New Branding Opportunities Now Available in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Memorial Stadium for Indiana University Athletics
IU Sports Properties and IU Athletics are teaming up to make a first-of-its kind branding opportunity available on the playing surfaces of both Memorial Stadium and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. In Memorial Stadium, potential brand partners can now consider the chance to become the field level sponsor with their logo displayed on each side of the field at the 25-yard line. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, meanwhile, can now feature a single marketing partner’s logo on each side of the court. These new opportunities are available immediately, and will be the most visible brands associated with IU Athletics. There will be only one partnership entered into for each of IU’s two most high-profile athletic facilities, and once sold, these two opportunities will not be available again for multiple years based on the nature of the potential multi-year agreements.
IU Athletics facilities have never featured brand logos on any of its facilities’ playing surfaces. This change comes in the wake of the NCAA’s recent decision to allow corporate advertisements on courts and fields, and in response to the growing need for intercollegiate athletic departments to identify and secure new avenues and levels of funding in support of student-athletes. Should IUSP and IU Athletics identify a partner for either or both facilities, the partner will have the chance to capitalize on the extraordinary in-person and television visibility that accompanies the IU Football, Men’s Basketball, and Women’s Basketball programs. In terms of television viewership, in the last two years IU Men’s Basketball has averaged more than 10 million TV viewers for its home games; IU Football has averaged more than 7 million; and IU Women’s Basketball has averaged more than 1 million. In addition, IU Men’s and Women’s Basketball combined to host 472,132 fans at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in 2023-24, the highest combined attendance total in the nation. IU athletics and multimedia rights partner IU Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the leading media and technology powering college athletics, will collaborate to offer these new on-field and on-court opportunities. Anyone interested in discussing this opportunity can contact IU Sports Properties at iusp@iu.edu.
Kylie Durkee Named Director of Athletic Performance for Indiana University Women’s Basketball
Indiana Head Coach Teri Moren has announced the addition of Kylie Durkee Director of Athletic Performance for women’s basketball. Durkee (Durr-key), who also holds various certifications including SCCC, CSCS, USAW, FMS, RPR, CISSN, arrives in Bloomington after a two-year stint at the University of Houston where she was was the Director of Sports Performance for the women’s basketball and volleyball teams. In her first year with the two programs, Durkee’s volleyball athlete won the American Athletic Conference Championship and made a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994. Durkee’s women’s basketball team finished league play with a 10-5 record and made it to the American Athletic Conference Championship game for the first time in program history.
Prior to Houston, Durkee served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Mercer, of the women’s basketball and soccer teams. While with the Bears, she oversaw the year-round comprehensive strength and conditioning programs while also executing nutritional strategies. The Green Bay, Wisc., native also oversaw graduate assistants and contributed to internship curriculum and implementation. Before her time at Mercer, Durkee spent time at the University of North Florida where she served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Softball, Men’s Soccer, Track & Field & Women’s Golf programs, designing and implementing year-round comprehensive training programs. She got her start as a Strength & Conditioning Graduate Assistant Coach at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. While earning her master’s degree in Kinesiology, she served as the Assistant Strength Coach for Softball, Men’s Soccer, and Swimming & Diving, while assisting with the Football, Track & Field & Hockey Programs.
Durkee earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise & Sport Science, and a double minor in Nutrition & Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. During this time, she interned at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where she gained experience working with women’s & men’s Basketball, hockey, golf, dance and cheer programs. In 2019, Durkee was the recipient of the Lance Vermeil Scholarship; a scholarship awarded to a qualified & committed young strength and conditioning coach in the field. She was recognized for her continued determination to grow and learn within the field. Durkee married her husband Zach Durkee in June 2021, and they have two dogs, Possum and Balto, and two cats, Nala & Rufus.
Indiana University Cross County Skylar Stidam and Mariah Wehrle Selected to The Big Ten Preseason Watch List
Skylar Stidam and Mariah Wehrle were selected to the first Big Ten Preseason Watch List, the league announced Last Week. The watchlists were determined by the head coaches across the conference. Stidam returns to course with his final year of eligibility. Last season, he finished 39th with a personal best time in the 10k race at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional meet and 68th at the Big Ten Championships in Madison, Wis. His career bests are 23:52.7 (8k) and 30:30.2 (10k). Wehrle is one of the top-runners on the women’s side as she looks to make big strides in her final season on the course. Her career bests are 20:14.4 (6k) and 17:11.1 (5k). Wehrle’s highest finishes at the postseason meets include a 19th place finish at the Big Ten Championships and 16th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional meet. The Hoosiers will begin the season on Friday as they host the Sam Bell Invitational at the Sam Bell Cross Country Course.
