History of IU

Hoosier sports through the years

There will be many teams and athletes to follow and cheer on during your time at IU and after. Here are a few sports moments in IU’s history.

IU ARCHIVES 1926 Members of the Women’s Athletic Association wear their “I” sweaters. Members were awarded the sweaters after earning points for their participation in a variety of sports including basketball, soccer and baseball.

ARBUTUS FILE PHOTO 1980 Runner Jim Spivey garnered many titles including Big Ten individual cross country championships in 1980 and 1982. He was a three-time All-American and Big Ten Athlete of the Year in 1981 and 1982.

IDS FILE PHOTO 2019 Swimmer Lilly King waves to the crowd in the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. Among her accomplishments are two gold medals at the 2016 Summer Olympics and sweeping the breaststroke events at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.

ARBUTUS FILE PHOTO 1983 Players lift Coach Jerry Yeagley on their shoulders after winning the NCAA Soccer Championship. Since 1982, the Hoosier have won eight NCAA titles.

1946 Teammates John Goldsberry, Russell Deal, Robert Ravensberg and George Taliaferro look over a program, the front of which reads, “Hail the Champs!” Taliaferro, the leading rusher and an All-American, led the team to their only undefeated Big Ten Conference championship during his rookie year in 1945. He was the first Black player drafted into the NFL.

IU ARCHIVES IDS FILE PHOTO 2018 The IU women’s basketball team huddles and celebrates after winning the WNIT Championship. The game against Virginia Tech was the last game of the Hoosiers’ 23-14 season.

IDS FILE PHOTO 2014 The Hoosiers sing the Indiana fight song after defeating Purdue 23-16, keeping the Old Oaken Bucket in Bloomington for another year. The Bucket game is an annual tradition.

IDS FILE PHOTO 2008 Angel Escobedo celebrates his victory over Minnesota’s Jayson Ness in the 125-pound championship match at the NCAA wrestling national championships. Escobedo is now IU’s coach.

IDS FILE PHOTO 2013 IU Baseball Coach Tracy Smith signs autographs and talks to fans outside Bart Kaufman Field before the team leaves for Omaha, Nebraska, to compete in the College World Series. 1986 Amy Unterbrink winds up to pitch. The softball team won the Big Ten title and advanced to the College World Series. Unterbrink was 33-13 on the season and ended her career with a 96-45 record and 1,089 strikeouts.

ARBUTUS FILE PHOTO

1951 Men’s Basketball Coach Branch McCracken with Bill Garrett. Garrett was the first Black player on the team. He broke the scoring record during the 1950–51 season for the highest number of points in Big Ten Conference games with a total of 193.

IU ARCHIVES

1970s Legendary IU swimming coach Doc Counsilman talks with champion swimmer Mark Spitz. Spitz won nine Olympic golds, a silver and a bronze between 1968 and 1972.

IU ARCHIVES