Indiana University Head Football Coach Curt Cignetti Tabs Chandler Whitmer for Quarterbacks/Co-Offensive Coordinator Post Indiana head football coach Curt Cignetti has announced the addition of Chandler Whitmer as the program’s quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. His coaching resume includes work with some of the top names in quarterbacking. He helped Justin Fields (Ohio State) and Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) grow into NFL Draft picks at the collegiate level, tutored Justin Herbert (Los Angeles) to NFL success, and developed Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta) into an NFL starting quarterback. “Chandler came very highly recommended and has been involved with the development of a number of top-flight quarterbacks,” Cignetti said. “We’re excited he’s joining the organization, and he will do a terrific job developing our quarterbacks.”
“I am fired up to join Coach Cignetti, Coach Shanahan, and the Hoosiers program,” Whitmer said. “What they did this past season in such a short amount of time was tremendous and the future is incredibly bright. I am excited to learn from everyone, bring some things from my experiences, and develop the quarterback position.” Whitmer spent the past four seasons in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Chargers (2021-23) as an offensive quality control assistant and the Atlanta Falcons (2024) as the pass game specialist. In both roles, he worked primarily with the quarterback position. He got his start in coaching at the college level with stops as a graduate assistant at Yale (2018), Ohio State (2019) and Clemson (2020), where he made College Playoff appearances with the Buckeyes and Tigers.
Whitmer worked with top 10 passing offenses in three of his four campaigns at the professional level, including the No. 3 passing offense in 2021 (269.6 ypg) and 2022 (282.4 ypg), and the Chargers made the playoffs in 2022 as an AFC Wild Card. Through 16 weeks of the 2024 season, the Falcons ranked No. 6 in passing (238.9 ypg). His one season in Atlanta included the development of Penix Jr., who was the team’s first-round draft choice in 2024. Whitmer helped Penix Jr. move into the starting quarterback role in Week 16 with the Falcons in the thick of an NFC South title chase. While in Los Angeles, Herbert set NFL records as no player has more completions (1,316), passing yards (14,089) or total touchdowns (102) over the first three years of a career. Herbert is also the only quarterback in NFL history to begin a career with three-consecutive seasons of 4,000-plus passing yards and is the second to throw 25 touchdowns in each of his first three years, joining Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.
In 2023, Herbert completed 297-of-456 pass attempts (65.1 percent) for 3,134 yards and 20 touchdowns to seven interceptions, prior to being placed on Reserve/Injured following Week 14. The 2021 season saw Herbert become the third-youngest player in NFL history to eclipse 5,000 passing yards in a single campaign. Herbert’s 38 passing scores took his career total to 69, setting the record for most by a QB through their first two pro seasons. Whitmer’s first year in Los Angeles saw Herbert earn his first career Pro Bowl nod after setting single-season franchise records for yards passing (5,014), passing touchdowns (38), and completions (443). The Bolts posted the second-most fourth-quarter points scored by any team in a single campaign in NFL history (181) and the offensive unit posted single-season team records for first downs (401) and passing touchdowns (38).
As an offensive graduate assistant at Clemson, Whitmer helped the offensive coaching staff and assisted with the quarterback and wide receiver groups. He worked closely with Lawrence, the runner-up for the 2020 Heisman Trophy, as Clemson defeated No. 2 Notre Dame in the ACC Championship and earned a bid in the College Football Playoff for the sixth-straight season. Whitmer contributed to the offensive coaching staff at Ohio State during its 2019 College Football Playoff run. First-year signal-caller Justin Fields led the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season record and a defeat of No. 8 Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Atlanta native started his coaching career with one year as an offensive quality control coach at Yale.
As a player, Whitmer logged 24 starts under center for the University of Connecticut (2012-14) and earned a rookie minicamp invite from the Philadelphia Eagles. He culminated his Huskies career ranked No. 4 in program history in career completions (403) and passing yards (5,082), and No. 6 in UConn annals with 25 career passing scores. Whitmer started his collegiate career at the University of Illinois (2010), before one season at Butler (Kan.) Community College (2011), where he was named NJCAA All-America honorable mention after leading Butler to a top five national ranking.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Ohio State-2019: Graduate Assistant (Offense)
Clemson-2020: Graduate Assistant (Offense)
Los Angeles Chargers-2021-23: Offensive Quality Control (Quarterbacks)
Atlanta Falcons-2024: Pass Game Specialist
Indiana-2025-: Quarterbacks/Co-Offensive Coordinator
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
University of Illinois-2010: Quarterback
Butler (Kan.) Community College-2011: Quarterback
University of Connecticut-2012-14: Quarterback
Tyler Lillard Wins Indvidual Title as Indiana University Wrestling Finishes Fourth at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Indiana Wrestling wrapped up competition at the 60th annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Monday. The Hoosiers finished in fourth place with 95.5 team points, one champion and six placers. Tyler Lillard (165) won an individual title, and No. 28 Gabe Sollars (197) and No. 23 Jacob Bullock (285) each took second place. No. 22 Jacob Moran (125) finished in fourth, No. 20 DJ Washington (184) finished in seventh and Nick Pavlechko (285) took eighth place.
