IU’s Olympic programs gain success through strong foundations

The cornerstones of the IU Athletics Department are the men’s basketball and football programs.

But no foundation is set with two stones alone. That’s where IU’s Olympic sports come in.

An Olympic sport is a varsity program that doesn’t receive a lot of media publicity. All Olympic sports are free for the IU community and don’t generate a lot of revenue for the department.  

These non-revenue sports that get the least attention have been earning the most wins. Despite limited funding, IU’s Olympic sports have turned in some of the most impressive accolades year-in and year-out.   

IU’s men’s soccer program is currently ranked No. 23 in the country, while the men’s swimming and diving team looks to build on its No. 8 finish in the polls last season.

In 32 seasons with Coach Jerry Yeagley at the helm, Indiana’s men’s soccer team compiled NCAA records in wins (563), college cups (17), regular season win percentage (.821) and postseason win percentage (.768).

The author of this storybook success has been Hall of Fame coach Yeagley. His
successor, Mike Freitag, was assistant coach through 11 of those winning seasons.   

When asked if limited funding has handcuffed the program at all, Freitag, a former Hoosier All-American, said he believes the players have everything they need to compete.   

“We have been very fortunate in that we have everything we need to be successful,” he said. “There are always luxury items you would like, but to be able to compete for the national title, we have what we need.”   

Competing has not been a problem for this program as it makes a bid for its eighth national championship this season.   

Along with soccer, IU’s men’s swimming and diving program ranks among the best programs in NCAA history.   

Under Doc Counsilman, the Hoosiers won 140 consecutive dual meets, 20 consecutive Big Ten titles and six consecutive NCAA championships from 1968 to ’73, an NCAA record.

The secret to maintaining their success – and maybe the success of Indiana’s Olympic sports in general – has been teamwork.

“Simply put, I met with Jerry Yeagley my first year and followed his recruiting plan,” IU men’s swimming and diving coach Ray Looze said.   

A recruiting plan designed for success has countered the fact that the program receives limited funding.  

“We do more with less,” Looze said. “I am looking forward to the day when we are one of the best-funded programs in the country but know that might take time.”

Competing every year for a national championship is almost expected out of these programs, and the foundation they have set has opened the door to other programs at IU, such as men’s golf and wrestling.   

The men’s golf program climbed as high as No. 7 in the polls last year with a head-to-head comparison of 286-10, including 12-3 against top-25 teams.

IU wrestling has taken home the 125-pound national championship three out of the last four years, along with 13 Big Ten titles and 68 individual titles.   

All of these programs are able to maintain their success because of the principles that are their foundation.

“We will continue to build this program with commitment,” IU men’s golf coach Mike Mayer said. “Commitment comes in many ways. Our current director of athletics, Fred Glass, is committed to helping every program here at IU. His ‘24 Sports, 1 Team’ motto is accurate and appropriate.”  

Freitag stressed the same points.

“Dedication, commitment, hard work and a love for the program,” he said. “We wear the seven stars on our chest to remind us of those who came before us and the obligation that we have to uphold that tradition.”

Looze has maintained the success of the swimming program built years ago by selling the dream of winning a national championship the right way.

His motto for success is built on a statement in the movie “Field of Dreams.”
“If you build it,” Looze said, “they will fund.”