During the 1970s, the Athletics Department began intramural, club-type sports, which transformed into university athletics.

“It actually started back when the campus was in Jeffersonville,” Joe Glover, athletic director, said. “It got its kick-start when we moved here to the Grant Line Road location.

“That’s when things started to kind of grow and thrive with the new Activities Building that was built and so-forth,” Glover said. “That really kind of helped.”

The Activities Building did not exist at IU Southeast’s former location in Jeffersonville. Instead, the Athletics Department utilized the old Mahan Field House in Jeffersonville.

Jim Morris, former athletic director and IUS men’s basketball coach, contributed a lot to the Athletics Department during the 25 years he served.

Morris was hired as athletic director during the summer of 1975 and retired from the position in 1999. He continued as the IUS men’s basketball coach through February 2000.

When Morris began at IU Southeast, the university had men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, golf, soccer and slow-pitch softball.

“The programs at that time were maybe what you’d call ‘club programs because the school had no affiliation with any national athletic organization,” Morris said.
Some sports ceased existence at the school throughout the years.

“Some things that were added were baseball, volleyball for women, [and]cross-country,” Morris said. “Soccer is no longer a sport, and softball has become fast-pitch.”

One big item that has helped improve the Athletics Department has been the use of technology.

Glover said they now use Facebook, Twitter and an updated website.
“When I first got here, our website was pretty much nonexistent,” Glover said. “All the information on there was not friendly to the eyes.”

Today’s website for the department includes audio, video, complete schedules, press releases, team information and pictures.

“That’s probably been one of our biggest [advances] – jumping into the technological age of running an athletic department,” Glover said.

IU Southeast’s reciprocity program has also helped the school’s Athletics Department grow and become more competitive on the fields.

“It’s opened up a new recruiting base for us,” Glover said. “There’s a lot of great athletes in it, and we’re able to tap into it and offer them an affordable education and opportunities that they really like.”

Glover said the local community has continuously shown its support for the Athletics Department. From scholarships and helping to get the school’s name out there, the community has become the real champions of the Athletics Department.

“Those community members are really what the program’s all about,” Glover said. “The community’s also embraced us, and, for that, we are thankful.”

Glover said, without the support from the communities, IU Southeast wouldn’t be celebrating its 70th anniversary.

“That extends to athletics as well,” Glover said.

Each team sport has its different initiatives for community service that it takes on each year. The school corresponds with a variety of organizations and groups within the community, and the initiatives are flexible depending on what the teams want to do.

Glover said the Athletics Department wants to give back to the community.
“While the groups and organizations change from year to year, the main point is that they’re involved somewhat in the community,” Glover said.

Both Glover and Morris said they believe the future for the Athletics Department is bright.

Glover said the Athletics Department is fortunate to have had the remarkable student athletes that have gone through the program throughout the past 70 years.

“I talk a lot about how we develop athletes, but, more than that, we develop people, and that’s our real job – our real mission,” Glover said. “As long as we’re developing people and giving back as much as we’re getting, I think the next 70 years of IU Southeast athletics is going to be really successful.”

Morris said, that along with its affiliation with the NAIA, becoming distinguished has helped the Athletics Department continue to be successful.

“I see the future being bright,” Morris said. “I think that, as with anything else in the early stages, it takes time to get credit and recognition, and I think that has gradually happened for a period of time, from the beginning to now.”

There are seven different sports programs offered on campus, and there are currently no plans to add any others due to the current fee structure.

“If our students have a major need for another sport, and there’s a big push, we’ll definitely consider it,” Glover said. “Right now, we’re kind of at the point where we want new sports to be club sports for a couple years to see what the interest level is. If the interest level remains strong, you never know what the future may hold.”

By JENNIFER HARRINGTON

Staff

jeharrin@umail.iu.edu