McLean County Times

Illinois State University has achieved a notable milestone with its athletics program, securing a record-high single-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 991, as revealed in the NCAA's latest Division I APR report. This achievement surpasses the previous high set following the 2019-20 academic year, which was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Redbirds also reported a four-year APR score of 989, which is above the national average of 984.

The APR measures eligibility and retention of scholarship student-athletes each semester, offering an ongoing assessment of team performance in these areas.

"Academic excellence is a pillar of Redbird Athletics, and we are proud of what our student-athletes have achieved," stated Illinois State Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs. "It's amazing to me how well they do in the classroom, considering the amount of time they spend on their sport. I want to give a big shout out to all our staff who support our student-athletes' academic success."

Eleven teams from Illinois State earned perfect single-year APR scores for the 2023-24 academic year: women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, and volleyball. Among these teams, four also attained perfect multi-year scores: women's cross country, men's and women's golf, and volleyball.

Thirteen out of seventeen Redbird teams met or surpassed the NCAA Division I national multi-year APR average for their respective sports.

In addition to this achievement, several Illinois State teams were recognized by the NCAA for earning multi-year Academic Progress Rates in the top 10 percent within their sports:

- Women's Golf: Under Bre Hall's leadership, honored for the seventh time; currently competing at NCAA Regionals after winning its second consecutive MVC Championship.

- Men's Golf: Led by Ray Kralis' program; honored eight times; heading to NCAA Regionals after clinching another Missouri Valley Conference Championship.

- Volleyball: Sixth-time honor recipient under head coach Allie Matters.

- Women's Cross Country: Recognized for the third time under head coach Jeff Bovee.

All Illinois State teams exceeded the NCAA's minimum APR threshold necessary to avoid penalties or loss of postseason competition opportunities. The current announcement covers single-year scores for 2023-24 along with four-year multi-year scores spanning from 2020-21 through 2023-24.

For detailed information on individual team APRs visit https://web3.ncaa.org/aprsearch/aprsearch

Additional updates on Illinois State athletics can be found at GoRedbirds.com or through the Illinois State Redbirds App.