IU East Athletics: 2007-Present

According to Josh Chapin, IU East “joined both the NAIA and Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2007, and had three varsity sports that same year–men’s basketball, volleyball and men’s golf.” Basketball coach and former athletic director Mark Hester played a major role in this event, and due to his two offices held in 2014, “the Red Wolves [were] the only Indiana University NAIA program with an athletic director who also coaches a sport. At the time of this publication, IU East was looking to fill the athletic director position so Hester could focus on coaching. In 2014, Joe Griffen filled this position.^[1]

In 2008, the Pioneers became known as the Red Wolves. According to Mike Bennett, “IU East said the new mascot was chosen because it conveys spirit, energy and strength. The pack nature of wolves is symbolic of a family atmosphere, a school press release said.” Bennett also shares that “[t]hree sports will be added for the 2008-09 academic year—men’s and women’s cross country and women’s golf. They join volleyball, men’s basketball and men’s golf. ‘It’s not just about athletics. It’s how athletics can contribute to the overall enrollment of the university,’ said athletic director Mark Hester.”^[2]

In November 2009, “the Red Wolves claimed the school’s first regular-season KIAC title, not only in volleyball, but for any sport.”^[3] Volleyball player Stacie Muir was credited with the win.

The year 2011 saw two major additions to IU East’s athletic program. Cheer leading and dance were added in August of 2011, and they both “compete[d] in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.”^[4]

During the same time, star tennis player Venus Williams enrolled at IU East, graduating with a B.S. in Business in 2015. Williams was “the first graduate from the WTA [Women’s Tennis Association] online program.” Williams is quoted saying “‘[o]ne of the main reasons that I chose IU East was because I felt so at home. It was like family, like it was my school, and I was so excited. It’s been and incredible journey”.^[5]

The year 2013 saw a major development in both online education and athletics when IU East became “the primary provider for baccalaureate online degree completion programs for players governed by the Women’s Tennis Association.”^[6] The agreement between IU East and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) was signed in August of 2013. In 2015, “IU East signed a similar agreement with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP),” which concerns men’s professional tennis.^[7]

In 2012, “Indiana University East men’s basketball team [made] national tournament for first time.”^[8] Because of the Red Wolves’ defeat of Indiana Wesleyan’s basketball team, IU East became #8 in the national ranking. The women’s volleyball team went to the national tournament in 2012 three years in a row since 2007.

In 2013, “[Tiffani] Selhorst was introduced [sic] at Tiernan Center as IU East’s first women’s basketball coach in the NAIA era.”^[9] This year also saw the addition of women’s basketball, which became the eleventh Red Wolves NAIA varsity sport.

Mark Hester has been coaching the men’s basketball team since 2007. Hester has played a major role in getting the Red Wolves men’s basketball team to the “NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship in 2011-12” and the “Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship” in 2010-11. In 2014-15, “IU East finished with the most wins in the KIAC for the first time, and also won the program’s first KIAC tournament title.” The Red Wolves also made the “Fab Four” at the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship in 2015-16.

The fall of 2017 introduced the inaugural season of  men’s and women’s s varsity soccer. “This brings the total of number of NAIA varsity sports offered at IU East to 13.”^[10] Currently, the home field for both the women’s and men’s soccer team is at Centerville High School.

Starting in the fall of 2021, IU East added a varsity e-sports program and it is the campus’ first coed sports team. Esports is a video game-based form of competition, where players compete in games such as Overwatch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Fortnight, and Rocket League.

Athletics Mission Statement:

“Red Wolves Athletics serves to provide a quality collegiate athletic experience to student-athletes who are committed to learning skills to enhance their academic experience, their servant leadership, and equip them with the skills necessary to excel in future careers. Through competition at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level, student-athletes will be able to set goals for themselves and as a team both at the conference as well as the national levels. Striving to reach these goals will enable our student-athletes to develop an unmatched work-ethic and achieve recognition for their efforts.”

Purpose and Mission:

1. Serve as a voice for all student-athletes at Indiana University East.
2. Opportunity for the student-athlete population to more effectively communicate with the Indiana University East Athletic Department administration.
3. Medium for student-athletes to assemble to discuss their athletics experience at Indiana University East.
4. Serve as representatives of the student-athletes at Indiana University East when requests are received for student speakers and/or guests at charitable and civic functions.
5. Distribute information concerning the student-athlete experience at Indiana University East to their respective teams.
6. Encourage and organize the involvement of Indiana University East student-athletes in campus and community projects.
7. Model, educate, and encourage the five core values of the Champions of Character adopted by National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
8. As a recognized organization of Indiana University East, SAAC will educate the student body by offering activities and events to the general university community.

List of available sports:

Men’s- Basketball, Tennis, Soccer, Golf, Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, E-sports

Women’s- Basketball, Volleyball, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, E-sports