Western Illinois Athletics Commemorates Black History Month Honoring Black WIU Athletes
Throughout February, Western Illinois (WIU) Athletics commemorated Black History Month by acknowledging Leathernecks past and present. The month featured highlights of Black alumni and Hall of Famers, as well as current student-athletes and coaches.
Jennifer Alexander
Jennifer Alexander was a Volleyball student-athlete at WIU from 2001-2006. Alexander was a named member of the All-Freshman team, as well as named Freshman of the Year for her efforts in 2003. She went on to be named First-Team All-Conference in 2004 and 2006 and Second-Team All-Conference in 2003 and 2005. In 2005, Alexander was also named Defensive Player of the Year. She earned Conference Defensive Player of the Week 11 times during her career.
Alexander is currently the All-time career digs leader for WIU Volleyball. Alexander was recently inducted into the Western Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
Frisman Jackson
Frisman Jackson was a Football student-athlete at WIU from 2000-2001. Jackson is the All-time leader in career yards per catch at WIU. During Jackson’s career, he was named 2001 Football Gazette Honorable Mention, 2001 All-Gateway First Team, and 2000 All-Gateway Newcomer Team. Jackson was inducted into the Western Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
He went on to play professional football for the Cleveland Brown from 2002-2005. After his professional playing career, he began his coaching career back at WIU as a wide receivers coach. Jackson went on to coach at 5 other collegiate schools before starting his professional coaching career with the Tennessee Titans. Jackson is currently a wide receiver coach for the Seattle Seahawks.
Monzel Jackson
Monzel Jackson was a student-athlete on the Men’s Basketball team from 1950-1952. Jackson holds the records at WIU for second and third most rebounds in a single season and the single-season rebound average per game record. Jackson ranks third in program history with 16.7 rebounds per game during his 1950-1951 season and fifth in career rebounds.
Jackson was named MVP during his sophomore and junior season at WIU, and in 1951, went to play with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Justin Fitzpatrick
Justin Fitzpatrick was a two sport student-athlete for WIU Football and Baseball. While on the Football team Fitzpatrick received Second Team All- Conference for Missouri Valley Football. On Baseball, Fitzpatrick received Summit League Academic Honor Roll twice from his sophomore and junior year (2017-2018). Academically, Fitzpatrick won the 2018 NATAS Mid-America Regional Student Television Award for his Broadcasting Highlight Video.
After graduating from WIU, Fitzpatrick worked at West Virginia University as the Assistant Director of Creative Content from 2021-2022. Currently, Fitzpatrick is working at Miami University as the Football Creative Director.
In addition to Leatherneck alumni, current WIU student-athletes and coaches shared the impact Black History Month has on them and what the month truly means to them.
Edward Clark III, a freshman student-athlete on the WIU Track and Field Team, has become third all-time in program history for the Men’s 200-meter. Clark III has also become the fourth all-time in program history for the Men’s 60-meter dash and hit a personal record (PR) of 6.94 seconds earlier this season.
Olivia Travis
Olivia Travis is in her second season as an assistant coach for the WIU Women’s Basketball Team. Previous to WIU, Travis competed as a student-athlete at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. She also went on to play at the University of Illinois in Springfield and Oklahoma Christian in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Travis shared, “Black History Month is a time to honor the strengths and achievements of those who came before us and reminds us to keep pushing forward to inspire the next generation. Their courage opened doors and it is our job to keep them open.”
Denver Johnson & Richardlyne Francois
Denver Johnson and Richardlyne Francois are both student-athletes on the WIU Women’s Tennis Team. So far this school year as freshmen, together Johson and Francois took second place in doubles in the 2024 Fall OVC Tournament. Francois also was named OVC Player to Watch for the 2025 season.
“Black History Month to me is more than a celebration, it’s a chance to reflect on the powerful contributions and legacies of Black individuals throughout history,” said Francois. “It is a time to learn, uplift, and support Black voices not only for a month, but everyday.”
Chris Hill is an assistant coach for the WIU Men’s Basketball. Hill’s career as an athlete includes competing as a men’s basketball student-athlete at the University of Milwaukee, where he helped the team to make three NCAA Tournament appearances. These appearances included a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2005, and three Horizon League regular season and tournament championships. Hill also played professionally in Europe from 2006-2010, competing in Romania, Lithuania, and Ukraine.
