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.

UIS Athletics is proud to announce that all 15 of its athletic programs competing in the GLVC have been awarded the Team Academic All-GLVC honor for the second consecutive year. This accolade is part of the annual GLVC Academic Awards Week and reflects the exceptional academic achievements of UIS student-athletes.

The UIS athletic department is pleased to announce the appointment of Kam Baker as an athletic trainer, effective June 2026. Baker joins UIS after working with club sports at the University of Michigan and will primarily support the Prairie Stars men's soccer, men's basketball, and cheerleading programs.

The UIS men's track & field team concluded its 2026 season in May, focusing heavily on their traditional strength in distance events. Throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons, UIS relied on standout performances from athletes like Matt Padilla and Isaac Cortes. The team's standout athletes excelled on some of the season's biggest stages, including the Bryan Clay Invitational and the GLVC Championships.