Illinois Institute of Technology Scarlet Hawks

Chicago, IL - Here are the 2014-2015 Illinois Tech baseball incoming new students. With six of the seven adding to the pitching depth also many of them planning to compete for starting jobs in the lineup as well. So here they are:

Andrew Lamkin. RHP/OF/1B

Andrew is coming to Illinois Tech from Washington, Michigan where he attended Rochester Adams High School and was coached by Jeff Hall. For his summer baseball Lamkin plays for the Michigan Dawgs under Coach Schoenberg. At Adams HS Andrew was an 11 Time Academic Athletic Scholar and received the Scholar of Distinction award. Andrew also received Varsity letters in Football and Basketball as well. Senior year Lamkin was voted Varsity Baseball Captain.  Andrew will be a first year Engineering major and he is brought to us by his parents Andy and Jackie Lamkin.

Adib Mahmud. OF

Adib is coming to Illinois Tech from just down the street in Chicago, Illinois where he attended UIC College Prep and was coached by Exodus Pettus. For his summer baseball Mahmud plays for the Chicago American Legion Post 758 Grizzlies under coach Bob General. At UIC Prep Adib was on the Honor Roll freshman and sophomore year. Also the captain of the baseball team Junior and Senior year. He was the starting Quarterback for football team sophomore and junior year and to top that off was a power forward for basketball team in his senior year. Mahmud will be on campus majoring in Business Administration. His parents are Adib Qusai and Denise Mahmud.             

Robert Beckman. RHP

Robert (Robby) is coming to Illinois Tech out of Sacramento, California where he attended Inderkum High School and was coached by Edward Cervantes. For his summer baseball Beckman played for the DSA Valley Dogs and the Sacramento M's for coach Bill Davis and Dominic Morris respectively.  At Inderkum HS Robby was a National Honor Society member, Key Club member and recipient of the Leadership Award. He also earned to be on the Honor Roll list all 4 years, as well as the Principal's List for two semesters. In 2013 Robby was voted as the Varsity Most Improved. Beckman will be on campus as an Architecture major. His parents are Bob and Debra Beckman.

Tyler Jendra. RHP/OF

Tyler is coming to Illinois Tech from Tinley Park, Illinois where he attended Andrew High School and was coached by Dave DeHaan. For his summer baseball Jendra played for the Cangelosi U-Dawgs for coach Andy Leonard.  At Andrew HS Tyler finished in the Top 5% of his class. He was also given the Spanish Excellence award, Academic Excellence award, and the Scholar Athlete award.  Jendra will be on campus studying Civil Engineering. His parents are Tim and Karen Jendra.

Kyle Bumpass. RHP/INF

Kyle is coming to Illinois Tech from Crete, Illinois. Kyle will be a transfer student by way of Dominican College the NCAA DII school in New York where he spent his Freshmen season. In his past the summer travel team he called home was the Steger Select for coach Bruce Hankey.  In High school Bumpass was a National Honor Society Member, graduated in the Top 5% of the class. At Dominican he made the Dean's List and became a member of Alpha Lambda Delta. In his high school baseball Bumpass was awarded a 2013 Southland All-Conference Selection and a 2013 All-Area Selection. Kyle will be an Aerospace Engineering major and his parents are Joseph and Kendra Walker.

Jan Timpe. RHP

Jan is coming to Illinois Tech all the way from Bentonville, Arkansas. Timpe is a product of Bentonville High School and played under Todd Abbott. In his past summers he played with Bentonville Legion and Kyle Blevins.  In High school Jan was a National Honor Society Member and graduated with high honors. While he was also awarded the FBLA 1st place State award for Web design in addition then got the FBLA 4th place national award for Web design. Timpe will be in the Biomedical Engineering plan and his parents are Joe Timpe and Jane Behrends.

Connor Fields. C/RHP

Connor is coming to Illinois Tech from Marked Tree, Arkansas where he played for High school coach Michael Wages. Fields will be a transfer student by way of Asbury University the NAIA school in Kentucky where he spent his Freshmen season.   In High school Connor was the class Salutatorian and National Honor Society member. On the field he earned spots on the All-Conference, Gold Glove Award teams. Fields was Golf State Qualifier in addition to leading the team in stolen bases and had the lowest earned run average (ERA) as a pitcher. Connor's focus will be as a Political Science major and his parents are David & Mary Fields.

Chicago, IL - Illinois Institute of Technology President John L. Anderson has announced the appointment of Joe Hakes as the new Director of Athletics. Hakes will join the university on August 1.

"I'm excited to be joining Illinois Tech and to be leading the athletics department," Hakes said. "My goal is to build a strong NCAA Division III program which further advances the university's strategy to create competitive men's and women's athletic teams—and to continue the university's long-standing tradition of graduating exceptional student athletes."

