THE ILLINOIS HUSTLE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCUTION
AT THE HIGH LEVEL IT HAS SINCE 1985. 

DERRIL KIPP WILL CONTINUE TO RUN AND COACH THE ILLINOIS HUSTLE PLAYERS. 

IN THE PAST THREE DAYS WE DISCOVERED SEVERAL LOWER LEVEL COACHES  HAVE DECIDED TO LEAVE THE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF  PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES. 

LET US CLARIFY THOSE DIFFERENCES FOR YOU NOW.  WE HAVE BEEN A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FROM THE BEGINNING WITH A CONSISTENTLY LOW FEE $375 SO EVERY PLAYER HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND IMPROVE THEIR GAME.  COACHES AND ADMINISTRATORS HAVE NEVER BEEN PAID TO COACH IN OUR PROGRAM.  I REFUSED TO RAISE FEES AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR TO CREATE A PAYROLL.  AND THIS IS WHERE THE PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES BEGIN AND END. 

THE ILLINOIS HUSTLE WILL CONTINUE TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AS THE ONLY NIKE TEAM IN ILLINOIS.  WE WILL CONTINUE TO COMPETE IN SEVERAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS WHERE NO OTHER ILLINOIS TEAMS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.

MANY RUMORS AND FALSEHOODS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED TO DISCREDIT THE HUSTLE PROGRAM AND TO ENCOURAGE PLAYERS TO LEAVE THE HUSTLE ORGANIZATION.  I MADE IT CLEAR THAT HUSTLE OPERATES SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF PLAYERS IN OUR PROGRAM.  IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF PHILOSOPHIES, I WOULD QUESTION EXACTLY WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF THOSE COACHES WHO HAVE LEFT.

THE ILLINOIS HUSTLE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH DERRIL KIPP AS ITS HEAD COACH AND WILL EXPAND WITH COACHES WHO CARE ABOUT KIDS FIRST.

OUR HUSTLE TEAMS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE OCTOBER OBSERVATION TOURNAMENTS.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL US AT ANY TIME REGARDING THE FACTS ABOUT THE HUSTLE PROGRAM

Sincerely,

Derril Kipp