On June 17, 1918, the Eastern Division of the Indiana State Normal School at Muncie opened its doors and was the start of what is known today as Ball State University. In 1922, the school was renamed Ball Teachers College in honor of the Ball brothers, Muncie industrialists who purchased the campus and buildings and donated them to build the school. In 1929, the school was renamed Ball State Teachers College, which constituted an official separation from Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute. In 1965, the school became Ball State University. This page celebrates some of the athletic history in Ball State's first 100 years of existence.
- Last Updated Oct. 4, 2018
1918:
Sports begin when Orville Sink, an industrial arts teacher, serves as the director of athletics for men.
1919:
Men's basketball is originated as a varsity sport.
1920:
Baseball becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1921:
Paul "Billy" Williams is named the head of the school of physical education and director of athletics. He serves in that capacity until 1958. He also coaches baseball, basketball, football and cross country plus initiated the tennis and gold programs ... On Jan. 7, the Normal School basketball team plays its first game and lost, 23 - 16, to Central Normal. On Jan. 22, it tallied its first victory, a 27 - 23 win over Manchester.
1922:
The school becomes a charter member of Indiana Intercollegiate Conference, which includes all the colleges in the state of Indiana.
1924:
Benjamin Burris is named the school's first full-time president and serves in that capacity until 1927 ... On Oct. 18, the football team plays its first intercollegiate game. Indiana State wins the contest 47-0. On Nov. 7, the football team tallies its first-ever victory, a 9-6 win over Central Normal ... Ball Gymnasium is completed and becomes home of the intercollegiate athletic teams.
1925:
Men's tennis becomes an intercollegiate sport. Men's track is originated as a varsity sport.
1927:
Lemuel Pittenger is named the school's president and serves in that capacity until 1942.
1932:
Men's track and cross country become intercollegiate sports.
1934:
Men's Golf becomes a varsity sport.
1938:
Branch McCracken resigns as men's basketball coach to become the coach at Indiana University, where he guided the Hoosiers to two national titles.
1939:
The baseball team wins the Indiana Intercollegiate Conference, the first league title for the school in any sport.
1941:
Men's swimming becomes the school's seventh intercollegiate sport. University Pool is completed.
1945:
John R. Emens is named the school's president and serves in that capacity until 1968.
1949:
The football team ends the season with a perfect 8-0 record and remains the only undefeated team in program history … Ball State out-scored its opponents 276-61 on the year, including a 35-0 win over Anderson … Men's Golf becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1950:
Ball State Teachers College becomes a charter member of the Indiana Collegiate Conference. Butler, Evansville, Indiana State, St. Joseph's and Valparaiso are the other charter members, and DePauw joins the league in 1953.
1952:
John Magnabosco ends a 17-year career as the school's football coach. Magnabosco, the all-time winningest football coach in the school's history, managed a 68-46-14 career record.
1954:
Jim Hinga, the winningest basketball coach in the school's history, begins his 14-year coaching career. Hinga amassed 154 wins as the Ball State Teachers College men's basketball coach.
1956:
Ball State Teachers College begins a joint affiliation with the NCAA and the NAIA ... Men's Gymnastics becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1958:
Paul "Billy" Williams retires after a 37-year career at the school ... In the fall of 1958, Bob Primmer is hired as the school's athletics director. Primmer, who was the Cardinals' head men's basketball coach from 1952-54, serves as the school's athletics director until the summer of 1970.
1958:
Ray Louthen is hired as the school's head baseball and assistant football coach. Louthen, who would later serve as the school's director of athletics for men, coaches the baseball team for 12 years and is the head football coach for six seasons.
1959:
Wrestling becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1960:
Women's basketball and field hockey become the school's first intercollegiate sports for women ... Ball State Teachers College withdraws from the NAIA ... Tim Brown becomes the first Ball State Teacher's College graduate to play professional sports. Brown was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1959, but played with the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles from 1960-67 and with the Baltimore Colts in 1968.
1961:
The men's golf team makes its first appearance as a team at the NCAA Championships ... Men's Soccer becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1962:
The golf team makes a second straight appearance at the NCAA Championships.
1963:
University Gym is dedicated ... On Nov. 30, the basketball team plays Michigan in the opening game in University Gym. The Cardinals suffer a 90-76 loss. In their second home game, the Cardinals record their first win in the new building, a 107-81 victory over Manchester on Dec. 4 ... Softball and volleyball become the third and fourth intercollegiate programs for women.
1964:
Volleyball becomes Ball State’s 13th intercollegiate sport for men … The Cardinals went on to win the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season and tournament championships in its inaugural season under head coach Don Shondell ... Tennis becomes an intercollegiate sport for women.
1965:
The football team ties Tennessee State in the Grantland Rice Bowl ... Baseball advances to the NCAA Regionals for the first time in program history, going 0-2 at the event … The men’s volleyball team wins its second straight MIVA regular season and tournament titles under head coach Marvin Gray … Gymnastics and swimming become intercollegiate sports for women ... Badminton becomes BSU's eighth intercollegiate women's sport.
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1966:
The men’s volleyball team wins its third straight MIVA regular season and tournament titles with Don Shondell returning as coach for the Cardinals.
1967:
The football team plays in the Grantland Rice Bowl for the second time in three seasons … The men’s volleyball team wins its fourth straight MIVA regular season and tournament titles ... Women's lacrosse becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1968:
The men’s volleyball team wins its fifth straight MIVA regular season and tournament titles ... Women's track becomes an intercollegiate sport ... BSU withdraws from the ICC ... BSU becomes NCAA Division I in all sports except football and men's basketball.
1969:
Baseball advances to the NCAA Regionals for the second time in program history, going 2-2 in the event after rebounding from a loss to Southern Illinois (15-6) to earn wins over Ohio (4-3) and Minnesota (4-1) before being eliminated by regional champion SIU (4-3) … John Pruis succeeds John Emens as the university's president ... Ball State becomes a charter member of the Conference of Midwestern Universities.
1970:
Patricia Bergman becomes Ball State’s first female national champion, winning the 100 individual medley and the 100 backstroke at the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships … The men’s volleyball team captures its sixth MIVA regular season championship and advances to the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history … Dr. John Reno begins an 11-year tenure as a chairman of the school of physical education and athletics ... Ray Louthen is named men's athletic director and serves in that capacity until 1981.
1971:
Patricia Bergman collects her third career NCAA title, winning the 100 individual medley at the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s seventh MIVA regular season championship and earns the program’s second consecutive NCAA Championship berth … The Cardinals score a pair of wins over Springfield College in the tournament to place third … Ball State is classified as a major in basketball by the NCAA ... Dave McClain is named the head football coach at Ball State … The men’s golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the third time in program history.
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1972:
The men’s golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the second straight year and the fourth time in program history… Ball State hosts the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship for the first time in program history and caps its third-straight appearance in the event by winning the third-place match by a score of 2-0 (15-10, 15-4) over UC Santa Barbara.
