 am Witherspoon joins an elite group of Illini to be drafted in the top 5. Only Jeff George (No. 1, 1990), Kevin Hardy (No. 2, 1996), Simeon Rice (No. 3, 1996), Dick Butkus (No. 3, 1965), and Joe Rutgens (No. 3, 1961) were selected higher. Illini Men's Golf sweeps individual Big Ten honors Apr 29, 2015 9:45 am Head Coach Mike Small was named Big Ten Men's Golf Coach of the Year on Tuesday (April 28). Freshman Nick Hardy and junior Thomas Detry were named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year, respectively. Illini blast Blue Demons in rain-shortened game May 1, 2019 8:00 am The Illinois softball team knocked three home runs en route to a 7-0 victory over DePaul in a rain-shortened contest that was called in the bottom of the fifth inning on Tuesday afternoon. Illini Men’s Golf perseveres for Big Ten Title win May 3, 2021 9:45 am The win marks the sixth-consecutive Big Ten title for the Illini program, which has also won 11 of the last 12 and has now captured 18 Big Ten titles in its history. DIA discontinues exploration of Division 1 men’s ice hockey May 3, 2022 8:45 am To date, we have been unable to generate the financial support necessary to greenlight the project — a concern that grew even more daunting through the pandemic, when we saw cost projections for the new facility increase by 30%. Four Illini Men's Golf team members earn All-Big Ten honors May 5, 2022 9:30 am Among the awardees, Adrien Dumont de Chassart earned his second consecutive Player of the Year award and head coach Mike Small took home his 12th B1G Coach of the Year laurel overall, and his 11th of 13 dating back to 2009. Illini senior balances studies and training for Rio 2016 May 10, 2016 11:00 am With the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games now only four months away, 22-year-old Ray Martin, a senior at Illinois in kinesiology, knows that he has taken on a lot – but is it too much? Men's golf heads to NCAA Myrtle Beach regional May 10, 2019 11:45 am Fighting Illini men's golf will travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional, May 13-15. Yet another Big Ten honor for Illini pitcher Cody Sedlock May 11, 2016 9:00 am Sedlock was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week. Sedlock threw his first career complete game May 7 and forced Maryland's final 22 batters to go 0 for 22 in a 4-2 win for the Fighting Illini. Women's Golf: Liu, Park lead Illinois at Albuquerque Regional May 11, 2017 8:00 am The Illinois women's golf team finished in 11th place at the Albuquerque Regional on Wednesday, recording a 901 (+37) after three rounds of play. Edwards, Feliz, Brown win Fighting Illini Spirit Awards May 12, 2020 10:30 am Taylor Edwards (women's basketball), Andres Feliz(men's basketball), and Dre Brown (football) are winners of the 2020 Fighting Illini Spirit Awards for best exemplifying spirit, courage, effort and dedication. Illini Softball makes it back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths May 15, 2017 9:00 am For the sixth time in program history and the second consecutive season, the Illinois softball team earned a berth into the 2017 NCAA Tournament and was selected as one of the 32 at-large bids Illini Baseball clinches series win over Iowa with 6-2 victory May 17, 2021 9:00 am 'Another game that we did everything very well,' said head coach Dan Hartleb. 'Offensively, defensively, and then our pitching was really good. The bullpen was outstanding today.' Illini Men's Golf wins fourth consecutive NCAA regional title May 19, 2016 12:45 pm ....which sets up their nineth consecutive NCAA championship appearance beginning May 27. Kawai set for NCAA Singles Championships May 20, 2019 9:00 am Sophomore Asuka Kawai set to compete in the NCAA Singles Championships at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. on Monday. She's the fifth player in program history to earn a berth to the tournament. Kawai, Rabinowitz named to All-Big Ten team May 20, 2020 3:45 pm Illinois women's tennis juniors Asuka Kawai and Mia Rabinowitz were named to the 2020 All-Big Ten Team, as announced by the conference office Wednesday, May 20. Illinois Football Returns To Soldier Field May 21, 2018 8:15 am Tickets, seating chart, more information on the September 15 game against South Florida Kawai advances to second round of NCAA Singles Championships May 21, 2019 8:45 am Women's Tennis sophomore Asuka Kawai moved into the second round of singles competition of the NCAA Championships after a three-set victory over Maria Mateas of Duke in Orlando, Fla. Six Illini earn All-Big Ten, Hartleb named Coach of the Year May 22, 2024 9:00 am Coach Dan Hartleb earns his second Coach of the Year award and his first since 2015. He matches his mentor, Itch Jones, for the most in program history. Illini golf set for 10th straight NCAA championship appearance May 26 May 23, 2017 10:00 am The 2017 NCAA Men's Golf Championship will be held at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, May 26-31. Men's Golf senior Hardy named Ping First-Team All America May 30, 2018 8:00 am The 2018 Big Ten Player of the Year, Nick Hardy concluded a standout career for the Orange and Blue this year as he won his second Big Ten Individual title Illini Baseball beats Wright State 8-4 to secure NCAA regional title Jun 1, 2015 10:15 