Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University Athletics – We Are #TheVanguard
10/8/2018 4:06:00 PM | General
Bloomington, Indiana - Indiana University Athletics has a rich history of innovation and innovative thinking.
There are numerous ways that IU Athletics has set the pace in the world of innovation and innovative thinking. In the coming days, weeks and months, IUHoosiers.com will honor that history by recognizing the people, places, things and decisions that make Indiana University Athletics #TheVanguard of innovation in intercollegiate athletics.
You'll read about the different ways that IU Athletics has broken barriers, supported students, advanced technology.
Whether it is breaking historic barriers or supporting students or making advancements in technology, Indiana University's athletic administrators, coaches, athletes and staff members have always been on the forefront, making Indiana University Athletics #TheVanguard of innovation in intercollegiate athletics.
"Innovation is one of our proudest traditions," said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "In fact, we consider ourselves the most innovative department of intercollegiate athletics in the nation. From fostering social progress to transforming support for our students to developing and using revolutionary technology, we're always pushing the boundaries of what our students, our teams, and our department can accomplish."
In what ways has Indiana University Athletics been at the forefront? A few examples from our past and our present:
Breaking Barriers
- in 1948, IU's Bill Garrett broke the Big Ten basketball color barrier and became the first African American to start in the conference;
- In 1949, IU's George Taliaferro was the first African American drafted by an NFL team;
- in 2017, IU Athletics adopted a policy barring prospective student-athletes with records of sexual violence, a first-of-its-kind policy in intercollegiate athletics.
Supporting Students
- in the 1970s, IU Athletics hired Elizabeth "Buzz" Kurpius as the first academic advisor in all of intercollegiate athletics;
- in 2014, IU Athletics unveiled its groundbreaking Student-Athlete Bill of Rights, which set forth a commitment to student-athletes during their time on campus and beyond. Among its features is the lifetime degree guarantee, which enables student-athletes who left IU in good academic standing to have their tuition and book costs covered if they return to IU to complete their undergraduate degrees at a future date;
- in 2018, IU dedicated the $48 million, 66,575-square foot Excellence Academy facility. This facility provides a home for the Excellence Academy program, one of the most innovative and effective personal development programs in intercollegiate athletics. Focused on the holistic development of IU's student-athletes, the program is unique to intercollegiate athletics.
Advancing Technology
- in the 1950s and 1960s, IU Swim Coach James 'Doc' Counsilman and Diving Coach Hobie Billingsley revolutionized their respective sports with their scientific approaches to performance and coaching;
- In 2016, IU Athletics moved to the forefront with the opening of the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media Technology. Cuban Center students and staff work with the Intel freeD system that provides 360-degree views of the field of play, making IU the only university in the country to have this technology. Cuban Center staff have also created a series of IU-related virtual reality games, which represents the first step toward athlete training in a virtual environment.
Indiana University Athletics - The Vanguard.
There are numerous ways that IU Athletics has set the pace in the world of innovation and innovative thinking. In the coming days, weeks and months, IUHoosiers.com will honor that history by recognizing the people, places, things and decisions that make Indiana University Athletics #TheVanguard of innovation in intercollegiate athletics.
You'll read about the different ways that IU Athletics has broken barriers, supported students, advanced technology.
Whether it is breaking historic barriers or supporting students or making advancements in technology, Indiana University's athletic administrators, coaches, athletes and staff members have always been on the forefront, making Indiana University Athletics #TheVanguard of innovation in intercollegiate athletics.
"Innovation is one of our proudest traditions," said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "In fact, we consider ourselves the most innovative department of intercollegiate athletics in the nation. From fostering social progress to transforming support for our students to developing and using revolutionary technology, we're always pushing the boundaries of what our students, our teams, and our department can accomplish."
In what ways has Indiana University Athletics been at the forefront? A few examples from our past and our present:
Breaking Barriers
- in 1948, IU's Bill Garrett broke the Big Ten basketball color barrier and became the first African American to start in the conference;
- In 1949, IU's George Taliaferro was the first African American drafted by an NFL team;
- in 2017, IU Athletics adopted a policy barring prospective student-athletes with records of sexual violence, a first-of-its-kind policy in intercollegiate athletics.
Supporting Students
- in the 1970s, IU Athletics hired Elizabeth "Buzz" Kurpius as the first academic advisor in all of intercollegiate athletics;
- in 2014, IU Athletics unveiled its groundbreaking Student-Athlete Bill of Rights, which set forth a commitment to student-athletes during their time on campus and beyond. Among its features is the lifetime degree guarantee, which enables student-athletes who left IU in good academic standing to have their tuition and book costs covered if they return to IU to complete their undergraduate degrees at a future date;
- in 2018, IU dedicated the $48 million, 66,575-square foot Excellence Academy facility. This facility provides a home for the Excellence Academy program, one of the most innovative and effective personal development programs in intercollegiate athletics. Focused on the holistic development of IU's student-athletes, the program is unique to intercollegiate athletics.
Advancing Technology
- in the 1950s and 1960s, IU Swim Coach James 'Doc' Counsilman and Diving Coach Hobie Billingsley revolutionized their respective sports with their scientific approaches to performance and coaching;
- In 2016, IU Athletics moved to the forefront with the opening of the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media Technology. Cuban Center students and staff work with the Intel freeD system that provides 360-degree views of the field of play, making IU the only university in the country to have this technology. Cuban Center staff have also created a series of IU-related virtual reality games, which represents the first step toward athlete training in a virtual environment.
Indiana University Athletics - The Vanguard.
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