Hakes served as Athletic Director at Millikin University, Gordon College (Massachusetts), King College (Tennessee), and the Moody Bible Institute. In addition, he has coached basketball, soccer and tennis teams.

"Illinois Institute of Technology is fortunate to have an athletic director of Joe's caliber," Anderson said. "Given his experience in leading athletic programs, coaching, and being directly involved with alumni relations activities, I am confident that we will be able to grow both the varsity and intramural athletic programs and also be able to attract strong student-athletes that will excel in the classroom."

Hakes received a B.A. degree in physical education and secondary education from Trinity College and a master's degree in Athletic Administration from Western Illinois University.

The IIT Scarlet Hawks currently compete in NCAA Division III baseball, basketball, cross-country, soccer, swimming/diving, track and field, women's lacrosse, and volleyball.

Chicago, IL - Katie Zulandt has accepted the head volleyball coach position at Illinois Tech and will start on August 4th.

Zulandt was recently a professional volleyball player in Switzerland for FCL Luzern Top Volley Club in the Swiss First League. She served as an assistant coach at Loyola University Maryland prior to playing in Switzerland.

Zulandt graduated from George Washington University with a degree in Geography. She was team MVP in volleyball during her senior season at George Washington.

She was a volunteer assistant at NCAA Division III Catholic University in 2011 and played professionally in Finland for Kuusamo Pallo-Karhut Club as the starting middle blocker in 2012-13. Zulandt was also the head coach of National Cathedral School for two seasons.

Roma Miruntenko, a former Illinois Tech volleyball player, has been hired as an assistant coach.

Chicago, IL - Todd Kelly has been named Head Men's Basketball Coach at Illinois Institute of Technology. Kelly comes here from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.  At North Central , Kelly was the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach/ Assistant Athletic Complex and Facility Manager.  Kelly helped lead North Central to a 91- 47 record in five seasons. During that time NCC won two CCIW regular season and two CCIW conference tournament championships.  In addition, NCC advanced to consecutive NCAA sweet 16's and one final four. As recruiting coordinator Kelly recruited players that earned 9 all conference, 4 all region and one first team All-American selection.  North Central finished the 2013 season ranked #3 in the country in Division III.

Prior to North Central, Kelly was the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Providence St. Mel . He finished his three year stint at St Mel with a record of 42-42 highlighted by a winning the 2009 Prep Conference Championship and earning the conference Coach of the Year award. St. Mel advanced to its first regional championship game in 8 years under Kelly and ranked as high as #10 in Class A.  Prior to St. Mel, Kelly was the assistant coach at Division III Keystone College in La Plume, PA. In two seasons at Keystone he was 46-11 with consecutive conference regular season and post season tournament crowns.

Kelly was born and raised in Chicago and was a three year letterman at Millikin University in Decatur,IL,  where he graduated with a degree in communications. He also earned a masters degree in Sports Management  from  Western  Illinois  University in 2004. Kelly resides in Glendale Heights with his wife Adrianne.

Chicago, IL - Kyllian Griffin enters his first year as the Head Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Coach with Illinois Tech. In addition to his coaching duties, he also serves the department as the Aquatics Director. 

Prior to Illinois Tech, Griffin served as an assistant coach for 5 seasons at the Division-III level at Lawrence University, Beloit College, and most recently Pacific University in Portland, OR. In his two seasons with Pacific, Griffin helped coach the team to 27 school records, 7 Northwest Conference Individual Champions, and 8 provisional "B-cuts" for the NCAA Division-III Swimming Championship meet. 

Griffin swam at Lawrence from 2005-2009 and was a team captain in the 2008-09 season. As a collegiate swimmer, he was a 2-time Midwest Conference champion and a 19-time Midwest Conference Finalist. He was voted Most Valuable in 2008 and Most Dedicated in 2009. 

A 2009 graduate of Lawrence University, Griffin earned his Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English with minors in History and Art History. In 2013, he graduated from the University of Washington with his Masters of Education in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership. 

Thinking Smart On and Off the Field

by Marcia Faye

Chicago, IL - Illinois Tech men's soccer coach Marc Colwell has announced the 2014 recruiting class for the Scarlet Hawks. The recruiting class includes six student-athletes with five Illinois residents and one newcomer from Mexico.

"I am very excited about the quality of players that will be joining us this fall. We have a strong group returning, but these six newcomers will push to make the rotation right away," said Colwell

Below is a short profile of the six incoming student-athletes:

Norikazu (Nori) Honda, Fr., M/F, Sockers FC

Played club soccer for David Richardson and Todd Bailey with Sockers FC…Attended Schaumburg high school…Varsity team was 17-5-1 and IHSA Sectional Champs in 2011…AP Scholar with Honor Award…Illinois State ODP team (2012)…Will study Mechanical Engineering at IIT…Parents are Mutsuro and Narumi Honda…Native of New York.