1973:
The men’s golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the third straight year and the fifth time in program history … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s eighth MIVA regular season championship and advances to the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight season … The Cardinals score a pair of wins over Army in the event, including a 2-0 (15-7, 15-8) victory in the third-place match … On May 22, Ball State becomes the 10th member of the Mid-American Conference.
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1974:
The men’s golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight year and the sixth time in program history … The men’s volleyball team captures its ninth MIVA regular season title and advances to the NCAA Championship for the fifth straight season where it defeats Springfield 2-1 (15-4, 14-16, 15-9) in the third-place match  … Golf becomes the women's 11th intercollegiate sport.
1975:
Eileen Keener becomes the first full-time women's athletics director ... The football team plays its first season in the Mid-American Conference and its first season as an NCAA Division I member ... The men’s golf team wins its first ever Mid-American Conference Championship and advances to the NCAA Championships for the fifth straight year and the seventh time in program history ... The men’s volleyball team captures its 10th MIVA regular season crown … The men's cross country team wins its first MAC Championship.
1976:
The men’s volleyball team earns its 11th MIVA regular season championship … Ball State wins its first ever Mid-American Conference Football Championship.
1977:
After leading the football team to its first-ever MAC title, Dave McClain resigns to become head coach at the University of Wisconsin … McClain, who compiled 46-25-3 mark, is replaced by Dwight Wallace.
1978:
The football team wins its second MAC Championship ... Women's indoor track becomes and intercollegiate sport.
1979:
The men’s volleyball team captures the program’s 12th MIVA regular season championship and advances to the NCAA Championship for the sixth time in program history … Dwight Wallace leads the football team to a third MAC title ... The Cardinals end the season 10-1 overall and 8-0 in the MAC ... Women's cross country becomes Ball State's 13th intercollegiate sport to go along with the school's 13 men's programs … Jerry Anderson is named the university's president.
1980:
Coranell Rossow becomes the school's second women's athletics director.
1981:
Women's athletic teams are incorporated into the MAC ... Dwight Wallace, who was named the school's football coach in 1978, assumes additional duties of men's athletics director ... The men's basketball team ties for its first MAC Championship and advances to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in BSU's history ... Ball State men's basketball is the 12th seed in the Mideast Regional and suffers a 93-90 loss to fifth seeded Boston College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
1982:
The men's basketball team wins its first outright MAC Championship ... Ball State completes a 17-11 season with a 79-75 overtime loss to Northern Illinois in the MAC Tournament ... It marks the last game for head coach Steve Yoder, who leaves to become the head coach at the University of Wisconsin ... The men's golf team wins its second MAC title and goes to the NCAA championships for the eight time ... In March, eight sports are dropped: Men's gymnastics, indoor track, soccer and wrestling plus women's badminton, golf, indoor track and lacrosse.
1983:
Andrea Seger is named director of intercollegiate athletics for women ... The field hockey team wins BSU's first-ever women's MAC regular season and tournament titles under head coach Karen Fitzpatrick ... Ray McCallum wins the Naismith Award as the nation's outstanding collegiate senior under 6-feet-tall ... Feb. 23 is designated Ray McCallum Day by the Muncie mayor ... On March 28, Ray McCallum becomes the first athlete in the school's history to have his number retired ... The golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the ninth time … Head coach Bill Richards leads the men’s tennis team to the program’s first MAC regular season championship.
1984:
John Worthen is named the president of Ball State ... Don Purvis is named men's athletics director ... The men's tennis team wins its second straight MAC regular season championship and the program’s first MAC Tournament crown ... The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 13th MIVA regular season championship and claims its sixth MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the seventh time … Field hockey captures its second straight MAC regular season and tournament titles.
1985:
The men's tennis team wins its third straight MAC regular season title and its second straight MAC Tournament championship … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 14th MIVA regular season championship and claims its seventh MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the eighth time … The field hockey team wins its third consecutive MAC regular season and tournament championshipsÂ
1986:
The men's basketball team captured the MAC Tournament for the second time in program history to earn the program's second trip to the NCAA Tournament ... The men's tennis team wins a fourth straight MAC regular season title and third consecutive MAC Tournament championship … The men’s golf team wins its third MAC championship and advances to the NCAA Championships for the 10th time in program history ... The field hockey team wins a fourth consecutive MAC regular season and tournament crowns.
1987:
The men's tennis team wins its fifth straight MAC regular season championship and the program’s fourth consecutive MAC Tournament crown. ... The men's cross country team won the program’s second MAC Championship … The field hockey team wins its fifth consecutive MAC regular season championship.
1988:
The men's tennis team wins a sixth straight MAC regular season title and fifth consecutive MAC Tournament championship … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 15th MIVA regular season championship and claims its eighth MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the ninth time … The Cardinals went on to win the third-place match over George Mason by a score of 3-1 (14-16, 15-13, 15-9, 16-14) … The field hockey team wins its sixth consecutive MAC regular season championship.
1989:Â
The football team wins the MAC title and advances to the California Raisin Bowl, the first NCAA Division IA bowl appearance in BSU's history ... The men's basketball team, under the direction of head coach Rick Majerus, tallies a 29-3 record, wins the MAC title and MAC tourney plus wins its first game in the NCAA Tournament ... The men's cross country team competes at the NCAA Championships ... The men's athletics program wins the MAC's Reese All-Sports Trophy ... The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 16th MIVA regular season championship and claims its ninth MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 10th time … The men's tennis team wins its sixth straight MAC tournament crown … The field hockey team wins its seventh consecutive MAC regular season championship and claims its fifth MAC tournament title.
1990:
The men's athletics department wins its second Reese All-Sports Trophy ... University Gym is renamed Irving Gym in recognition of a $2.25 million gift from the Irving Brothers ... The men's basketball team, under the direction of first-year head coach Dick Hunsaker, wins a second straight MAC Championship and MAC Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Tournament ...The 12th-seeded Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over fifth-seeded Oregon State (54-53) and fourth-seeded Louisville (62-60), before falling to eventual national champion UNLV (69-67) ... The men's basketball program was ranked 22nd in the final 19990 USA Today/CNN Poll, which is the Cardinals' highest ranking to end a season in program history ... The men's tennis squad captures the program’s seventh MAC regular season title and seventh straight MAC Tournament championship … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 17th MIVA regular season championship and claims its 10th MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 11th time … The Cardinals went on to win the third-place match over Rutgers-Newark by a score of 3-1 (15-12, 15-4, 7-15, 15-6) … The field hockey team wins its eighth consecutive MAC regular season championship.
1991:
The men's basketball team makes its first-ever appearance in the NIT ... The men's tennis team wins an eighth straight MAC Tournament championship, while also capturing the program’s eighth MAC regular season title ... The men's tennis doubles duo of Dan Kronauge and Paul Kruse is ranked No. 1 in the nation … The field hockey team wins its ninth consecutive MAC regular season championship.
