University status changing the face of Judson athletics

For a little over 40 years now, the little college nestled between Illinois 31 and the Fox River in Elgin has been just that -- a little college.

But with a name change and a new look, Judson College became Judson University in late August. So what does that mean to the athletic department?

Since we've never had an actual four-year sports-playing university in this area, I posed that question to Judson's athletic director Nancy Smith earlier this week.

"It doesn't really change who we are or what we work for," Smith said. "But there's a sense of pride in being a university. It's more a prestige thing than anything and it shows that we're growing and moving forward."

Deb Leganski, a Larkin grad who plays volleyball and softball for the Eagles, says the change from college to university is already noticeable.

"The one thing I think it will help with is getting more athletes to come here," she said. "Until now a lot of people didn't really recognize Judson as anything and now I think we'll get more recognition."

Judson, which plays at the NAIA level and is a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, currently offers seven sports to its 700-plus undergraduate students -- men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball. But that could change in coming years.

"We're trying right now to figure out if we're going to add more sports," said Smith, a 1997 Judson graduate who took over as the school's AD back in January.

Smith said the sports Judson currently is looking into adding are cross country, tennis and golf, with the thought being to add all three for men and women. The school had a cross country program at one time -- one that did gain some national recognition through individual runners -- but it was dropped in 1996. Tennis was also part of the athletic program until 1999-2000. The school has six tennis courts which might need some work before collegiate tennis could be played on them, but they are there.

"I'd like to have all three added within three years," said Smith, who has hired Adam Ledyard to take over the sports information office at the school, the office Smith ran until her elevation to the AD's job.

"Cross country has a tradition at Judson so I think there's some interest there from alumni. That should be fairly easy to start. And we have tennis courts."

But what Judson needs, just like most small private schools, is money to run its programs.

"Getting corporate partners to buy into what we're doing is very important for us," Smith said. "Having university status helps that. I think our whole university push has caught the community's attention and I think it's more significant to our corporate partners."

Smith said when Judson dropped cross country and tennis it was to focus on the major sports. But now she feels the school is in a position to add programs.

"At that time we just wanted to take the sports we had and make them really good," she said.

In most sports that certainly did happen. Under Tory Gum's reign, the Eagles became a fixture at the NAIA women's basketball nationals. Coach Steve Burke's men's soccer program has become one of the best NAIA programs in the nation. The Eagles also compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association -- where they have won national championships in men's soccer -- and both the baseball and softball programs have made appearances at the NCCAA national finals in recent years.

But now, as a university, Smith would like to see more athletes come to Judson to enhance every program. She says she's already seen a different attitude from athletes this fall.

"I think the athletes think (being a university) is pretty cool," said Smith, who played basketball when she was a student at Judson. "Overall, the atmosphere is that Judson is improving all the time and now they're really proud to be playing for Judson University."

Leganski agrees.

"It just gives is a whole new look," she said. "It's a more sophisticated look."

Smith also points to the hiring of Ledyard, as well as two new head coaches - Craig Vlietstra for women's volleyball and Tony Tompkins for men's basketball -- as a step in the right direction.

"I'm very happy with the new hires," said Smith, who added she's pouring through over 60 applications for the school's vacant head baseball job. "It's been nice to have some new blood. They bring a new energy and none of them were associated with Judson before so they bring a new perspective."

And Smith believes Judson is in a good position to continue growing.

"I definitely see us expanding and bringing in more buildings and property in the future," she said.

As that happens, the demand for more finances to add programs will be campus-wide.

"It's challenging," Smith said. "When you're growing everyone wants to be a part of it. Every department on campus has needs and there's only so many dollars to go around. Growing pains can be tough but they're also a good thing to have.

"But for where we're at, being a 43-year old school, I think we're doing pretty good in athletics. All of our athletes are proud to be Judson athletes and I'm not sure I could say that six or seven years ago."