Jim Vruggink Enters Indiana Football Hall of Fame

Jim Vruggink (Central Michigan ‘70), Delta Delta’s former Faculty Advisor, was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame by the Indiana Football Coaches Association during the National Football Foundation’s Honors Brunch held at Purdue’s Memorial Union on June 22, 2025. Jim was recognized for his lifetime of contributions promoting and supporting college football.

Jim (center) with fellow Central Michigan Sigs Tim Hicks (L) and Doug Holem.

Career in College Athletics and Journalism

Jim’s distinguished career in college athletics and journalism spanned seven decades and included stops at Central Michigan, Michigan, Northwestern and Purdue.  For thirty-seven years Jim held a number of Intercollegiate Athletics and Public Affairs roles at Purdue. Highlights included coordinating Heisman Trophy campaigns for Jim Everett ’86, Mike Alstott, and Drew Brees ’01. Jim also served as executive director of the National Football Foundation’s Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest Indiana from its founding in 2004 to 2024.

Throughout his career, Jim took an active role in several professional organizations including serving as president of COSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).  He is a member of COSIDA’s Hall of Fame and Central Michigan University’s Journalism Hall of Fame.

Contribution to Delta Delta

Jim served as Delta Delta’s Faculty Advisor for thirteen years before retiring from Purdue in 2019. Vruggink worked tirelessly on behalf of the young men of the chapter by continually monitoring and addressing the chapter’s GPA and academic standing within Purdue’s Greek community.  He also took an active role in pushing the chapter to increase its philanthropic activities. Jim received Sigma Chi’s Seven Lights Award in 2023.