When the first edition of The Star Press came off the presses on May 20, 1996, Ball State's men's basketball coach was Muncie native Ray McCallum, and his star player was another Muncie native, Bonzi Wells. Bill Lynch was leading the Cardinal football team, and some of the best high school athletes in the area were Duane Clemens and Patrick Jackson.
Much has changed since then across East Central Indiana, and in 20 years area teams have won 38 state championships, and 25 more ECI athletes have won individual state titles.
Tim Buckley, Ronny Thompson, Billy Taylor and James Whitford have been introduced as men's basketball coaches in those 20 years, and Brady Hoke, Stan Parrish, Pete Lembo and Mike Neu have been named head football coach.