Indiana University Athletics
New Era in IU Basketball Inspires Donors
6/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Varsity Club
June 22, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Kelvin Sampson era has begun in Indiana basketball and there is no one more excited than Michael and Paula Bryant. To demonstrate their enthusiasm for the new Hoosier coach and the program, the Bryants established the Michael and Paula Bryant Men's Basketball Scholarship. The named scholarship will continue to support men's basketball student-athletes and their drive for excellence.
Paula and Michael Bryant are both graduates of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. While at IU, the Bryants saw Indiana win national titles in 1976 and 1981. Life-long Hoosier fans, the couple is thrilled for the future of IU basketball.
"Like most Hoosiers, we live and die IU basketball," Michael Bryant said. "Paula and I were very fortunate during our collegiate years to have experienced winning two basketball national championships. It was a great time to be students at Indiana. We have talked about giving back to the IU basketball program for all of the joy and excitement over the years."
The desire to have a life-long connection to the Indiana basketball tradition is something the Bryants have been looking for. Thanks to the "Matching the Promise", a campaign on the Bloomington campus, endowment gifts to the athletic department have the potential to double and make more of an impact on IU student-athlete's lives.
"Especially for Michael, the desire to have this relationship with IU basketball is a lifelong dream," Paula said. "Accordingly, the opportunity to establish the Michael and Paula Bryant Men's Basketball Scholarship is one way of fulfilling this dream."
In addition to the generous financial benefits the men's basketball program will gain, the Bryants view the scholarship as a win-win situation for everyone.
"We think the scholarship helps us more than it helps the athletic department," Michael Bryant said. "We love IU and IU basketball. We are proud to be part of something that truly indicates we are "Hoosiers" We have always been proud of our Hoosier heritage. Knowing our name will be associated with IU basketball for years to come is a dream for us. Hoosiers take great pride in the quality of student athletes who represent our men's basketball team. We hope our scholarship will, in some small way, continue to help recruit and develop outstanding young men who will continue the outstanding tradition that is Indiana basketball."
Head coach Kelvin Sampson shares in the Bryants excitement for the future of Indiana basketball.
"We sincerely appreciate Michael and Paula Bryant's generous donation to our basketball program, and more importantly, we thank them for their devout support of Indiana University," Sampson said. "It is a tremendous honor to be the Indiana basketball coach. The fans have been extremely welcoming. Together, we can do some special things here. We are all really looking forward to it."
The Bryants reside in Peoria, Ill., with their children Elyse (17), Eric (14) and Evan (11).
