Illinois State Redbirds
Former Illinois State men's basketball coach Tim Jankovich said he wasn't planning to leave ISU, but he says SMU officials were persistent. (Photo by B Corbin/WJBC) Jankovich: SMU job ‘emotional’ decision
DALLAS - Former Illinois State men's basketball coach Tim Jankovich said he first told Southern Methodist University he wasn't interested when officials at the Dallas school first contacted him about their coaching vacancy.
"It was hard to continue to say no, actually said no a couple of times, but they were persistent, and in the end, that was the decision I made," Jankovich said.
Jankovich accepted an assistant coach and coach-in-waiting position at SMU under Larry Brown on Thursday.
ISU Redbird softball pitcher Jordan Birch improved her record to 20-12 with Sunday's win over Creighton. (WJBC file photo) 
Cody White (no. 56) started in 43 of a possible 44 games in four seasons at Illinois State. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com) 
Jamie Garcia (2-0) is scheduled to start for the Cardinals vs. Milwaukee on Sunday. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images Sport) Cardinals, Redbird baseball, softball on WJBC
The St. Louis Cardinals finish their weekend series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium on Sunday.
Jamie Garcia pitches for St. Louis against Milwaukee's Zack Greinke. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m.
WJBC 1230 AM and 93.7 FM will have Cardinals Radio Network coverage at 1:05 p.m.
Cubs in Philly
The Chicago Cubs wrap up a series in Philadelphia at 12 p.m. on WJEZ 98.9 FM.
Gallery: Illinois State football tackles spring game [PHOTOS]
NORMAL – Illinois State football is back.
The Redbirds took the field Saturday for the Red-White Scrimmage, which was the culmination of a 15-session spring workout period for Illinois State.
Jordan Birch allowed one run and stuck out eight batters in ISU's victory. (WJBC file photo) ISU softball sweeps Creighton
NORMAL -- The Illinois State softball team improved their Missouri Valley Conference record to 16-7 when they won each contest against Creighton in Saturday's doubleheader.
In the first game at ISU, Jordan Birch was in the circle for the Redbirds and allowed one run while striking out eight batters in a 3-1 victory. Illinois State got swinging early when Jhavon Hamilton hit a lead off homer.
ISU students will be volunteering at the Humane Society on Sunday (Image: Humane Society) ISU students to volunteer at Humane Society
NORMAL - Two ISU student groups will be spending some time at the Humane Society of Central Illinois on Sunday, but not to take home any new pets.
The ISU Student Ambassador Leadership Team will be helping to clean out the indoor dog pens from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. and several members of the Redbird football team will be volunteering their time digging trenches so that a chain link fence can be installed and keep dogs from escaping.
The White squad took out the Red team, 21-3, in the 2012 ISu Red-White game. Photo Courtesy B. Corbin Illinois State spring game shows solid defense
4 weeks ago
NORMAL – Despite cool, cloudy and windy conditions at Hancock Stadium on Saturday, a strong group of Illinois State football fans came out to watch the white team dominate the red squad by a score of 21-3 in the team’s annual Red-White Spring Scrimmage.
The scrimmage capped off a 15-practice spring session for the Redbirds, who are led by fourth-year head coach Brock Spack.
WJBC This Week April 29, 2012
WJBC's Stephanie Pawlowski takes a look back at the top stories and interviews of the week.
On this week's program, Illinois State Athletics Director Gary Friedman on men's basketball coach Tim Jankovich leaving for Southern Methodist University, plus reaction from players Jackie Carmichael and John Ekey.
State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) decides not to seek U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson's spot on the November ballot, and Unit 5 Superintendent Gary Niehaus and Dist. 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly offer a schools legislative update.
- Senate Republicans support institute's Medicaid plan
- Illinois House ends legislative scholarships
- Weather key to grain markets right now
- 3 Redbirds named All-MVC baseball First Team
- Normal oks Amtrak parking deck charge, with free option
- Dry weather keeps planters moving
- CornBelters manager Parker confident in new team
- McEvoy on Sports: More Illinois State basketball changes
- Quinn dismisses gambling as 'shiny' distraction
- Public weighs in on foreclosure panel's ideas
