Seven UIS golf student-athletes were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District At-Large Team, with four members of the women's program and three members of the men's program receiving recognition. Senior golfer Elaine Grant advanced to the Academic All-America ballot and will be considered for national honors.
The 2025-26 academic year was one of achievement across the board and continued growth for UIS Athletics, with Prairie Stars teams collecting academic honors, milestone performances, and breakthrough seasons.
Senior standout Madelyn Miller-Ross capped off an extraordinary year by being named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's track & field, the conference office announced Friday morning.
The honor comes after Miller-Ross earned the same recognition in women's cross country in the fall, meaning she has swept the conference's Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards in both sports during the same academic year.
The UIS athletic department placed 32 student-athletes on the 2025-26 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award list, which was released Thursday morning.
The Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award honors student-athletes who have graduated during the academic year or exhausted their eligibility and have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or higher while competing in the GLVC for at least two years.
The UIS women's flag football program will join the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as an affiliate member beginning with the 2028 season, the conference announced Saturday. The Prairie Stars will maintain full-time membership in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) while competing in the GLIAC in flag football.
UIS Athletics had 31 student-athletes named 2025-26 GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholars as part of GLVC Academic Awards Week, the league office announced Wednesday. The honor is awarded to student-athletes who achieved a perfect 4.00 grade-point average for the 2025-26 academic year.
The UIS honorees represent 13 programs and reflect one of the highest single-season academic honors in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Jordan Rice has been named the 2025-26 UIS Male Athlete of the Year after leading the Prairie Stars men's basketball team during a remarkable senior season. After being sidelined the previous year, Rice returned to post the highest-scoring season of his career, finishing with 485 points, 79 more than his previous best. He helped lead UIS back to the GLVC Tournament and cemented his place among the most accomplished players in program history.
UIS Athletics is proud to announce that 198 of its student-athletes have combined for a total of 227 Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) awards for the 2025-26 academic year. This achievement underscores the dedication and hard work of UIS athletes both on the field and in the classroom, as the award recognizes active student-athletes who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher across two semesters. The recognition is part of the GLVC Academic Awards Week.
UIS head baseball coach Chris Rodriguez announced the promotion of Will Oberg to associate head coach. Oberg, who has played a key role in the team's offensive production and player development, was elevated after three seasons as an assistant coach.
Oberg has contributed to the program's success in player development and recruiting, including helping the Prairie Stars return to the NCAA postseason in 2026, their first appearance since his senior season as a player in 2023.