1992:
University Arena with an 11,500-seat capacity, becomes the new home for Ball State athletics ... The arena is built adjacent to a new office complex and includes weight facilities, training rooms and locker facilities ... The men's basketball team advances to postseason with an appearance in the NIT ... The men's tennis team wins the program’s ninth MAC regular season title to go along with a ninth consecutive MAC Tournament championship ... The field hockey team advances to the NCAA Tournament and defeats California in the first round ... The women's volleyball team wins the MAC Tournament and advances to the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history under head coach Randy Litchfield.
1993:Â
The men's basketball team is the MAC Co-Champion plus wins the MAC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament ... The men's tennis team wins its 10th MAC regular season crown, to go along with its league-record 10th straight MAC Tournament championship ... The men's athletics department wins its third Reese All-Sports Trophy ... The football team wins the MAC Championship with a 7-0-1 mark and represents the league in the Las Vegas Bowl ... The field hockey team wins its 10thMAC regular season title, its sixth MAC tournament championship and finished the conference season with an 8-0 mark ... The women's volleyball team wins the program's first MAC regular season title with a perfect 18-0 league mark, claims its second straight MAC Tournament title and advances to the NCAA Championship for a second straight year ... The men's volleyball team wins the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association title and places third in the NCAA Championship.Â
1994:
The men’s tennis team wins the program’s 11th MAC regular season championship and advances to the NCAA Regional Championships for the first time in program history … The men’s volleyball team captures the program’s 11th MIVA Tournament Championship to advance to the NCAA Championship for the 12th time … The Cardinals defeated IPFW by a score of 3-0 (15-10, 15-12, 15-11) in the third-place match … The field hockey team wins its 11th MAC regular season title, its seventh MAC Tournament championship and advances to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years … The Cardinals hosted and won their first-round game ... The women's volleyball team captured a second straight MAC regular season championship with a perfect 17-0 mark, wins a third consecutive MAC Tournament title and advances to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year ... The Cardinals go on to win their first-round game by a score of 3-2 (15-12, 8-15, 15-7, 8-15, 16-14) at Illinois.
1995:
Andrea Seger, the women's athletics director for the past 12 years, was named director of intercollegiate athletics for the newly combined men's and women's athletic departments ... Paul Schudel resigns after 10 years as the head football coach, and is replaced by Bill Lynch, who becomes BSU's13th football coach ... The men's basketball team wins the conference tournament to earn the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament … It marks BSU's sixth appearance in the NCAA ... Pat Quinn resigns as baseball coach to become an assistant athletic director and Rich Maloney is named the new coach at the end of the 1994-95 season ... The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 18th MIVA regular season championship and claims its 12th MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 13th time … The Cardinals go on to defeat Hawaii in the third-place match by a score of 3-1 (15-6, 10-15, 15-13, 15-8) ... The men's tennis team wins its 11th MAC Tournament championship and advances to the NCAA Championships for the second straight season … The field hockey team wins its 12th MAC regular season championship, its eighth MAC Tournament title and advances to the NCAA Tournament for the third time ... Head coach Randy Litchfield guides the women's volleyball program to its fourth-straight MAC Tournament title and fourth consecutive berth in the NCAA Championship ... The Cardinals host a first-round NCAA game, topping Loyola (Ill.) by a score of 3-0 (15-13, 15-11, 15-8) in Worthen Arena.
1996:
The football team captures the program’s fifth MAC Championship and makes its second appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl ... The men's volleyball team wins the MIVA regular-season championship for the 19th time in program history ... The women's track team won its first-ever MAC Indoor Track Championships and completed the sweep by taking its first-ever MAC Outdoor Track Champions … The field hockey team wins it’s 13th MAC regular season championship … The women's volleyball team claims its third MAC regular season championship.
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1997:
The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 20th MIVA regular season championship and claims its 13th MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 14th time … The men’s tennis team wins its 12th MAC regular season championship … The field hockey team wins its 14th MAC regular season championship and ninth MAC tournament championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history ... The women's volleyball team earns its second consecutive MAC regular season title and the fourth in program history.
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1998:
The baseball program wins its first MAC regular season championship under head coach Rich Maloney … Led by head coach Terri Laux, the softball team wins its first MAC Tournament championship and earns the program’s first berth in the NCAA Regionals … Don Shondell retires after 34 seasons as the head coach of the men’s volleyball program … He led the program to a 769-280-6 (.732) record over his career, as well as to 19 MIVA regular season championships, 12 MIVA Tournament titles and 14 NCAA Championship appearances … The women’s track & field team wins both the indoor and outdoor MAC Championships for the second time in program history … The men’s tennis team captures its 13th MAC regular season title and its 12th MAC Tournament championship … The field hockey team captures its 15th MAC regular season championship ... Women's volleyball captures its third straight, and fifth overall, MAC regular season title.
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1999:
Head coach Rich Maloney leads the baseball team to its second straight MAC regular season championship … The men’s tennis team captures its 14th MAC regular season championship … The field hockey team earns its 16th MAC regular season championship … The women’s soccer team scores a 4-2 victory at Earlham in its first-ever game on Sept. 1 ... The women's volleyball team captures its fourth straight, and sixth overall, MAC regular season title and claims the MAC Tournament championship for the fifth time in program history to advance to its fifth NCAA Championship.
2000:
Led by head coach Ray McCallum, the men’s basketball program earned the MAC’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament by capturing the seventh Mid-American Conference tournament championship in program history … The men’s tennis team captured its 15th MAC regular season championship, its 13th MAC tournament title and earned its first berth in the NCAA Championship Tournament … The women’s track team captures the program’s third MAC Outdoor Championship title … After 21 seasons at the helm of the field hockey program, Karen Fitzpatrick retired as head coach of the Cardinals following the 2000 season as the most successful coach in MAC history … An 11-time MAC Coach of the Year, Fitzpatrick guided the Cardinals to a 285 wins over her career ... With a 25-7 overall record, the women's volleyball team earns an at-large berth into the NCAA Championship for its sixth trip to the event.
2001:
The men's basketball team experienced a great 48 hours of college basketball in November of 2001 when, on back-to-back days, the Cardinals defeated No. 3 Kansas (93-91) and No. 4 UCLA (91-73) ... Those wins marked the highest ranked teams a Ball State team has ever defeated and vaulted the Cardinals into the title game of the Maui Invitational against No. 1 Duke ... The Blue Devils posted an 83-71 win in that game, but thanks to the strong run, the Cardinals were ranked for four straight weeks in the top-25 of the AP and ESPN/USA Today Poll and climbed as high as 15thin the Dec. 3 AP Poll which stands as the highest ranking in program history ... The baseball team earned its third MAC regular season championship under Rich Maloney … The men’s tennis team captured the program’s 16th MAC regular season crown … The women’s track & field program wins the program’s third MAC Indoor Championships and the program’s fourth MAC Outdoor Championship … The football team captures the MAC West Division championship.
