Lori Kerans Honored at Millikin University With Ceremony Dedicating Lori Kerans Court

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Published on December 7 2022 12:22 pm
Last Updated on December 7 2022 12:22 pm
Written by Millie Lange

Millikin University will be honoring Lori Kerans, legendary women’s basketball coach Saturday, December 10. There will be a ceremony dedicating Lori Kerans Court in Griswold Physical Education Center then catch the Big Blue women’s basketball vs. Carthage College.

The court has been named in honor of Lori Kerans, Class of 1985 and award-winning women’s basketball coach from 1986 to 2018 at Millikin.

Kerans, Millikin Class of 1985, coached the Big Blue women’s basketball team from 1986 to 2018. During that time, she and her teams amassed a career record of 555-276, 11 CCIW titles, 11 NCAA Division III tournament appearances and an NCAA Division III Championship title in 2005, the only national team championship in Millikin history.
Named CCIW Coach of the Year seven times, Kerans was Millikin’s first-ever female athletic director as well as in the CCIW. Kerans is also a member of the Millikin Athletic Hall of Fame, the Decatur Athletic Hall of Fame and the IBCA Hall of Fame.

An Academic All-American as a student-athlete for the Big Blue, she was a member of the women’s basketball team that competed in the first NCAA Division III Tournament, achieving third in the nation.

Outside of athletics, “Coach Kerans” has mentored, advised and inspired countless students and student-athletes through her previous roles, including positions in Student Life and Alumni & Development.

In her current position as Director of Community Engagement and Recruitment for Enrollment, she shares her zest for Millikin with high school students, communicating her knowledge of the university and encouraging them to experience the life-changing learning experience that Millikin offers.

There will be a Meet & Greet with Coach Kerans in the Griswold Lobby at 1 p.m. The women's team will then play at 2 p.m. There will be a halftime dedication ceremony of Lori Kerans Court.

This will take place at the Griswold Physical Education Center on the Millikin University campus. Parking is available at the Workman Softball field on Oakland Ave.

Donations to Lori Kerans Court help support women’s athletic initiatives at Millikin. To give online, visit bit.ly/keranscourt. For questions or assistance, please phone the Alumni and Development Office at 217-424-6383.