Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame FAQ
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the formation of the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors the greatest student-athletes, coaches and administrators in the illustrious history of Fighting Illini Athletics, which stretches more than 120 years.
Illinois Athletics sponsors 21 varsity teams and is a charter member of both the nation's premier league, the Big Ten Conference, and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. Since its inception as an athletics department in 1890, the Fighting Illini have won 20 NCAA Championships, five football national championships and 248 Big Ten Titles. Fighting Illini student-athletes have won 28 Olympic medals while competing for 16 countries in 25 Olympic games. Student-athletes and coaches of teams no longer sponsored by the UI Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (including ice hockey, fencing and men's swimming) will also be considered for Hall of Fame recognition.
Who is on the selection committee?
To ensure a fair process completed with utmost integrity, the committee's membership will not be announced. The committee will represent many different stakeholders who have broad appreciation for the rich and diverse tradition of Illinois Athletics. The group will have a tough task: choosing the best of the best from our remarkable history. It will be a very difficult job considering the number of high caliber student-athletes who have competed for Illinois over the past 125 years.
Where will the HOF be housed?
At present, this is not a Hall of Fame meant to house memorabilia, but to recognize the greatest names in Fighting Illini athletics history. As we move forward with our master facility plans, we will identify the best location and manner in which to celebrate our Hall of Fame.
Can fans nominate candidates?
The criteria we used to identify a list of automatically qualified candidates is extremely comprehensive. However, public nominations will be accepted with supporting information through an online form.
Will every sport be represented?
Over time, yes, but not necessarily at the beginning. The best of the best, regardless of sport, will be chosen for early classes inducted into the Hall of Fame. Over time, we expect our classes to be inclusive of all sports that have been sponsored by the UI. Some sports have been competing for more than 100 years, while some have been competing for far less time, meaning some sports will have significantly more candidates. Female student-athletes who were recognized for their competition in club sports prior to the passage of Title IX and inclusion in varsity sports will also be considered.
How often will a class be inducted?
We expect to name a Hall of Fame class on an annual basis.