2002:
Junior pitcher Bryan Bullington was selected with the first overall pick in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft … Bullington was the first player from the Mid-American Conference to be selected with the top overall pick in any professional league draft … The men's basketball team reached the Final Eight of the 2002 National Invitational Tournament with a home victory over South Florida (98-92) and road wins at St. Joseph's (76-54) and at LSU (76-65) ... Led by head coach Tracy Roller, the women’s basketball team capture the program’s first MAC regular season championship … The men’s tennis team collected its 14th MAC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Championship for the second time … The women’s gymnastics team wins the program’s first MAC Championship. … Led by head coach Joel Walton, the men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 21st MIVA regular season championship, claims its 14th MIVA Tournament Championship and advances to the NCAA Championship for the 15th time … Bubba Cunningham named director of intercollegiate athletics (July 30) ... Brady Hoke hired as head football coach (Dec 18) ... The entire women’s cross country team advanced to the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history, placing 27th as a team with Stacey Ritz leading the squad to the finish line in 77th place at 21:17.3 ... The women's volleyball team captures its seventh MAC regular season title and sixth MAC Tournament championship to advance to the NCAA Championship for a seventh time under head coach Randy Litchfield.
2003:
The women’s basketball program won its second straight Mid-American Conference regular season championship under the guidance of head coach Tracy Roller … Ball State cuts men's cross country and track & field programs, bringing the number of sports the University sponsors to 19 (June 17) ... The men’s tennis program earned its 17th MAC regular season title, its 15th MAC Tournament Championship and earned the program’s third berth into the NCAA Tournament Championship … Ball State hosts the first night football game in program history (Aug 28) ... The women’s cross country team capture the program’s first Mid-American Conference Championship title under head coach Sue Parks … The Cardinals top five runners combined for 71 points, five fewer than second place Bowling Green.
2005:
Ball State men's basketball legend and former NBA star Bonzi Wells has his No. 42 jersey retired (Feb. 21) ... The men’s tennis team captured its 18th MAC regular season title, its 16th MAC tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Championship for the fourth time … Tom Collins named director of intercollegiate athletics (Dec. 3).
2006:
Led by then head coach Greg Beals, the Ball State baseball team claimed the first MAC Tournament title in program history to advance to the NCAA Regionals for the third time in program history … The Cardinals went on to defeat regional host and eighth-seeded Kentucky (3-1) in its first regional game … The men’s tennis team claimed the program’s 19th MAC regular season title … The women’s soccer team wins the first MAC regular season championship in program history under the direction of first-year head coach Michelle Salmon.
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2007:
The football team captures the MAC West Division title and earns a berth in the International Bowl … On Aug. 31, the football team plays its first game in the newly renovated Scheumann Stadium which includes Field Turf, a larger press box with suites, club seating, enhanced ticket offices and exterior improvements … The women’s soccer team collected its second consecutive MAC regular season title under head coach Michelle Salmon.
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2008:
The football team finishes the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record and earns a sport in the MAC Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan as the MAC West Division champion … The Cardinals, who climbed to 12th in both the BCS Standings and AP Poll for the highest rankings in program history after the Nov. 26 home win over Western Michigan, eventually lost the MAC title game and the GMAC Bowl to finish the season 12-2.
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2009:
Under the direction of head coach Kelly Packard, the 2008-09 Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year award winner, the women’s basketball program captured the program’s first MAC Tournament championship to earn the program’s first berth in the NCAA Tournament … The 12th-seeded Cardinals went on to knock off fifth-seeded and two-time defending national champion Tennessee in its first round matchup, handing the Volunteers who had participated in every NCAA Tournament up to that point its first-ever first or second round loss … Tennessee entered the contest a combined 42-0 in first or second round games in the NCAA Tournament play and had won eight national championships … The softball team wins the first MAC regular season championship in program history under the guidance of head coach Craig Nicholson.
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2010:
The softball team wins its second straight MAC regular season championship and also claims the program’s second MAC Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Regionals for the second time in program history ... In his first season as head coach of the women's volleyball team, Steve Shondell guides the team to its eight MAC regular season title and a 24-5 overall record ... For his effort, Shondell becomes the first women's volleyball coach in MAC history to earn MAC Coach of the Year accolades in his/her first season as a collegiate head coach.
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2011:
The men’s tennis team wins the program’s 17th MAC Tournament championship to earn its fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament Championship ... The women's volleyball team earns the program's second at-large berth into the NCAA Championship, making its eighth appearance in the event.
2012:
After 56 seasons as the Voice of the Cardinals calling play-by-play for both men's basketball and football, Morry Mannies retired after the March 5 men's basketball MAC Tournament game versus Western Michigan ... Prior to his final home game, March 3 vs. Northern Illinois, the broadcasting legend was honored with an iconic microphone banner that hangs from the rafters in Worthen Arena ... The softball team wins the program’s third MAC regular season title … Bill Scholl named director of intercollegiate athletics (April 16) … The football team earns a bid to the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl
2013:
The football team earns a bid to the GoDaddy Bowl … The men’s golf team qualifies for the NCAA Regionals and finishes in a tie for fifth at the event played in Pullman, Washington … The Cardinals go on to win a playoff and advance to the NCAA Championships for the 11th time in program history … The softball team captures the program’s second straight, and fourth overall, MAC regular season title under head coach Craig Nicholson … The men’s tennis team win the MAC regular season title for the 20th time under head coach Bill Richards.
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2014:
In his second stint as the head coach of the baseball team, Rich Maloney guided the Cardinals to their fourth MAC regular season championships, with all four coming under his watch … First-year head coach Tyra Perry leads the softball team to its third straight MAC regular season championship … The men’s tennis team wins the MAC Tournament Championship for the 18th time to advance to the NCAA Tournament Championship for the sixth time under head coach Bill Richards.
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2015:
Mark Sandy named director of intercollegiate athletics (Jan. 7) … The softball team wins the MAC Tournament for the third time in program history and earns a berth in the NCAA South Bend Regional … At the regional, head coach Tyra Perry leads the program to its first-ever NCAA win, a 6-3 victory over 16th-seed and 21st-ranked Notre Dame … With the win, Ball State became the first team to defeat a national seed in its opening game since the 2012 season … Head coach Craig Roberts leads the women’s soccer team to the third MAC regular season championship in program history.
2016:
The women’s soccer team earns its second straight, and fourth overall, MAC regular season championship under head coach Craig Roberts … Head coach Max Norris leads the women’s tennis team to its first-ever MAC Regular Season and Tournament championships, as the program also earned its first berth in the NCAA Championships …Â
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2017:
The women’s tennis team claims its second straight MAC regular season championship.
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2018:
Ball State Athletics dedicates the Earl Yestingsmeier Golf Center (Jan. 27) ... Beth Goetz named director of intercollegiate athletics (May 21) ... Fresh off his junior season, men’s golfer Timothy Wiseman qualifies for the 118th U.S. Open, making him the first Cardinal to accomplish the feat while still in college (June 4) … Ball State athletics dedicates the Dr. Don Shondell Practice Center for men's & women's basketball and men's and women's volleyball (July 20).
