A Letter from Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell: New & Fresh Vibes

Cardinals fans:

Did you know that the Cardinal bird is a symbol of positivity? I cannot think of a more fitting description of Ball State Athletics as we look forward to the new year ahead.

With that sense of optimism, "new" is the operative word. The fresh start across the University begins this Sunday on the athletic fields and Monday in Ball State classrooms. The "new" also resonates throughout Ball State Athletics - reflected and amplified in the form of new coaches, a host of new student-athletes, a new look that welcomes fans to multiple venues and a new era of Ball State sports in a new intercollegiate landscape.

Generated by all that "newness" are fresh vibes and the shiny bright veneer of momentum that wafts from Scheumann Stadium to the Briner Sports Complex, across Tillotson Avenue to Shebek Stadium (baseball) and our softball venue, and to Worthen Arena and the innovative progress of new construction.

Let's begin with our four new coaches – two of whom make their Cardinal debuts this fall.

Football head coach Mike Uremovich embodies the Cardinal spirit and exudes positivity. Coach U has enjoyed success at each stop along his 25-year career. Most notably, he guided the Butler Bulldogs to record improvements during the past three years including a top-25 FCS ranking. Perhaps the greatest testament to his powerful allure is that 14 members of his full-time staff have served with him previously, with many by his side at multiple schools.

His enthusiasm is palpable. His focus is sharp, and he develops friendships and relationships naturally. The activity inside the Venderly Football Team Center has been re-energized the past seven months with championship-level vitality. Coach U isn't new to the MAC either, having spent six seasons at Northern Illinois, in between stints at NC State and Temple. He was a part of two MAC titles while coaching the Huskies, and he doesn't sugarcoat the fact that a clear goal in 2025 is his third championship.

Coach U believes in Ball State. His staff believes. And with 54 new players comprising over half of his 107-man roster, an offensive reboot and defensive resurgence could spark a new standard on the Scheumann Stadium gridiron.

The second new coach is soccer headman Andy Stoots, whose team lines up against Purdue and Indiana to launch our 2025 athletics calendar. Most recently the associate head coach at Missouri, Coach Stoots welcomes a rebuilt roster himself with three transfers and seven freshmen. The Cardinals host the Boilermakers on the pitch at the Briner Sports Complex this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. before traveling to Bloomington four days later to face Stoots' Ball State predecessor, Josh Rife, who has returned to his alma mater.

Coach Stoots brings new energy to his program, too, and the excitement is infectious. Returning seniors Addie Chester and Delaney Caldwell have described early workouts as "fast, with high energy" and "super fun but intense." I love hearing that!

While Coach Uremovich and Coach Stoots have hit the ground running with their teams already this summer, two other new coaches in Mike Iandolo and Gene Orlando assemble their men's volleyball and men's tennis teams when classes resume. Both have been head coaches before, and I have full confidence that those programs will stay in contention for conference titles.

While coaches may come and go, I believe the legacy and impact of our programs begin with the venues and facilities in which they practice and compete. The arenas and stadiums are often the places with which our fans most identify. They are the fields and courts where children make memories as young fans and where alumni reminisce and trade stories about great games of the past. From tailgating to watching goals or touchdowns or home runs, our sports venues reflect the quality and even perception of our programs.

As I start my third year in Muncie, the accomplishment about which I am most proud is that nearly every one of our sports venues has undergone significant change over the past two years. We have either completed or approved plans for approximately $25 million in facility improvements or new construction. These facilities are our foundation – for student athletes, for fans, for recruits, and for overall success.

Ongoing construction of the Eric Foss Championship Performance Center, along the western edge of Worthen Arena, is the crown jewel of these facility projects. This state-of-the-art "power and speed lab," as I like to call it, reflects the 11th different venue in which we have either installed a new playing surface or conducted renovation and new construction since Spring 2023. And we're not slowing down. New soccer turf will be installed in 2026, and Shebek Stadium (baseball) and softball stadium enhancements were announced in May to feature the addition of clubhouse facilities for both teams in addition to new playing surfaces.

Our venues are becoming modernized and our consistent branding promotes a confident, bold appeal. Our goal is to welcome fans from Muncie and surrounding communities as we continue to establish Ball State as an attractive destination for arts and entertainment in East Central Indiana.

Our most prominent new playing surfaces magnify a recent re-branding initiative that complements marketing and communications efforts, the launch of a new website and refined social media marks. The look of our new turf and courts are in sync as playing surfaces at Scheumann Stadium and Worthen Arena both sport a sleek black outline with "Ball State" and "Cardinals" boldly featured in our trademark red.

These designs help establish our readiness for a new era. They add consistency and launch a sense of excitement in tandem with our optimism for the future.

Just as the entire college sports landscape is experiencing transition while navigating the transfer portal and litigation involving name, image and likeness, we, too, must engage in those conversations and make adjustments. We will continue to adapt, but one strength which emboldens my outlook at every turn is the alignment that Ball State Athletics has with Ball State University.

Our goals, our commitment to excellence, and our enduring values of beneficence have never waned, and our student-athletes continue to excel in record fashion in the classroom. We are proud of the outstanding student-athletes that wear our Cardinal colors, no matter the sport, and we are developing championship-caliber programs despite concerns of shortages that surround us.

With that in mind and as we venture into a new era – both at Ball State and in college sports – this is where I remind our alumni, friends, and fans that your generosity is not only what has helped us rise in recent successes, but also is necessary to continue our ascent. Over the past two years, we have raised nearly $18 million dollars thanks to your support. That is our all-time fundraising record for Ball State Athletics for any two-year period.

We lead with a growth mindset. We make progress every day. We are energized by our momentum and elated with our prospects for future success. The foundation is, quite literally, being built beneath our feet.

I am invigorated as we begin the 2025-26 academic and athletic calendars. If enthusiasm about what is new this year is at all contagious, I hope that my excitement and positivity encourage you to join us!

Here are the ways you can get involved. Buy season tickets. Attend as many events as you can. Consider a financial gift to help us advance. Wear the Red and White as often as you can. And be positive. That's what being a Cardinal is all about.

We're all in this together!
Jeff Mitchell signature

JEFF MITCHELL
Director of Athletics
Ball State University

A Letter from Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell: New & Fresh Vibes

Players Mentioned

Delaney Caldwell

Addie Chester

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