am Illinois played Wright State for the regional title in Game Six of the NCAA Champaign Regional today, so no Game Seven will be necessary. Three Illini greats on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot Jun 2, 2017 9:15 am Moe Gardner, Dana Howard and Simeon Rice are among the 75 FBS greats on the 2017 ballot. All three are repeat candidates. Congratulations to Illini Men's Golf on their Final Four season Jun 3, 2015 10:45 am After an exciting comeback victory over UCLA to advance to the Final Four, Fighting Illini Men's Golf fell to USC in the Semifinal round of Match Play at the 2015 NCAA Men's Golf Championships. Illini women's basketball will travel to Clemson in the 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Jun 12, 2018 8:30 am The two teams will meet for the fifth time in program history on Wednesday, November 28 Rabinowitz, Davis named Fighting Illini Freshmen of the Year Jun 14, 2018 8:45 am Tennis star Mia Rabinowitz and track standout Jon Davis have been named winners of the annual award, presented to the top male and female freshmen competing for the Fighting Illini Illini pitching ace Kirschsieper named ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Jun 15, 2022 8:45 am Cole Kirschsieper finished fifth in the Big Ten in innings pitched (87.1) and seventh in ERA (3.40). His 88 strikeouts ranked 10ths and his seven wins tied for fourth in the conference. Grandison named to Finnish National basketball team Jun 16, 2021 9:15 am 'My commitment to be the best I can be will continue with training in Helsinki and culminating with competition in Japan. I'm excited to get a taste of international basketball while still in college, and then apply those lessons next season to help our team...' Men's Basketball players begin workouts, prep for 2019-20 season Jun 17, 2019 9:30 am The Fighting Illini basketball team is hard at work with individual and team skill workouts, and incoming freshman Kofi Cockburn has joined the veteran Illini for workouts. Second baseman Michael Massey named a finalists for Gold Glove Award Jun 20, 2018 8:45 am Massey made only one error while starting all 53 games at second base. He finished the year with 166 assists and a .996 fielding percentage Dosunmu, Sukaree named Fighting Illini Freshmen of the Year Jun 20, 2019 10:30 am The Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced its 2018-19 Freshmen of the Year: Basketball's Ayo Dosunmu and golf's Kornkamol Sukaree. Bastianelli nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award Jun 27, 2019 12:30 pm Illinois volleyball's Ali Bastianelli has been nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, the organization announced on Wednesday. Tough competition on 2018 schedule for Illini Soccer Jun 28, 2018 9:15 am 2018 Illini soccer schedule features eight opponents ranked or receiving votes in the final 2017 United Soccer Coaches Top 25, including three top 10 opponents Mike Small voted top collegiate golf coach in the country Jul 8, 2015 12:30 pm Illini Men's Golf head coach, Mike Small, was voted the top of his class by his peers on Wednesday (July 8), according to a poll released by Golfweek. Men's basketball season ticket renewals available now Jul 10, 2017 10:00 am Fighting Illini Basketball season ticket renewals are now available. They can be renewed online, by phone, or in person at the ticket office Anderson re-ignites Illini Nation with Wimbledon run Jul 16, 2018 10:00 am Former Illini All-American, Kevin Anderson, finishes runner-up at his first Wimbledon finals Sunday morning Illini Soccer announces 2019 schedule Jul 16, 2019 10:00 am The Illini will take on six 2018 NCAA Tournament teams in 2019, welcoming four of those opponents to Champaign. They'll kick off the season on Thursday, August 22, welcoming the Loyola Ramblers. Cockburn announces return to Fighting Illini Jul 17, 2021 10:30 am The Illini now return three starters and six of its top nine players from last year's rotation, led by Cockburn, who enters his junior season as a national player of the year candidate. When courage moved the needle for Illini Women’s Athletics Jul 18, 2022 10:15 am The addition of seven varsity sports in 1974 was undoubtedly a milestone moment for U of I women's athletics, but a more significant moment occurred three years later when a pair of student-athletes filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit. Softball early years: Guiding the program off the runway and into the sky Jul 21, 2022 12:15 pm Two years after the Illini introduced soccer, softball became Illinois' 10th women's varsity program. 'Illinois is a great softball state,' said former Athletic Director Ron Guenther. 'It's in the city, in the suburbs, downstate ... it's everywhere.' Football Coach Lovie Smith press conference Q+A Jul 25, 2017 9:30 am 'Players have been working extremely hard... We've seen marked improvements, strength- and conditioning-wise, just concept-wise on how we're going to win football games...' With sprint to $1 Million in 48 hours, Illini fundraising hits milestone Aug 2, 2021 8:45 am Athletics Development has secured more than $30 million in new business production for the fourth consecutive year. To hit that mark, they had to do another thing that had not happened before: securing $1 million dollars in two days.