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- Last Updated Oct. 4, 2018
1918:
Sports begin when Orville Sink, an industrial arts teacher, serves as the director of athletics for men.
1919:
Men's basketball is originated as a varsity sport.
1920:
Baseball becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1921:
Paul "Billy" Williams is named the head of the school of physical education and director of athletics. He serves in that capacity until 1958. He also coaches baseball, basketball, football and cross country plus initiated the tennis and gold programs ... On Jan. 7, the Normal School basketball team plays its first game and lost, 23 - 16, to Central Normal. On Jan. 22, it tallied its first victory, a 27 - 23 win over Manchester.
1922:
The school becomes a charter member of Indiana Intercollegiate Conference, which includes all the colleges in the state of Indiana.
1924:
Benjamin Burris is named the school's first full-time president and serves in that capacity until 1927 ... On Oct. 18, the football team plays its first intercollegiate game. Indiana State wins the contest 47-0. On Nov. 7, the football team tallies its first-ever victory, a 9-6 win over Central Normal ... Ball Gymnasium is completed and becomes home of the intercollegiate athletic teams.
1925:
Men's tennis becomes an intercollegiate sport. Men's track is originated as a varsity sport.
1927:
Lemuel Pittenger is named the school's president and serves in that capacity until 1942.
1932:
Men's track and cross country become intercollegiate sports.
1934:
Men's Golf becomes a varsity sport.
1938:
Branch McCracken resigns as men's basketball coach to become the coach at Indiana University, where he guided the Hoosiers to two national titles.
1939:
The baseball team wins the Indiana Intercollegiate Conference, the first league title for the school in any sport.
1941:
Men's swimming becomes the school's seventh intercollegiate sport. University Pool is completed.
1945:
John R. Emens is named the school's president and serves in that capacity until 1968.
1949:
The football team ends the season with a perfect 8-0 record and remains the only undefeated team in program history … Ball State out-scored its opponents 276-61 on the year, including a 35-0 win over Anderson … Men's Golf becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1950:
Ball State Teachers College becomes a charter member of the Indiana Collegiate Conference. Butler, Evansville, Indiana State, St. Joseph's and Valparaiso are the other charter members, and DePauw joins the league in 1953.
1952:
John Magnabosco ends a 17-year career as the school's football coach. Magnabosco, the all-time winningest football coach in the school's history, managed a 68-46-14 career record.
1954:
Jim Hinga, the winningest basketball coach in the school's history, begins his 14-year coaching career. Hinga amassed 154 wins as the Ball State Teachers College men's basketball coach.
1956:
Ball State Teachers College begins a joint affiliation with the NCAA and the NAIA ... Men's Gymnastics becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1958:
Paul "Billy" Williams retires after a 37-year career at the school ... In the fall of 1958, Bob Primmer is hired as the school's athletics director. Primmer, who was the Cardinals' head men's basketball coach from 1952-54, serves as the school's athletics director until the summer of 1970.
1958:
Ray Louthen is hired as the school's head baseball and assistant football coach. Louthen, who would later serve as the school's director of athletics for men, coaches the baseball team for 12 years and is the head football coach for six seasons.
1959:
Wrestling becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1960:
Women's basketball and field hockey become the school's first intercollegiate sports for women ... Ball State Teachers College withdraws from the NAIA ... Tim Brown becomes the first Ball State Teacher's College graduate to play professional sports. Brown was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1959, but played with the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles from 1960-67 and with the Baltimore Colts in 1968.
1961:
The men's golf team makes its first appearance as a team at the NCAA Championships ... Men's Soccer becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1962:
The golf team makes a second straight appearance at the NCAA Championships.
1963:
University Gym is dedicated ... On Nov. 30, the basketball team plays Michigan in the opening game in University Gym. The Cardinals suffer a 90-76 loss. In their second home game, the Cardinals record their first win in the new building, a 107-81 victory over Manchester on Dec. 4 ... Softball and volleyball become the third and fourth intercollegiate programs for women.
1964:
Volleyball becomes Ball State’s 13th intercollegiate sport for men … The Cardinals went on to win the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season and tournament championships in its inaugural season under head coach Don Shondell ... Tennis becomes an intercollegiate sport for women.
1965:
The football team ties Tennessee State in the Grantland Rice Bowl ... Baseball advances to the NCAA Regionals for the first time in program history, going 0-2 at the event … The men’s volleyball team wins its second straight MIVA regular season and tournament titles under head coach Marvin Gray … Gymnastics and swimming become intercollegiate sports for women ... Badminton becomes BSU's eighth intercollegiate women's sport.
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1966:
The men’s volleyball team wins its third straight MIVA regular season and tournament titles with Don Shondell returning as coach for the Cardinals.
1967:
The football team plays in the Grantland Rice Bowl for the second time in three seasons … The men’s volleyball team wins its fourth straight MIVA regular season and tournament titles ... Women's lacrosse becomes an intercollegiate sport.
1968:
The men’s volleyball team wins its fifth straight MIVA regular season and tournament titles ... Women's track becomes an intercollegiate sport ... BSU withdraws from the ICC ... BSU becomes NCAA Division I in all sports except football and men's basketball.
1969:
Baseball advances to the NCAA Regionals for the second time in program history, going 2-2 in the event after rebounding from a loss to Southern Illinois (15-6) to earn wins over Ohio (4-3) and Minnesota (4-1) before being eliminated by regional champion SIU (4-3) … John Pruis succeeds John Emens as the university's president ... Ball State becomes a charter member of the Conference of Midwestern Universities.
1970:
Patricia Bergman becomes Ball State’s first female national champion, winning the 100 individual medley and the 100 backstroke at the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships … The men’s volleyball team captures its sixth MIVA regular season championship and advances to the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history … Dr. John Reno begins an 11-year tenure as a chairman of the school of physical education and athletics ... Ray Louthen is named men's athletic director and serves in that capacity until 1981.
1971:
Patricia Bergman collects her third career NCAA title, winning the 100 individual medley at the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s seventh MIVA regular season championship and earns the program’s second consecutive NCAA Championship berth … The Cardinals score a pair of wins over Springfield College in the tournament to place third … Ball State is classified as a major in basketball by the NCAA ... Dave McClain is named the head football coach at Ball State … The men’s golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the third time in program history.
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1972:
The men’s golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the second straight year and the fourth time in program history… Ball State hosts the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship for the first time in program history and caps its third-straight appearance in the event by winning the third-place match by a score of 2-0 (15-10, 15-4) over UC Santa Barbara.
1973:
The men’s golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the third straight year and the fifth time in program history … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s eighth MIVA regular season championship and advances to the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight season … The Cardinals score a pair of wins over Army in the event, including a 2-0 (15-7, 15-8) victory in the third-place match … On May 22, Ball State becomes the 10th member of the Mid-American Conference.
