CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The University of Illinois Varsity “I” Association will honor seven individuals who embody what it means to be a Fighting Illini at the annual Orange Affair on Friday evening at the Colonnades Club of Gies Memorial Stadium.
“We are pleased to recognize an outstanding group of leaders during our annual Varsity ‘I’ Weekend,” Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. “The 2025 honorees – former track and field athlete Doug Dossey, cheerleading coach Stephanie Record, legendary soccer coach Janet Rayfield, and philanthropists Chris and Debbie Smith and the late Dale and Deborah Smith – have all left a lasting imprint on Fighting Illini Athletics and our student-athletes through their loyal service and meaningful contributions. We are incredibly fortunate to have their support, and we look forward to celebrating the impact they have made on the University of Illinois.”
Doug Dossey, former Illinois high jumper and member of the 1994 Big Ten championship team, is receiving the Varsity “I” Achievement Award, the highest honor for post-graduate success. He is co-founder and co-managing partner of Tensile Capital Management and previously held leadership roles at Blum Capital and FdG Associates. Dossey has served on 32 corporate boards, including 15 as chairman. He is a member of the Dean’s Legacy Council at Gies College of Business and chairs the Investment Committee for Summer Search. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accountancy with High Honors in 1995 and passed the CPA exam that same year.
Stephanie Record, Illinois cheerleading coach for the past 31 years, is receiving the Merit Award for her lasting impact on student-athletes. She has shaped generations of athletes while leading the nationally recognized nonprofit Crisis Nursery for the past 17 years. Record holds three degrees from Illinois—in psychology, social work, and educational leadership—and was a Varsity “I” letterwinner as a student cheerleader.
Five individuals are being inducted as honorary members of the Varsity “I” Association. Janet Rayfield, who led Illinois soccer from 2002 to 2024, is the winningest coach in program history with 234 overall wins and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. She coached numerous award-winning athletes, including Olympian Emily Zurrer, World Cup player Alicia Barker, two-time Big Ten Forward of the Year Jannelle Flaws, and three-time All-American Vanessa DiBernardo.
Also honored are Dale and Deborah Smith, and Chris and Debra Smith, for their support of Fighting Illini Athletics through the H.D. Smith Foundation, including the lead gift for the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center. Dale, a Davidson College graduate, led H.D. Smith to major growth, was named Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005, and received the Nexus Award in 2016. Deborah earned a master’s degree in history from Illinois. After selling the company in 2018, the couple focused on philanthropy. Chris, a 1979 Illinois graduate and Bronze Tablet Scholar, earned a master’s from Northwestern and retired as president and COO of H.D. Smith in 2018. Debra, a second-generation Illinois alum, earned degrees in Classical Greek and speech communication, becoming a two-time graduate from the university.