Tyler Lillard (165) scored on two takedowns and didn’t allow one in a 7-3 decision victory over No. 19 Maxx Mayfield (Northwestern) in the final match. No. 23 Jacob Bullock fell just short to No. 11 Josh Heindselman (Michigan) on a last second takedown in a 5-4 decision in the title match. No. 28 Gabe Sollars (197) scored a few takedowns but fell short in a close 13-9 decision in the final match to No. 15 Mac Stout (Pittsburgh). No. 20 DJ Washington (184) knocked off Adrien Cramer (Central Michigan) by decision, 7-1, to earn seventh place. Indiana’s three finalists earned wins over three ranked opponents in the semifinals to secure their spots in the championship bouts, as Hoosiers defeated No. 13 Hunter Garvin (Stanford), No. 14 John Poznanski (Rutgers) and No. 5 Yaraslaou Slavikouski (Rutgers). Indiana’s six placers are the most at a Midlands tournament in program history. The previous high was five in 2006. Lillard is the program’s first Midlands individual champion since 2014 when Taylor Walsh also won at 165 lbs. Indiana’s three finalists are the most at Midlands tournament in program history. Moran, Bullock and Washington all were on the podium at Midlands for the second time in their careers. Lillard, Sollars and Pavlechko all reached the podium at Midlands for the first time in their careers. Indiana’s next appearance will be the resumption of Big Ten duals as the Hoosiers host Rutgers on Jan. 10 at Wilkinson Hall.
Four Indiana Hoosiers Feature in Top Drawer Men’s Soccer Postseason Lists Top Drawer Soccer honored four members of the Indiana men’s soccer program as the publication announced its postseason “Best XI” and Top 100 player rankings over the last week. Alongside his United Soccer Coaches second-team All-America selection, sophomore defender Quinton Elliot (3 goals, 3 assists) made the Top-Drawer Soccer Best XI third team. The publication also ranked Elliot No. 27 in its Top 100 players list. A unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team performer, Josh Maher (3 assists) reached the Top-Drawer Soccer Freshman Best XI second team. Maher ranked No. 14 in the freshman Top 100 list. The Top-Drawer Postseason Top 100 also featured senior forwards Tommy Mihalic (No. 41) and Samuel Sarver (73). The Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Mihalic (10 goals, 5 assists) led Indiana in scoring. Sarver (5 goals, 8 assists) repeated as a third-team All-American, and FC Dallas selected him in the second round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft last week.
Top Drawer Soccer Postseason Awards
Best XI Third Team: Quinton Elliot
Freshman Best XI Second Team: Josh Maher
Postseason Top 100
27. Quinton Elliot
41. Tommy Mihalic
73. Samuel Sarver
Postseason Top 100 Freshmen
14. Josh Maher
Indiana University Women’s Tennis announces 2025 Spring Schedule Indiana women’s tennis head coach Gabrielle Moore announced the team’s 2025 schedule on Monday morning. The Hoosiers will host 15 matches at the IU Tennis Center including two double headers to open the season and six Big Ten opponents. IU will also host a double header with the men’s squad on Feb. 15th against Louisville and face eight opponents on the road this season. “We are so excited and eager to get started with our dual schedule this season,” Moore said.
“This schedule has a great mixture of competitive talent that will continue to challenge us in many areas. We have worked hard this fall on specific things to help elevate and continue to develop this program to compete with the best. We have a great amount of home matches this season and I’m excited to meet and have our ladies in front of our Hoosier fans!” The cream and crimson begin the season with a pair of doubleheaders in January. They will face Cincinnati and Chicago State (Jan. 19) and Butler and Southern Indiana (Jan. 26). The month of February begins at Virginia Tech (Feb. 1) before the Hoosiers head home for a four-match homestand. Indiana will take on Marshall (Feb. 7), Xavier (Feb. 9), Louisville (Feb. 15) and Western Michigan (Feb. 21).