2024 Cross Country B1G Preseason Player Watch Lists
Men’s
Alex Partlow, Jr. Illinois
Skylar Stidam, Sr. Indiana
Will Ryan, Jr. Iowa
Luke Venhuizen, Jr. Michigan
Andrew Nolan, Gr. Michigan State
Emmett Anderson, Jr. Minnesota
Liem Chot, Sr. Nebraska
Zubin Jha, Sr.+ Ohio State
Elliott Cook, Sr. Oregon
Brian DiCola, So. Penn State
Nathan Walker, Sr. Purdue
Liam Tilton, Jr. Rutgers
Michael Mireles, Gr. UCLA
Nathan Green, Jr. Washington
Bob Liking, Sr. Wisconsin
Women’s
Halle Hill, Sr. Illinois
Mariah Wehrle, Sr. Indiana
Miriam Sandeen, Jr. Iowa
Katie Altieri, Sr. Maryland
Kayla Windemuller, Gr. Michigan
Makenna Veen, Gr. Michgian State
Erin Reidy, Sr. Minnesota
Berlyn Schutz, So. Nebraska
Ava Earl, R-Jr. Northwestern
Daniella Santos, Gr. Ohio State
Maddy Elmore, Sr. Oregon
Florence Caron, Sr. Penn State
Payne Turnery, Sr. Purdue
Sofia Condron, Sr. Rutgers
Mia Kane, Sr. UCLA
Gigi Maccagnini, Sr. USC
Chloe Foerster, Jr. Washington
Leané Willemse, Jr. Wisconsin
Pittsburgh Pirates call up Southpaw Brady Feigl from the Indianapolis Indians
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of left-handed reliever Brady Feigl. He will be the third member of the 2024 Indianapolis Indians to make his major league debut this season, following right-handed starting pitcher Paul Skenes and catcher Grant Koch. Feigl, 33, began the season on Indianapolis’ Opening Day roster after being signed by Pittsburgh as a minor league free agent and went 7-2 with a 3.83 ERA (22er/51.2ip) and 62 strikeouts in 33 games (one
start). He has excelled this August, logging a 0.82 ERA (1er/11.0ip), 14 strikeouts, 0.82 WHIP and .167 batting average against (6-for-36) in seven outings.
The Severn, Md. native leads all Indians pitchers in wins and is tied with closer Connor Sadzeck for the most strikeouts as a reliever (59).
In addition to Indy, Feigl has made Triple-A appearances with Gwinnett (2015), Round Rock (2018) and Nashville (2019). He spent the last two seasons in the independent Atlantic League with Long Island (2022), Spire City (2023) and Lexington (2023) before returning to affiliated ball this season. Feigl was originally signed by Atlanta as a non-drafted free agent on Nov. 14, 2013, out of Mount St. Mary’s University (Emmitsburg, Md.).
Taylor University Women’s Soccer battles to a 1-1 with draw with Carroll
The Trojans led for over 85 minutes on Saturday but were undone by a goal in the final minute of the match for a 1-1 draw against #RV Carroll (1-0-1). The match started brightly as Kianna Siefert headed home a terrific cross from Leah McQuade after Emma Carrell released her down the right wing for TU to grab an early 1-0 lead. Siefert nearly doubled her goal count in the tenth minute, firing a shot off the post. The Trojans continued to pepper the opposing keeper into six saves to see the lead stay at a goal when the whistle blew for halftime. Carroll came out of the break looking for an equalizer and fired a pair of shots in the first three minutes and six of the first of the seven shots after halftime.
Brianna Rawlings continued to deny the Fighting Saints, posting nine saves in the match in her first collegiate start. The speedy Siefert was TU’s best option in attack in the second half and forced a trio of saves while Eliz Luttrull beat the keeper but was denied by the crossbar in the 83rd minute as Taylor looked to double the advantage. Siefert had a game-high six shots, with four of them landing on target. Carroll scored the equalizer in the 90th minute after a foul on Taylor gave the Fighting Saints a free kick in the attacking half. A late corner for the Trojans did not produce a goal, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw for the receiving votes teams. #RV Taylor (0-0-1) will take the pitch again on Wednesday when they head on the road to face #RV Northwestern Ohio (1-1-0), with kick-off set for 4:00 pm.
Taylor University Men’s Soccer drops Home Contest to Indiana University-East
Taylor (2-1-0) suffered its first defeat of the young season on Saturday night in front of a packed crowd, falling 3-0 against IU East (1-0-0) in a match more even than its final scoreline. As Fans flooded the stands as part of Taylor’s Welcome Weekend, the Trojans controlled play for much of the first half but were unable to find the final touch needed to get the ball into the back of the net. IU East capitalized late in the first half and scored on three of their attempted shots in 15 minutes for a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the break.
Play in the second half was much more even across the board as TU searched for a lifeline back into the game. Elias Munoz found the back of the net in the 89th minute only to see the flag go up for offside and the goal to be waived off. Despite the lopsided scoreline, Taylor outshot their opponent 13 to seven and took one more corner throughout the match. Caleb Van Dop led the squad with a trio of shots in an impressive performance off the bench. The Trojans will look to rebound from their first loss of the season with a match against Indiana Northwest (0-1-0) on Wednesday back at Turner Stadium, with a kick-off time of 7:00 pm.
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