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1974:
The men’s golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight year and the sixth time in program history … The men’s volleyball team captures its ninth MIVA regular season title and advances to the NCAA Championship for the fifth straight season where it defeats Springfield 2-1 (15-4, 14-16, 15-9) in the third-place match  … Golf becomes the women's 11th intercollegiate sport.
1975:
Eileen Keener becomes the first full-time women's athletics director ... The football team plays its first season in the Mid-American Conference and its first season as an NCAA Division I member ... The men’s golf team wins its first ever Mid-American Conference Championship and advances to the NCAA Championships for the fifth straight year and the seventh time in program history ... The men’s volleyball team captures its 10th MIVA regular season crown … The men's cross country team wins its first MAC Championship.
1976:
The men’s volleyball team earns its 11th MIVA regular season championship … Ball State wins its first ever Mid-American Conference Football Championship.
1977:
After leading the football team to its first-ever MAC title, Dave McClain resigns to become head coach at the University of Wisconsin … McClain, who compiled 46-25-3 mark, is replaced by Dwight Wallace.
1978:
The football team wins its second MAC Championship ... Women's indoor track becomes and intercollegiate sport.
1979:
The men’s volleyball team captures the program’s 12th MIVA regular season championship and advances to the NCAA Championship for the sixth time in program history … Dwight Wallace leads the football team to a third MAC title ... The Cardinals end the season 10-1 overall and 8-0 in the MAC ... Women's cross country becomes Ball State's 13th intercollegiate sport to go along with the school's 13 men's programs … Jerry Anderson is named the university's president.
1980:
Coranell Rossow becomes the school's second women's athletics director.
1981:
Women's athletic teams are incorporated into the MAC ... Dwight Wallace, who was named the school's football coach in 1978, assumes additional duties of men's athletics director ... The men's basketball team ties for its first MAC Championship and advances to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in BSU's history ... Ball State men's basketball is the 12th seed in the Mideast Regional and suffers a 93-90 loss to fifth seeded Boston College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
1982:
The men's basketball team wins its first outright MAC Championship ... Ball State completes a 17-11 season with a 79-75 overtime loss to Northern Illinois in the MAC Tournament ... It marks the last game for head coach Steve Yoder, who leaves to become the head coach at the University of Wisconsin ... The men's golf team wins its second MAC title and goes to the NCAA championships for the eight time ... In March, eight sports are dropped: Men's gymnastics, indoor track, soccer and wrestling plus women's badminton, golf, indoor track and lacrosse.
1983:
Andrea Seger is named director of intercollegiate athletics for women ... The field hockey team wins BSU's first-ever women's MAC regular season and tournament titles under head coach Karen Fitzpatrick ... Ray McCallum wins the Naismith Award as the nation's outstanding collegiate senior under 6-feet-tall ... Feb. 23 is designated Ray McCallum Day by the Muncie mayor ... On March 28, Ray McCallum becomes the first athlete in the school's history to have his number retired ... The golf team advances to the NCAA Championships for the ninth time … Head coach Bill Richards leads the men’s tennis team to the program’s first MAC regular season championship.
1984:
John Worthen is named the president of Ball State ... Don Purvis is named men's athletics director ... The men's tennis team wins its second straight MAC regular season championship and the program’s first MAC Tournament crown ... The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 13th MIVA regular season championship and claims its sixth MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the seventh time … Field hockey captures its second straight MAC regular season and tournament titles.
1985:
The men's tennis team wins its third straight MAC regular season title and its second straight MAC Tournament championship … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 14th MIVA regular season championship and claims its seventh MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the eighth time … The field hockey team wins its third consecutive MAC regular season and tournament championshipsÂ
1986:
The men's basketball team captured the MAC Tournament for the second time in program history to earn the program's second trip to the NCAA Tournament ... The men's tennis team wins a fourth straight MAC regular season title and third consecutive MAC Tournament championship … The men’s golf team wins its third MAC championship and advances to the NCAA Championships for the 10th time in program history ... The field hockey team wins a fourth consecutive MAC regular season and tournament crowns.
1987:
The men's tennis team wins its fifth straight MAC regular season championship and the program’s fourth consecutive MAC Tournament crown. ... The men's cross country team won the program’s second MAC Championship … The field hockey team wins its fifth consecutive MAC regular season championship.
1988:
The men's tennis team wins a sixth straight MAC regular season title and fifth consecutive MAC Tournament championship … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 15th MIVA regular season championship and claims its eighth MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the ninth time … The Cardinals went on to win the third-place match over George Mason by a score of 3-1 (14-16, 15-13, 15-9, 16-14) … The field hockey team wins its sixth consecutive MAC regular season championship.
1989:Â
The football team wins the MAC title and advances to the California Raisin Bowl, the first NCAA Division IA bowl appearance in BSU's history ... The men's basketball team, under the direction of head coach Rick Majerus, tallies a 29-3 record, wins the MAC title and MAC tourney plus wins its first game in the NCAA Tournament ... The men's cross country team competes at the NCAA Championships ... The men's athletics program wins the MAC's Reese All-Sports Trophy ... The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 16th MIVA regular season championship and claims its ninth MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 10th time … The men's tennis team wins its sixth straight MAC tournament crown … The field hockey team wins its seventh consecutive MAC regular season championship and claims its fifth MAC tournament title.
1990:
The men's athletics department wins its second Reese All-Sports Trophy ... University Gym is renamed Irving Gym in recognition of a $2.25 million gift from the Irving Brothers ... The men's basketball team, under the direction of first-year head coach Dick Hunsaker, wins a second straight MAC Championship and MAC Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Tournament ...The 12th-seeded Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over fifth-seeded Oregon State (54-53) and fourth-seeded Louisville (62-60), before falling to eventual national champion UNLV (69-67) ... The men's basketball program was ranked 22nd in the final 19990 USA Today/CNN Poll, which is the Cardinals' highest ranking to end a season in program history ... The men's tennis squad captures the program’s seventh MAC regular season title and seventh straight MAC Tournament championship … The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 17th MIVA regular season championship and claims its 10th MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 11th time … The Cardinals went on to win the third-place match over Rutgers-Newark by a score of 3-1 (15-12, 15-4, 7-15, 15-6) … The field hockey team wins its eighth consecutive MAC regular season championship.
1991:
The men's basketball team makes its first-ever appearance in the NIT ... The men's tennis team wins an eighth straight MAC Tournament championship, while also capturing the program’s eighth MAC regular season title ... The men's tennis doubles duo of Dan Kronauge and Paul Kruse is ranked No. 1 in the nation … The field hockey team wins its ninth consecutive MAC regular season championship.
