Explore Athletics on Purdue’s The Persistent Pursuit

Boilermakers win — both on and off the court, field, course, or diving board

Student-athletes, coaches and alumni impact the world, again and again and again. It’s a legacy that spans generations and starts with the same spirit of persistence that drives the entire university forward.

Get to know the stories behind the trophies through interviews filled with direct insight. Conversations with coaches, questions for student-athletes, first-hand accounts of Purdue’s most memorable games: fan favorites are found here.

Purdue senior hoopers raised the standard

Zach Edey, Mason Gillis and Ethan Morton steer teammates in the right direction It was a gut-wrenching loss at Indiana for the No. 1-ranked Boilermakers. All losses to the intrastate rival Hoosiers are. When a reporter in the postgame press

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Black pioneers who shaped Purdue Athletics

Five Boilermakers reflect on what it was like to be a Black student-athlete at Purdue Pioneers. There have been many in Purdue Athletics history. But perhaps none more important than those among the first Black student-athletes to compete for the

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Boiler Up, Hammer Down Under

Abbey Ellis has made her mark on the court halfway around the world from home.

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The Colvins: A Boilermaker family

Family ties can become the ties that bind. In the Colvin family, togetherness takes many forms. Raven Colvin, a senior on Purdue’s nationally ranked volleyball team, and Myles Colvin, a sophomore on the men’s basketball squad, couldn’t be more different….

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Raising the net in Mackey

Two Mackey Arena appearances set to break Big Ten volleyball attendance record For Purdue volleyball coach Dave Shondell, the mission is always to take his program to the next level. Winning teams and high-achieving student-athletes on and off the court…

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Mark Herrmann: from Cradle of Quarterbacks to broadcast booth

Purdue football legend Mark Herrmann has quickly settled into a role as the Boilermakers’ radio color analyst Intelligent, humble and straightforward. In the broadcast booth, on the playing field and in Purdue’s athletics department, that is Mark Herrmann. The former…

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Threads of Old Gold & Black: Purdue’s football uniform then and now

It was a small, tight, committed group of people. It had to be. There could be no leaks during the design process for Purdue’s new football uniforms. Boilermaker football coach Ryan Walters was involved. Director of football creative services Ryan…

Purdue alumna Julie Dussliere, chief of Paralympics and internally managed sports for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee

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Purdue alum’s unexpected path to Paralympics leadership

As a Purdue swimmer, Julie Dussliere never expected to work in sports after college.

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Purdue Olympian Chukwuebuka Enekwechi reflects on Paris experience

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, former Purdue Track & Field star, was proud to represent his country and alma mater at the Olympics.

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Boilermaker Olympians on the world stage

Boilermaker athletes will compete in swimming, diving, volleyball, golf and track-and-field events.

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Boilermakers Beyond Borders: a transformative trip to Costa Rica

Purdue student-athletes, staffers travel abroad to build athletics court for underserved youth The mission is simple. It couldn’t be any more straightforward. “Transforming lives through building courts and cultural exchange.” It states that right on the Courts for Kids website….

Purdue swimmer Masy Folcik

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Masy Folcik’s challenging journey back to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials

The Purdue swimmer qualified for the Olympic Trials less than a year after undergoing surgery on both hips For quite some time afterward, Masy Folcik found herself watching and rewatching video of the race where she officially qualified to swim…

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Emotional glow of Purdue’s tournament run

Former Purdue basketball players happy to see Matt Painter, program make long-awaited trip to the Final Four Matt Painter is not a crier.Matter of fact, relative to his profession, Purdue’s men’s basketball coach is as emotionless as they come, at…

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From baby brother to Boilermaker All-American

Dillon Thieneman is walking to class. The students lugging backpacks as they trudge past Jimmy John’s, Von’s and Harry’s don’t seem to notice an All-American is in their midst. Thieneman carries his backpack strapped over both shoulders. His destination is…

article | Athletics

Purdue senior hoopers raised the standard

Zach Edey, Mason Gillis and Ethan Morton steer teammates in the right direction It was a gut-wrenching loss at Indiana for the No. 1-ranked Boilermakers. All losses to the intrastate rival Hoosiers are. When a reporter in the postgame press…