TERRE HAUTE —
Hired by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1989, Jeff Jenkins coached his first of 23 (and counting) baseball seasons with the Engineers in 1990.
In 1999, he expanded his duties when he became the institute’s athletic director.
So Jenkins has seen a lot of changes on the eastside Terre Haute campus over the years, but probably none more significant than when females were allowed to join the previously all-male student body in 1995.
“I think when we went co-ed back in ’95, it was a great move for Rose-Hulman because it really opened up a lot of doors and avenues, not just for the girls, but for the guys,” Jenkins reflected recently.
“When we were an all-male school, you had companies trying to substantiate why they would go an to an all-male school to recruit.
“They go to a male-female mix. They know how talented Rose grads are. If you throw in female Rose grads, you’ve got a very talented pool [of potential employees]. That’s in very high demand out there in the corporate world. Women engineers are in very, very high demand … and women athletes even in higher demand.”
Jenkins emphasized that athletes — male or female — tend to be great leaders in everyday-life situations.
“They’re competitors, they have great time-management skills and they can work with a group,” he explained. “Those are all things that companies look for, not necessarily the highest grades, and our [athlete] kids get outstanding grades. Our athletes do better academically than our overall student body. They graduate at a higher rate. But I think if they are in our athletic program, that puts more on the table and gives them more substance [in the eyes of potential employers]. Thicker resumés are attractive to these companies that really want to hire females.”
With the 40-year anniversary of the enactment of Title IX on June 23, Jenkins described how modern-day Rose-Hulman handles the law in regard to its female student-athletes.
“It’s been a little easier for us because of being 80-percent male and 20-percent female,” he explained. “Title IX says you have to allocate the amount of resources at the same percentages as your enrollment for males and females. We technically could give 80 percent of our resources to the males and 20 percent to the females, but we don’t do that. Our girls are getting in the neighborhood of 35-40 percent.
“Actually, the girls live a little better than the guys here at Rose and we’re not complaining about that. They get treated very, very well. There’s a higher amount budgeted for each female athlete than there is for the male athlete here at Rose, without question.”
One might think Rose-Hulman, which competes on the NCAA Division III level with no athletic scholarships, can lure more female students because of how well it treats its women athletes, but obstacles do exist because of the institute’s academic focus.
“We do recruit athletes here,” Jenkins stressed. “Contrary to what some people think, we recruit athletes very, very hard. All of our sports recruit hard. If you want to win, you have to recruit and our male and female coaches do that very well.
“Obviously, our top draw is the academic side of things. The problem we run into is with engineering, only about 20 percent are females. So we’re a little behind the 8-ball. If we said we were only going to go out and recruit all females, boy, we would have a very small pool. It would be very difficult for us to fill our class. So we’re going to have a larger pool of males, no question.”
Despite the approximately 80-20 ratio in enrollment percentages in favor of males, Rose-Hulman offers 10 men’s sports and 10 women’s sports in addition to the co-ed sport of rifle.
Men’s sports are football, basketball, baseball, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, swimming, tennis, golf, soccer and cross country. Women’s sports are basketball, volleyball, softball, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, swimming, tennis, golf, soccer and cross country.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to fill the rosters out on the women’s side,” Jenkins admitted. “Women’s golf is one that’s kinda bounced between being eligible and not eligible by having enough members. And some of our other women’s sports have struggled with numbers at times. We’ve had basketball teams with six or eight girls sometimes and it’s no fault of the coaches. Sometimes the girls get here and they get pulled in a number of different directions. It’s because we have so few and they’re so talented.”
Rose-Hulman’s only female head coaches are Brenda Goble for volleyball and Amy Helliwell for women’s soccer, although there are several female assistants.
“It’s tough to find female coaches, but we’ve got real good ones here,” Jenkins pointed out. “We don’t have all females coaching our female sports. We have some men coaching those.”
Looking back, Jenkins acknowledged that Rose had the reputation of being “the good ol’ boys network” before the institute went co-ed, but he’s glad that is ancient history.
“It’s much nicer now,” he said. “Back then, sometimes the guys were very narrow-minded. We have more female faculty now. It’s a better, more-rounded opportunity for our males.
“It gives the males opportunities to work with females in group projects and that makes them more marketable when companies come look at them because the job market out there today is tough. You have to be able to work with all sizes, all shapes, and certainly having the chance to work with women in group projects here on campus is very, very helpful for our males.”
Overall, Jenkins believes the male-female balance at Rose-Hulman couldn’t be much better.
“We’ve had an A-plus Title IX rating [based on Equity Athletics Distribution Act reports],” he insisted, “so we feel good that we’ve treated our women athletes very, very well. The facilities are top notch for males and females here and I credit our administration for doing that. I think we’ve addressed the Title IX issue very, very well.”
Sports
Rose-Hulman has witnessed changes Title IX brought
- Sports
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
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Coach adds regional host to job description
John Hayes has been a familiar face at high school baseball games this spring as he always is, enjoying the games but also looking for players who can help his Wayne Newton Post 346 American Legion team that will start its summer season shortly.
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Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
South Vermillion built an early 7-0 lead late Thursday night, then held off Owen Valley by a 10-4 score to advance to the championship game of the Class 3A West Vigo Sectional for high school baseball.
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
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West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
High school baseball sectional games between West Vigo and Edgewood have had a tendency to be unpredictable over the years, but the Vikings and Mustangs outdid themselves in that area Thursday evening — and Thursday night.
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
Terre Haute North had three winners, Terre Haute South two, and the Patriots and Braves finished second and third respectively at the Evansville Regional for boys track on Thursday at Evansville Central.
Hurdlers Cam Stewart and Cole Seward and discus thrower Lee Davis were the winners for North, enabling the Patriots to finish with 60 points to 59 for the Braves.
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Top guns, again
- Local Interest
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
- High School
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
- Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
- West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
- BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
- PREP ROUNDUP: Martinsville adavances in Class 4A THS Sectional
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- College
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
- Sports Columns
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
It’s the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 followed by Indiana vs. Miami in the third game of the National Basketball Association playoffs. - TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Shooters compete to fight cancer
- TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
- TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
- Pro Sports
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Terre Haute Rex
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Auto Racing
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
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Top guns, again