1992:
University Arena with an 11,500-seat capacity, becomes the new home for Ball State athletics ... The arena is built adjacent to a new office complex and includes weight facilities, training rooms and locker facilities ... The men's basketball team advances to postseason with an appearance in the NIT ... The men's tennis team wins the program’s ninth MAC regular season title to go along with a ninth consecutive MAC Tournament championship ... The field hockey team advances to the NCAA Tournament and defeats California in the first round ... The women's volleyball team wins the MAC Tournament and advances to the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history under head coach Randy Litchfield.
1993:Â
The men's basketball team is the MAC Co-Champion plus wins the MAC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament ... The men's tennis team wins its 10th MAC regular season crown, to go along with its league-record 10th straight MAC Tournament championship ... The men's athletics department wins its third Reese All-Sports Trophy ... The football team wins the MAC Championship with a 7-0-1 mark and represents the league in the Las Vegas Bowl ... The field hockey team wins its 10thMAC regular season title, its sixth MAC tournament championship and finished the conference season with an 8-0 mark ... The women's volleyball team wins the program's first MAC regular season title with a perfect 18-0 league mark, claims its second straight MAC Tournament title and advances to the NCAA Championship for a second straight year ... The men's volleyball team wins the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association title and places third in the NCAA Championship.Â
1994:
The men’s tennis team wins the program’s 11th MAC regular season championship and advances to the NCAA Regional Championships for the first time in program history … The men’s volleyball team captures the program’s 11th MIVA Tournament Championship to advance to the NCAA Championship for the 12th time … The Cardinals defeated IPFW by a score of 3-0 (15-10, 15-12, 15-11) in the third-place match … The field hockey team wins its 11th MAC regular season title, its seventh MAC Tournament championship and advances to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years … The Cardinals hosted and won their first-round game ... The women's volleyball team captured a second straight MAC regular season championship with a perfect 17-0 mark, wins a third consecutive MAC Tournament title and advances to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year ... The Cardinals go on to win their first-round game by a score of 3-2 (15-12, 8-15, 15-7, 8-15, 16-14) at Illinois.
1995:
Andrea Seger, the women's athletics director for the past 12 years, was named director of intercollegiate athletics for the newly combined men's and women's athletic departments ... Paul Schudel resigns after 10 years as the head football coach, and is replaced by Bill Lynch, who becomes BSU's13th football coach ... The men's basketball team wins the conference tournament to earn the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament … It marks BSU's sixth appearance in the NCAA ... Pat Quinn resigns as baseball coach to become an assistant athletic director and Rich Maloney is named the new coach at the end of the 1994-95 season ... The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 18th MIVA regular season championship and claims its 12th MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 13th time … The Cardinals go on to defeat Hawaii in the third-place match by a score of 3-1 (15-6, 10-15, 15-13, 15-8) ... The men's tennis team wins its 11th MAC Tournament championship and advances to the NCAA Championships for the second straight season … The field hockey team wins its 12th MAC regular season championship, its eighth MAC Tournament title and advances to the NCAA Tournament for the third time ... Head coach Randy Litchfield guides the women's volleyball program to its fourth-straight MAC Tournament title and fourth consecutive berth in the NCAA Championship ... The Cardinals host a first-round NCAA game, topping Loyola (Ill.) by a score of 3-0 (15-13, 15-11, 15-8) in Worthen Arena.
1996:
The football team captures the program’s fifth MAC Championship and makes its second appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl ... The men's volleyball team wins the MIVA regular-season championship for the 19th time in program history ... The women's track team won its first-ever MAC Indoor Track Championships and completed the sweep by taking its first-ever MAC Outdoor Track Champions … The field hockey team wins it’s 13th MAC regular season championship … The women's volleyball team claims its third MAC regular season championship.
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1997:
The men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 20th MIVA regular season championship and claims its 13th MIVA Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 14th time … The men’s tennis team wins its 12th MAC regular season championship … The field hockey team wins its 14th MAC regular season championship and ninth MAC tournament championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history ... The women's volleyball team earns its second consecutive MAC regular season title and the fourth in program history.
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1998:
The baseball program wins its first MAC regular season championship under head coach Rich Maloney … Led by head coach Terri Laux, the softball team wins its first MAC Tournament championship and earns the program’s first berth in the NCAA Regionals … Don Shondell retires after 34 seasons as the head coach of the men’s volleyball program … He led the program to a 769-280-6 (.732) record over his career, as well as to 19 MIVA regular season championships, 12 MIVA Tournament titles and 14 NCAA Championship appearances … The women’s track & field team wins both the indoor and outdoor MAC Championships for the second time in program history … The men’s tennis team captures its 13th MAC regular season title and its 12th MAC Tournament championship … The field hockey team captures its 15th MAC regular season championship ... Women's volleyball captures its third straight, and fifth overall, MAC regular season title.
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1999:
Head coach Rich Maloney leads the baseball team to its second straight MAC regular season championship … The men’s tennis team captures its 14th MAC regular season championship … The field hockey team earns its 16th MAC regular season championship … The women’s soccer team scores a 4-2 victory at Earlham in its first-ever game on Sept. 1 ... The women's volleyball team captures its fourth straight, and sixth overall, MAC regular season title and claims the MAC Tournament championship for the fifth time in program history to advance to its fifth NCAA Championship.
2000:
Led by head coach Ray McCallum, the men’s basketball program earned the MAC’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament by capturing the seventh Mid-American Conference tournament championship in program history … The men’s tennis team captured its 15th MAC regular season championship, its 13th MAC tournament title and earned its first berth in the NCAA Championship Tournament … The women’s track team captures the program’s third MAC Outdoor Championship title … After 21 seasons at the helm of the field hockey program, Karen Fitzpatrick retired as head coach of the Cardinals following the 2000 season as the most successful coach in MAC history … An 11-time MAC Coach of the Year, Fitzpatrick guided the Cardinals to a 285 wins over her career ... With a 25-7 overall record, the women's volleyball team earns an at-large berth into the NCAA Championship for its sixth trip to the event.
2001:
The men's basketball team experienced a great 48 hours of college basketball in November of 2001 when, on back-to-back days, the Cardinals defeated No. 3 Kansas (93-91) and No. 4 UCLA (91-73) ... Those wins marked the highest ranked teams a Ball State team has ever defeated and vaulted the Cardinals into the title game of the Maui Invitational against No. 1 Duke ... The Blue Devils posted an 83-71 win in that game, but thanks to the strong run, the Cardinals were ranked for four straight weeks in the top-25 of the AP and ESPN/USA Today Poll and climbed as high as 15thin the Dec. 3 AP Poll which stands as the highest ranking in program history ... The baseball team earned its third MAC regular season championship under Rich Maloney … The men’s tennis team captured the program’s 16th MAC regular season crown … The women’s track & field program wins the program’s third MAC Indoor Championships and the program’s fourth MAC Outdoor Championship … The football team captures the MAC West Division championship.
