Northwestern University Athletics
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Phillips Inducted to Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
9/25/2019 4:48:00 PM | General
CHICAGO — Northwestern University Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips is one of 10 inductees in the 2019 Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame class. The organization is holding its 23rd annual induction ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Wintrust Arena.
Along with Phillips, Desmond Howard, Lou Holtz, Bryant Young, Patrick Kane, Jeff Joniak, Mike Magee, Harold Baines, Israel Idonije and Rick Sutcliffe are the headliners that make up the class of 2019.
"We're honored to induct a class of such outstanding individuals into the 2019 Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and celebrate their achievements in the Chicago sports community," said Charlie Carey, Board President of Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
Originally from the Portage Park neighborhood on Chicago's northwest side, Phillips was named Northwestern's director of intercollegiate and recreation in April of 2008. He has proven to be the perfect fit to lead Northwestern's 19-sport programs in the nation's No. 3 market. His deep Windy City roots and family orientation are an integral part of his core philosophy of providing student-athletes with a "world-class experience" that enables them to thrive academically, socially and athletically.
In May of 2018, Phillips was honored as the Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year, in recognition of the department's ascension.
Academically, Wildcats student-athletes have had banner years with Phillips at the helm. Northwestern has surpassed 200 Academic All-Big Ten honorees each of the last nine years, including a record 265 in 2018-19 that included football's program-record and Big Ten-leading 60 honorees. The group of more than 500 student-athletes representing 19 varsity athletic programs combined to post a record GPA of 3.38 last year, capped off by a 3.41 in the spring that marked the 12th consecutive quarter in which the Wildcats exceeded a 3.3 average GPA as a group.
All of Northwestern's over 500 student-athletes participated in at least one philanthropic initiative during the 2018-19 academic year, with the group as a whole totaling more than 5,500 hours in service of more than 100 community organizations. This marks the ninth consecutive year Wildcats have accumulated more than 5,000 hours of service in Evanston and throughout Chicagoland.
Phillips has overseen over $400 million in facility upgrades during his time at Northwestern, which have directly impacted all 19 varsity programs, the University community and the Northwestern fan base.
In competition, Northwestern has achieved historic success. During Phillips' time in Evanston, lacrosse, softball, golf, fencing, soccer, tennis, field hockey, swimming, diving and wrestling all have won team or individual conference or national championships, with the football team clinching the Big Ten West Division crown in 2018.
Former NBC5 Chicago sportscaster Peggy Kusinski will emcee the induction dinner. The event benefits the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame Charities.
For more information, visit the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
Along with Phillips, Desmond Howard, Lou Holtz, Bryant Young, Patrick Kane, Jeff Joniak, Mike Magee, Harold Baines, Israel Idonije and Rick Sutcliffe are the headliners that make up the class of 2019.
"We're honored to induct a class of such outstanding individuals into the 2019 Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and celebrate their achievements in the Chicago sports community," said Charlie Carey, Board President of Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
Originally from the Portage Park neighborhood on Chicago's northwest side, Phillips was named Northwestern's director of intercollegiate and recreation in April of 2008. He has proven to be the perfect fit to lead Northwestern's 19-sport programs in the nation's No. 3 market. His deep Windy City roots and family orientation are an integral part of his core philosophy of providing student-athletes with a "world-class experience" that enables them to thrive academically, socially and athletically.
In May of 2018, Phillips was honored as the Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year, in recognition of the department's ascension.
Academically, Wildcats student-athletes have had banner years with Phillips at the helm. Northwestern has surpassed 200 Academic All-Big Ten honorees each of the last nine years, including a record 265 in 2018-19 that included football's program-record and Big Ten-leading 60 honorees. The group of more than 500 student-athletes representing 19 varsity athletic programs combined to post a record GPA of 3.38 last year, capped off by a 3.41 in the spring that marked the 12th consecutive quarter in which the Wildcats exceeded a 3.3 average GPA as a group.
All of Northwestern's over 500 student-athletes participated in at least one philanthropic initiative during the 2018-19 academic year, with the group as a whole totaling more than 5,500 hours in service of more than 100 community organizations. This marks the ninth consecutive year Wildcats have accumulated more than 5,000 hours of service in Evanston and throughout Chicagoland.
Phillips has overseen over $400 million in facility upgrades during his time at Northwestern, which have directly impacted all 19 varsity programs, the University community and the Northwestern fan base.
In competition, Northwestern has achieved historic success. During Phillips' time in Evanston, lacrosse, softball, golf, fencing, soccer, tennis, field hockey, swimming, diving and wrestling all have won team or individual conference or national championships, with the football team clinching the Big Ten West Division crown in 2018.
Former NBC5 Chicago sportscaster Peggy Kusinski will emcee the induction dinner. The event benefits the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame Charities.
For more information, visit the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
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