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By Jeff Wilson, SIUSalukis.com<\/strong><\/p>\n CARBONDALE, Ill. \u2014 Calling Craig Englert a diehard fan of Saluki Women\u2019s Basketball might be an understatement.<\/strong><\/p>\n A familiar face at nearly every women\u2019s basketball game, Englert recently committed to a $3 million planned gift to support the team at Southern Illinois University.<\/p>\n Englert attended his first game in the mid-1980s, witnessing the Salukis win their first Gateway Conference championship and watching stars like Petra Jackson dominate the court. From 1989 to 2003, he traveled with the team every fall, attending games from San Juan to Nebraska.<\/p>\n His passion for Saluki Athletics was sparked by his father, DuWayne Englert, who served as a zoology professor at SIU from 1963 to 1999.<\/p>\n \u201cDad went to everything,\u201d Craig Englert said. \u201cHe convinced me to go to my first women\u2019s basketball game over in Davies Gym, and I got hooked.\u201d<\/p>\n This historic gift follows a recent $4.5 million estate commitment supporting scholarships for female student-athletes. Together, these contributions underscore the Saluki community\u2019s dedication to advancing women\u2019s athletics.<\/p>\n \u201cOur alumni are showing how vital all sports are to the success of Saluki Athletics,\u201d said Tim Leonard, SIU director of athletics. \u201cA gift like this from someone like Craig Englert tells a powerful story about the value of our programs.\u201d<\/p>\n Saluki From the Start<\/strong><\/p>\n Born in Lafayette, Indiana, Englert moved to Southern Illinois as an infant when his father accepted a faculty position at SIU. He later attended the university, graduating in 1985 with bachelor\u2019s degrees in mathematics and computer science. He was a student when the Saluki Football team won the 1983 national championship.<\/p>\n \u201cI was working full time at Walmart, so I missed out on some of the student experience,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I have no regrets. I enjoyed my time at SIU very much.\u201d<\/p>\n After graduation, Englert struggled to find a job until he received an unexpected call in late 1987 with an opportunity to work for the Department of Defense.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was around Thanksgiving when I got a call offering me a job\u2014without ever having done an interview,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was in Washington, D.C. I only knew one person in that area when I moved.\u201d<\/p>\n While in D.C., Englert pursued a master\u2019s degree. One of his classmates\u00a0worked for the same agency that supported a group\u00a0at\u00a0Scott Air Force Base in O\u2019Fallon, Illinois.<\/p>\n She knew I wanted to move to that area. When they had a position open, she recommended me.\u201d he said. \u201cI moved back in September of 1990.\u201d<\/p>\n Salukis Unleashed<\/strong><\/p>\n Englert\u2019s gift is part of the\u00a0Salukis Unleashed<\/strong>\u00a0initiative, which aims to generate $100 million in revenue for Saluki Athletics. The campaign will expand scholarship opportunities and enhance facilities, creating a premier experience for student-athletes, coaches, and fans.<\/p>\n \u201cThis gift reflects the incredible strength of the Saluki spirit,\u201d said Saluki Women\u2019s Basketball head coach Kelly Bond-White. \u201cOur program is deeply grateful not only for Craig\u2019s generous financial support, but for his unwavering passion for women\u2019s basketball. Watching him and his brother, Kyle, cheer in the arena, standing behind our young women, is nothing short of inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n Salukis Unleashed is a key component of the university\u2019s\u00a0Imagine SIU 2030<\/strong>\u00a0fundraising campaign, which has raised more than $425 million toward its $500 million goal.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to make a difference,\u201d Englert said. \u201cI like helping people and making people smile. It\u2019s my way of thanking the women\u2019s basketball team for the years of enjoyment. I\u2019m glad to help.\u201d<\/p>\n To make a similar gift, visit give.siu.edu\/athletics<\/a> or contact Kat Martin at\u00a0katm@foundation.siu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Jeff Wilson, SIUSalukis.com CARBONDALE, Ill. \u2014 Calling Craig Englert a diehard fan of Saluki Women\u2019s Basketball might be an understatement. A familiar face at nearly every women\u2019s basketball game, Englert recently committed to a $3 million planned gift to support the team at Southern Illinois University. Englert attended his first game in the mid-1980s, … Continue reading Englert Commits $3 Million to Saluki Women\u2019s Basketball<\/span>