The I Association is Indiana University’s alumni letter winner’s club. Mark Deal BS’79 MS’86 became chairman of the I Association’s board of directors in July 2016.  A football letter winner for Coach Lee Corso, Mark has been an I Association volunteer since 1999. During the past 17 years, he has been at the forefront of planning and executing the I Association’s year-round programs and activities.  For Mark, a family legacy and love of the history and traditions of Indiana University have uniquely positioned him to lead the I Association.

His father Russ played on the Hoosiers’ 1945 Big Ten championship team for Coach Bo McMillin. Mark’s brother Mike was an outstanding football player on IU’s 1967 Rose Bowl team. Mark’s daughter Carrie played volleyball for the Hoosiers, making the Deal family one of only two families in Indiana athletics history to have three generations of letter winners. Carrie is married to former IU quarterback Blake Powers. Mark’s wife, Patty, is also an IU grad.

As a small child, Mark has memories of accompanying his dad to IU games. As a grade schooler, he got to watch his older brother play in the Rose Bowl. A lifetime of experience has given Mark great perspective and love for Indiana University.  He has an amazing recall of the history of Indiana University athletics across all sports and generations.  Drawing upon the great traditions of the I Association, including text from the I Man’s Association 1913 charter document, Mark recently refreshed the I Association’s mission statement.

The I Association exists…

• To reconnect our former letter winners with their teammates, their sport, and Indiana University.
• To bind more closely together those who had battled for the Cream and Crimson and to render service in various ways to present-day IU athletics.
• To promote activities which might assist the Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, consistent with the rules and regulations of Indiana University.
• To get together and promote events and activities that promote the I Association, Indiana University Athletics, and Indiana University by honoring our past letter winners while supporting our current athletes.

The I Association is fortunate to have Mark Deal in a position of leadership. Currently the assistant athletic director for alumni relations, Coach Deal has recently stepped up to help with the transition in the football program. He was named interim director of football operations just prior to the Foster Farms Bowl and continued to help Coach Tom Allen through spring practice. Another of his responsibilities is to serve as curator of the Old Oaken Bucket.  In that role it is his responsibility to take the 92-year-old trophy to Hoosier gatherings and events. Mark has been gleeful these past three straight years and is looking to extend the streak for years to come.

Go Hoosiers!