Big Ten play begins with in-state rival Purdue (Feb. 23) in West Lafayette, Ind. The Hoosiers will close out the month with one final non-conference opponent with UIC (Feb. 28th). The following week includes two conference road trips to Ohio State (March 2) and Penn State (March 7). Next weekend, the Hoosiers will host Maryland (March 14) and Rutgers (March 16). After a two-week break, Indiana will take a tour of the west coast tour with Oregon (March 28) and Washington (March 30). In the final month of the regular season, the Hoosiers will play four of their last six matches at home beginning with back-to-back matches with Michigan (April 5) and Michigan State (April 6). IUWT heads to Minnesota (April 11) and Wisconsin (April 13) for their final road trip. In the final weekend of the regular season, Indiana will host Illinois (April 18) and Northwestern (April 20) in Bloomington. The Big Ten Championships will take place from April 24-27th in Ojai, Calif. NCAA Championships will be hosted by Baylor in Waco, Texas, in May.
Indiana Mad Ants handle the Westchester Knicks on the Road The Indiana Mad Ants began a three-game road trip on Monday night beginning with the Westchester Knicks. The Mad Ants extended their winning streak to six games with a 127-124 win over the Knicks. Jahlil Okafor erupted for 38 points while shooting 18-for-21 from the field. Dakota Mathias added 27 points while Cameron McGriff posted a double-double. The Mad Ants started off strong and began the game on a 7-2 run. Towards the end of the quarter, they pulled away once more and brought the lead to 29-20. A three-pointer from Josiah-Jordan James made it a double-digit lead at 32-22. At the end of the first quarter, Indiana had a commanding 36-28 lead.
In the second quarter, baskets from De’Vion Harmon and Kyle Mangas put the Mad Ants ahead 41-28. Okafor scored 30 seconds later to make it a 43-30 ballgame. The two clubs traded baskets for a while before the Mad Ants pulled out to a 15-point lead with seven minutes to go in the first half. Indiana defended a late run from Westchester and the Mad Ants had a 67-63 lead at halftime. Okafor had 26 of his 38 points in the first half. Okafor picked up where he left off and scored less than a minute into the second half. After the Knicks tied the game, Cameron McGriff put the Mad Ants back in front with a three-pointer. At the eight-minute mark of the third quarter, Mangas made a basket to give the Mad Ants a 78-71 lead. The Knicks again fought back to tie the game and take the lead. However, Indiana was resilient and took the lead at the end of the quarter with a three-pointer from Dakota Mathias. Indiana had a 94-93 lead after three quarters of play.
The Purdue alum made back-to-back three-pointers to start the fourth quarter. Four minutes later, Mangas knocked down a three-pointer to give the Mad Ants another double-digit lead at 114-104. Westchester continued to battle and brought it to a three-point game at 119-116 with four minutes to go. With two minutes left, the Knicks grabbed a 122-121 lead. The two clubs traded baskets down the stretch with Indiana pulling ahead 125-124 with 1:07 remaining. McGriff sealed the deal with a running layup with two seconds left in regulation. Indiana defeated the Knicks by a final score of 127-124. The Mad Ants will continue their road trip this afternoon against the Westchester Knicks. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The road trip concludes on Saturday, January 4, when the Mad Ants take on the Capital City Go-Go. Indiana’s next home game will be Tuesday, January 7, against the Maine Celtics at 12:30 p.m.
Taylor’s Kaden Fuhrmann Eclipses 1,500 Points in Heartbreaking Men’s Basketball Defeat Against Northwestern Ohio Kaden Fuhrmann scored his 1,500th point on Monday afternoon as Taylor fell 94-92 on the road against Northwestern Ohio (8-6, 4-3 WHAC). Fuhrmann is the 22nd player in Trojan history to eclipse the 1,500-point mark and currently sits in 21st place. The senior collected the momentous point early in the contest on a three-pointer assisted by Chaz Harvey. Fuhrmann finished the game with 15 points on eight shot attempts as he continued his most efficient season, shooting exactly 50 percent from outside. Taylor had a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but a fadeaway from Anton Webb clanged off the backboard and to the court to cap the frustrating defeat.
Webb was a force in the contest, capturing another double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds while adding five assists and a steal. Three more Trojans scored in double digits, with Harvey leading the way with 17 points, Nate Paarlberg with 15, and Kobe Funderburk splashing in 11 off the bench. Turnovers were a huge factor in the game, with TU giving the ball away 25 times and struggling from the charity stripe, shooting under 70 percent on 21 attempts. As a team the Trojans shot almost 58 percent from the field and outrebounded the Racers 39-27 in a tight back-and-forth contest, which featured 36 lead changes and had the score tied 17 times. The game felt as if whoever had the ball at the end would take the win, as the game was within a single possession for all but two minutes of action, with neither squad sporting a lead of more than five points. Taylor (9-5, 2-2 CL) resumes Crossroads League action on Saturday, January 4, against RV Spring Arbor (10-3, 3-1 CL), with tip-off set for 1:00 pm.