Chicago State Cougars

Melvin Bland was the first CSU student athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Tyrone Everhart also was a NAIA Honorable Mention All-American wrestler the same year. Fred Evans as a sophomore became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975.[4] The Chicago State University Ice Hockey Team produced 2 NCAA Division 2 All-Americans in the 1975–76 season. George Hansen and Bob Janecyk were selected in 1975–76 to the NCAA (College Division) West All-American Team. Janecyk was selected two more times designated as an NCAA (College Division) West All-American Team goaltender for CSU in 1976–77 and 1977–78. He went on to play for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League.[5] The first NAIA District #20 Championship Team in any sport was the 1975 wrestling team, which captured the NAIA District #20 Championship coached by Dr. James G. Pappas. The Cougar Wrestling Team also won District #20 titles in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.

In 1984, the CSU Men's Basketball Team captured third place at the NAIA National Championships.[6] The team's performance throughout the tournament was as follows:

Chicago State (Ill.) 79, Franklin Pierce (N.H.) 62

Chicago State 105, Kearney State (Neb.) 104 2OT

Chicago State 68, Chaminade (Hawaii) 66 (Quarterfinals)

Fort Hays State (Kan.) 86, Chicago State 84 OT (Semifinals)

Chicago State 86, Westmont (Calif.) 82 OT (3rd)

Chicago State is a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). With the school's current financial situation and the needs of the athletic program, in April 2016, the University Budget Committee recommended that the Athletic Department "... study the benefits of being Division 1 or another division."[7] Chicago State University currently sponsors teams in seven men's and eight women's teams in NCAA sanctioned sports.[8]

• 1974 – Vince Williams – All-American – 6th 220yd Dash Outdoor Track & Field
• -1974 Sudie Davis, Vince Williams, Willie Patton, Clifford Fletcher, Wallace Hunter All-Americans NCAA Track and Field
  • 1974 – Melvin Bland – All-American – Third Team Wrestling
• 1975 – Fred Evans – All-American – Men's Swimming & Diving
• 1976 – Fred Evans – All-American – Men's Swimming & Diving
• 1976 – Scott White – All-American – Men's Swimming & Diving
• 1977 – Fred Evans – All-American – Men's Swimming & Diving
• 1977 – John Ebito – All-American – Men's Swimming & Diving
• 1978 – Ken Cyrus – All-American – Second Team Men's Basketball
• 1979 – Chandler Mackey – All-American – Wrestling
• 1979 – Joseph Curtis – All-American – Men's Indoor Track & Field
• 1979 – Joseph Curtis – All-American – Men's Outdoor Track & Field
• 1979 – Mike Eversley – All-American – Second Team Men's Basketball
• 1980 – Chandler Mackey – All-American – Wrestling
• 1980 – Derrick Hardy – All-American – Wrestling
• 1980 – Ken Dancy – All-American – Second Team Men's Basketball
• 1981 – Eric Blackmon – All-American – Men's Swimming & Diving
• 1983 – Jon Jahnke Academic – All-American – Baseball
• 1983 – Sherrod Arnold – All-American – First Team Men's Basketball
• 1983 – Stanley Griffin – All-American – First Team Men's Outdoor Track & Field
• 1984 – Charles Perry – All-Tournament Team – First Team Men's Basketball
• 1984 – Denise Bullocks – All-American – Women's Outdoor Track & Field
• 1984 – Denise Bullocks – Outstanding Performer – Women's Outdoor Track & Field
• 1984 – Denise Bullocks – Scholar-Athlete – Women's Outdoor Track & Field
• 1984 – Learando Drake – All-American – Third Team Men's Basketball
• 1984 – Lionel Keys – All-American – Wrestling
• 1986 – Jimmy McGriff – All-American – Men's Indoor Track & Field
• 1987 – Chris Garrett – All-American – Men's Outdoor Track & Field
• 1987 – David Rogan – All-American – Men's Indoor Track & Field
• 1987 – David Rogan – All-American – Men's Outdoor Track & Field
• 1987 – Deanail Mitchell – All-American – Men's Indoor Track & Field
• 1987 – Deanail Mitchell – All-American – Men's Outdoor Track & Field
• 1987 – Denise Bullocks – All-American – Women's Indoor Track & Field
• 1987 – Denise Bullocks – All-American – Women's Outdoor Track & Field
• 1987 – Enos Watts – All-American – Men's Outdoor Track & Field

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