EIU, Sarah Bush Lincoln Enter Into Five-Year Partnership

Eastern Illinois Athletics and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center have entered into a five-year partnership, which is the largest corporate partnership in EIU history.

The new agreement, which becomes effective on July 1,2019, will extend the current partnership with Sarah Bush Lincoln as both a corporate partner and as the healthcare provider for EIU student-athletes.

“We are excited to be able to continue our long-standing relationship with Sarah Bush Lincoln,” EIU Athletic Director Tom Michael said. “Not only will this partnership continue to provide sports medicine care and support for our student-athletes, but it will also enhance the other types of medical coverage we can provide to current and future Panthers.”

“I want to thank the Sarah Bush Lincoln Board of Directors for agreeing to this partnership,” Michael added. “This type of investment shows that Sarah Bush Lincoln truly believes in what we are doing as a University and an Athletic Department. We are proud to call them our first EIU Athletics Cornerstone Partner.”

The partnership includes exclusivity for orthopedic care, physical therapy and healthcare coverage for EIU student-athletes as well as continued sponsorship rights and other benefits. New for the 2019 season will be a Sarah Bush Lincoln logo on the playing surface at O’Brien Field as well as continued title sponsorship of the EIU Basketball C.A.R.E. games.

Sarah Bush Lincoln will be able to use EIU Athletics for promotional purposes, including serving as the Official Health Care Provider of EIU Athletics. It will have a significant presence on EIU radio broadcasts, signage in the department’s athletic training facilities and digital website exposure on EIUPanthers.com. 

Sarah Bush Lincoln President and CEO Jerry Esker explained that supporting its community is an important part of the hospital’s mission. “EIU is very important to the stability of our community and we are honored to be its first cornerstone partner.”

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center is a 145-bed, not-for-profit, regional hospital centrally located in East Central Illinois' Coles County, and is the recipient of the Women’s Choice Award for Orthopedics and Cardiology services. 

Eastern Illinois competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference with affiliate membership in The Summit League.