2002:
Junior pitcher Bryan Bullington was selected with the first overall pick in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft … Bullington was the first player from the Mid-American Conference to be selected with the top overall pick in any professional league draft … The men's basketball team reached the Final Eight of the 2002 National Invitational Tournament with a home victory over South Florida (98-92) and road wins at St. Joseph's (76-54) and at LSU (76-65) ... Led by head coach Tracy Roller, the women’s basketball team capture the program’s first MAC regular season championship … The men’s tennis team collected its 14th MAC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Championship for the second time … The women’s gymnastics team wins the program’s first MAC Championship. … Led by head coach Joel Walton, the men’s volleyball team wins the program’s 21st MIVA regular season championship, claims its 14th MIVA Tournament Championship and advances to the NCAA Championship for the 15th time … Bubba Cunningham named director of intercollegiate athletics (July 30) ... Brady Hoke hired as head football coach (Dec 18) ... The entire women’s cross country team advanced to the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history, placing 27th as a team with Stacey Ritz leading the squad to the finish line in 77th place at 21:17.3 ... The women's volleyball team captures its seventh MAC regular season title and sixth MAC Tournament championship to advance to the NCAA Championship for a seventh time under head coach Randy Litchfield.
2003:
The women’s basketball program won its second straight Mid-American Conference regular season championship under the guidance of head coach Tracy Roller … Ball State cuts men's cross country and track & field programs, bringing the number of sports the University sponsors to 19 (June 17) ... The men’s tennis program earned its 17th MAC regular season title, its 15th MAC Tournament Championship and earned the program’s third berth into the NCAA Tournament Championship … Ball State hosts the first night football game in program history (Aug 28) ... The women’s cross country team capture the program’s first Mid-American Conference Championship title under head coach Sue Parks … The Cardinals top five runners combined for 71 points, five fewer than second place Bowling Green.
2005:
Ball State men's basketball legend and former NBA star Bonzi Wells has his No. 42 jersey retired (Feb. 21) ... The men’s tennis team captured its 18th MAC regular season title, its 16th MAC tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Championship for the fourth time … Tom Collins named director of intercollegiate athletics (Dec. 3).
2006:
Led by then head coach Greg Beals, the Ball State baseball team claimed the first MAC Tournament title in program history to advance to the NCAA Regionals for the third time in program history … The Cardinals went on to defeat regional host and eighth-seeded Kentucky (3-1) in its first regional game … The men’s tennis team claimed the program’s 19th MAC regular season title … The women’s soccer team wins the first MAC regular season championship in program history under the direction of first-year head coach Michelle Salmon.
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2007:
The football team captures the MAC West Division title and earns a berth in the International Bowl … On Aug. 31, the football team plays its first game in the newly renovated Scheumann Stadium which includes Field Turf, a larger press box with suites, club seating, enhanced ticket offices and exterior improvements … The women’s soccer team collected its second consecutive MAC regular season title under head coach Michelle Salmon.
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2008:
The football team finishes the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record and earns a sport in the MAC Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan as the MAC West Division champion … The Cardinals, who climbed to 12th in both the BCS Standings and AP Poll for the highest rankings in program history after the Nov. 26 home win over Western Michigan, eventually lost the MAC title game and the GMAC Bowl to finish the season 12-2.
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2009:
Under the direction of head coach Kelly Packard, the 2008-09 Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year award winner, the women’s basketball program captured the program’s first MAC Tournament championship to earn the program’s first berth in the NCAA Tournament … The 12th-seeded Cardinals went on to knock off fifth-seeded and two-time defending national champion Tennessee in its first round matchup, handing the Volunteers who had participated in every NCAA Tournament up to that point its first-ever first or second round loss … Tennessee entered the contest a combined 42-0 in first or second round games in the NCAA Tournament play and had won eight national championships … The softball team wins the first MAC regular season championship in program history under the guidance of head coach Craig Nicholson.
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2010:
The softball team wins its second straight MAC regular season championship and also claims the program’s second MAC Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Regionals for the second time in program history ... In his first season as head coach of the women's volleyball team, Steve Shondell guides the team to its eight MAC regular season title and a 24-5 overall record ... For his effort, Shondell becomes the first women's volleyball coach in MAC history to earn MAC Coach of the Year accolades in his/her first season as a collegiate head coach.
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2011:
The men’s tennis team wins the program’s 17th MAC Tournament championship to earn its fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament Championship ... The women's volleyball team earns the program's second at-large berth into the NCAA Championship, making its eighth appearance in the event.
2012:
After 56 seasons as the Voice of the Cardinals calling play-by-play for both men's basketball and football, Morry Mannies retired after the March 5 men's basketball MAC Tournament game versus Western Michigan ... Prior to his final home game, March 3 vs. Northern Illinois, the broadcasting legend was honored with an iconic microphone banner that hangs from the rafters in Worthen Arena ... The softball team wins the program’s third MAC regular season title … Bill Scholl named director of intercollegiate athletics (April 16) … The football team earns a bid to the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl
2013:
The football team earns a bid to the GoDaddy Bowl … The men’s golf team qualifies for the NCAA Regionals and finishes in a tie for fifth at the event played in Pullman, Washington … The Cardinals go on to win a playoff and advance to the NCAA Championships for the 11th time in program history … The softball team captures the program’s second straight, and fourth overall, MAC regular season title under head coach Craig Nicholson … The men’s tennis team win the MAC regular season title for the 20th time under head coach Bill Richards.
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2014:
In his second stint as the head coach of the baseball team, Rich Maloney guided the Cardinals to their fourth MAC regular season championships, with all four coming under his watch … First-year head coach Tyra Perry leads the softball team to its third straight MAC regular season championship … The men’s tennis team wins the MAC Tournament Championship for the 18th time to advance to the NCAA Tournament Championship for the sixth time under head coach Bill Richards.
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2015:
Mark Sandy named director of intercollegiate athletics (Jan. 7) … The softball team wins the MAC Tournament for the third time in program history and earns a berth in the NCAA South Bend Regional … At the regional, head coach Tyra Perry leads the program to its first-ever NCAA win, a 6-3 victory over 16th-seed and 21st-ranked Notre Dame … With the win, Ball State became the first team to defeat a national seed in its opening game since the 2012 season … Head coach Craig Roberts leads the women’s soccer team to the third MAC regular season championship in program history.
2016:
The women’s soccer team earns its second straight, and fourth overall, MAC regular season championship under head coach Craig Roberts … Head coach Max Norris leads the women’s tennis team to its first-ever MAC Regular Season and Tournament championships, as the program also earned its first berth in the NCAA Championships …Â
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2017:
The women’s tennis team claims its second straight MAC regular season championship.
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2018:
Ball State Athletics dedicates the Earl Yestingsmeier Golf Center (Jan. 27) ... Beth Goetz named director of intercollegiate athletics (May 21) ... Fresh off his junior season, men’s golfer Timothy Wiseman qualifies for the 118th U.S. Open, making him the first Cardinal to accomplish the feat while still in college (June 4) … Ball State athletics dedicates the Dr. Don Shondell Practice Center for men's & women's basketball and men's and women's volleyball (July 20).
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