Julio Reyes, Jr., M/B, Transfer from South Suburban College

Julio is a transfer from South Suburban College who will have two years of eligibility remaining…Second leading scorer for South Suburban (2012)…Received Presidential Scholarship to attend IIT…Will study Architecture at IIT…Parents are Samuel and Dalila Reyes…Native of La Estancia De Animas, Zacatecas, Mexico

Quentin Dreilich, Fr., M/B, Chicago Inter SC

Quentin played at Riverside-Brookfield High School…Metro Suburban All-Conference (2012, 2013)…Metro Suburban All-Academic (2011-2013)…Played club soccer for Danny Makaric with Chicago Inter Soccer Club…Illinois State Scholar…Will study Engineering at IIT…Parents are Nancy and Martin Dreilich…Native of Riverside, IL.

Emmanuel Zambrano, Fr., M/F, South Suburban Soccer Academy

Emmanuel attended Thornwood High School…Thornwood won two SWSC Conference Titles and one Regional Title…Played club soccer for South Suburban Soccer Academy…Studying Information Technology & Management at IIT…Parents are Jose and Claudia Zambrano…Native of South Holland, IL.

Noah Griffith, Fr., M/F, Galaxy SC

Noah played high school soccer at Waubonsie for Angelo DiBernardo…Played club soccer for Paul Murphy at Galaxy SC…3-year varsity letter winner at Waubonsie Valley High School…2010 U.S. Club National Champion…2010 Super Y-League National Champion at Chicago Magic Soccer Club…3rd in State for Engineering Technology at Skills USA…Studying Mechanical Engineering at IIT…Parents are Melissa and Peter Griffith…Native of Naperville, IL.

William Crozier, Fr., M/F

Attended Genoa-Kingston High School and played for coach Randy Tate…4-year varsity starter…Varsity captain as a senior…Scored 15 goals and added 6 assists as a senior…BNC All-Conference, IHSSCA All-Sectional and Team MVP…Academic All-State and Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete…Multi-sport athlete in high school-plays baseball in the spring…Studying Civil Engineering at IIT…Parents are Christy and William Crozier…Native of Genoa, IL.

Rogelio Salcedo, Fr., M

Attended American School Foundation High School in his hometown of Mexico City, Mexico... While there he played under coach Luis Colo...Qualified for Nationals two straight season...His academic choice at IIT is Architectural Engineering...Parents are Pilar Largaespada and Rogelio Salcedo.

Men's Sports

Illinois Tech Sports Not Offered by the USCAA

Women's Lacrosse – IIT Women's Lacrosse will be a member in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference in 2014-15.

Men's and Women's Swimming – IIT Swimming competes in the Liberal Arts Championships.

Men's and Women's Track and Field- IIT Track and Field competes in several prestigious invitational events.

USCAA Chief Operating Officer Matt Simms stated, "The USCAA is a unique organization, one that consists of accredited institutions of higher learning, each of whom provides a wide variation of programs and experience.  The common thread that ties us together is that we are small colleges who seek the opportunity to compete against like institutions for national championships and student athlete recognition.  Each of these institutions fits that mission and we look forward to serving them."

The IIT Women's Lacrosse program has donated sticks, goggles, and goalie equipment to the Outreach With Lacrosse and Schools (OWLS) Program. The OWLS program is a not for profit organization dedicated to starting transformative lacrosse programs for inner-city schools and low-income communities. The organization provides the students-athletes with quality lacrosse instruction, courses in team building, nutrition programs, enrichment programming, academic outreach, mentoring and first hand exposure to top-tier high schools and universities.

"Sam Angelotta (OWLS Director and Founder) has created a great opportunity to bring more than just the sport of lacrosse to these students. He has given them an opportunity to become better students and teammates through challenging themselves to be better on the field and in the classroom," said Kirk Lamitie, Illinois Tech Women's Lacrosse head coach

More information about the OWLS program is available on its website.

Chicago, IL - Illinois Tech women's lacrosse has been accepted into the Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (MWLC). Illinois Tech is the third new team added to the conference for the 2014-2015 season.

Illinois Tech Head coach Kirk Lamitie stated, "This is an exciting time for women's lacrosse in the Midwest and at Illinois Tech. We are thrilled to enter new markets and create new rivalries within the conference."

The MWLC is composed of Beloit University, Aurora University, Carroll College, Loras University, Benedictine University, Cornell College, and Wartburg College. You can find the IIT Women's Lacrosse Schedule for 2015 here.