The UIS Prairie Stars (also Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars and formerly Sangamon State Prairie Stars) are the athletic teams that represent the University of Illinois Springfield, located in Springfield, Illinois, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) since the 2009–10 academic year, which they became a full-fledged Division II member on Aug. 1, 2010. The Prairie Stars previously competed in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2003–04 to 2008–09.
| UIS Prairie Stars | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of Illinois Springfield |
| Conference | Great Lakes Valley Conference |
| NCAA | Division II |
| Athletic director | Mike Hermann |
| Location | Springfield, Illinois |
| Varsity teams | 17 (8 men’s and 9 women’s) |
| Basketball arena | The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) |
| Baseball stadium | UIS Baseball Field |
| Soccer stadium | Kiwanis Stadium |
| Other venues |
|
| Mascot | Orion |
| Nickname | Prairie Stars |
| Colors | Navy, Vegas gold, and white[1] |
| Website | uisprairiestars |
Varsity teams
edit| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Cross country |
| Cross Country | Golf |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Soccer | Softball |
| Tennis | Tennis |
| Track and Field† | Track and Field† |
| Volleyball | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor. | |
UIS competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.
NCAA Division II Accomplishments
editBaseball has made five NCAA Tournament appearances since 2018, compiling a post-season record of 12-11. The Prairie Stars advanced to the Super Regional for the first time in 2019. In 2022, UIS won the GLVC Tournament, its first in program history, and then captured the NCAA Regional and Super Regional to advance to the NCAA College World Series. The program returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2023, playing in five straight postseason tourneys. [2]
Softball has made four NCAA Tournament appearances including three under current head coach Shannon Guthrie, advancing in 2018, 2019 and 2023. In 2018, the Prairie Stars won the Regional and advanced to the Super Regional. [3] The program was the first UIS sport to earn an NCAA bid when it advanced in 2012 after winning a GLVC division championship and finishing second in the GLVC Tournament.
Men's soccer advanced to the NCAA Tournament in the last three seasons, advancing to the third round in 2021 and 2022. The Prairie Stars won the 2023 GLVC regular-season title with a 10-0-3 conference mark.
Women's volleyball earned its first NCAA berth in 2018. Men's tennis earned its first berth in 2021, but did not participate due to a COVID-19.
NAIA Accomplishments
editWhile a member of the NAIA, the Prairie Stars won the NAIA national men's soccer championship in 1986, 1988, and 1993 and were runner-up in 1998.[4] The Prairie Stars were dominant from 1979 to 2002, earning 20 NAIA postseason bids in the 24-year stretch and compiling a 27-18-8 tournament mark. The program made nine appearances in the national semifinals, including four appearances in the championship match.[5] The 1979, 1980 and 1981 NAIA national championships were played on campus at Kiwanis Stadium.[6]
The Prairie Star men’s basketball program started in 2002 under the direction of head coach Kevin Gamble, a 10-year NBA veteran who played six seasons for the Celtics. Gamble coached for eight seasons and twice was selected as the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Coach of the Year. Gamble coaches seven seasons as an NAIA Division I member and the first year of NCAA Division II participation.
The program earned back-to-back postseason berths by winning the AMC tournament titles in 2006 and 2007, defeating McKendree in the championship game in both seasons. In 2006, the Prairie Stars lost the opening round game to #8 Oklahoma Baptist, who advanced to the national semifinals.
In 2007, UIS was seeded 15th in the NAIA tournament with a 22-8 record that included an 11-1 AMC record, winning the regular-season title, the tournament and recording the program’s first NAIA tournament win, knocking off Lambuth, 105-89, before falling to eventual national champion Oklahoma City, 90-78, in the second round. [7]
References
edit- ^ "UIS Sports Information". Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ "NCAA Record Book" (PDF).
- ^ "NCAA Record Book" (PDF).
- ^ "NAIA Men's Soccer Championship Results" (PDF). NAIA. NAIA Honors.com. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ "NAIA". NAIA. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "NAIA". NAIA. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "NAIA.org". NAIA Men's Basketball Championship Record Book. September 29, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.