NORMAL – Illinois State Athletics announced on Tuesday that the court inside the North Gym at Horton Field House will be named The Lynch Family Court.
The naming of the court comes in conjunction with a significant investment into the men's basketball and women's basketball programs as part of the Lynch Family Fund agreement, which was signed in Fall of 2024 and then approved at the February 21, 2025, Illinois State Board of Trustees meeting.
"I am so thankful for the loyal support from Glen and Jan over the years," ISU Interim Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs said. "They are true Redbirds, and it is a joy seeing their entire family at games. With generous donors like Glen and Jan, we are able to provide a better experience for our student-athletes. Redbird Athletics can take another step forward today with the Lynch family on our side."
Glen and Janet Lynch have created the Lynch Family Fund to provide facility enhancements within North Gym in Horton Field House and CEFCU Arena to benefit the ISU men's and women's basketball programs. Glen and Janet have a love for the sport of basketball and passionately want to move the Redbirds forward. They believe this investment will provide for some needed improvements that Coach Gillespie and Coach Pedon deem worthy.
ISU Athletics has already utilized the Lynch Family Fund to purchase new baskets and padding in January. These were made possible by Glen and Janet to accompany the brand-new Doug Collins Court in CEFCU Arena which debuted on January 26th during a 74-58 victory by women's basketball over Bradley. ISU Athletics is thrilled to provide a completely new set up (court, baskets, and padding) within CEFCU Arena which was 100 percent made possible by passionate donors like the Lynch family.
"Our family is dedicated to helping ISU grow as an institution of academic and athletic success," Glen and Janet Lynch stated. "Neither one of us graduated from Illinois State, but Jan's family (Wells) has so many Illinois State ties, and her brother and Glen were involved in athletics throughout the Normal and Peoria communities. We love having our family with us at all home games and want to keep up the rich tradition of winning basketball through this investment. Most importantly, Go Redbirds!"
The Lynch Family have been proud supporters of Redbird basketball as longtime season ticket holders and Weisbecker Athletic Fund donors. In addition to their support on game days, the Lynch Family has contributed to previous enhancement projects at CEFCU Arena, including the purchase and installation of the cold/hot tubs used by the athletic training staff for student-athlete recovery.
"The Lynch's are great friends to the program, and we can't wait to see their name on the floor in North Gym," ISU men's basketball head coach Ryan Pedon said. "We are lucky to have them on our team and so thankful for their investment into Redbird basketball."
"We are fortunate to have teammates like Glen and Jan who truly care about furthering the student-athlete experience," ISU women's basketball coach Kristen Gillespie continued. "This commitment will provide fantastic opportunities for our student-athletes years into the future, and we can't thank them enough."
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