Terry Tallen stands beside his wife Diane with his Laurel Pin award.
5/2/2022 | IU Hoosiers
Bloomington, Indiana – Former Hoosier football captain Terry Tallen continues to be an instrumental figure in the development of his former program, and on Saturday, Indiana University honored Tallen for his efforts with one of its most prestigious philanthropic honors.
Tallen received the Presidents Circle Laurel Pin by Indiana University President Pamela Whitten and IU Foundation President J.T. Forbes at an exclusive conferral event at the IU Auditorium. Members of the Presidents Circle Laurel Pin include Indiana University’s most generous philanthropists, and honor individuals at three levels: Benefactor ($1,000,000), Fellow ($5,000,000) and Founder ($10,000,000). Tallen was inducted into the President’s Circle in 2020.
Tallen is the second former IU Football player to receive the President’s Circle Laurel Pin honor, joining 2016 inductee Glenn Scolnik.
Terry Tallen BucketNow more than 40 years removed from playing nose tackle and linebacker for Coach Lee Corso from 1977-80, Tallen has gone on to a highly-successful career in real estate investment and development. Along the way he has continued to support his alma mater and former program. Among his most notable contributions was a $2 million gift in support of the multi-million dollar, 25,000 square foot, state of the art Terry Tallen Indiana Football Complex. The gift was the largest ever received from a former Hoosier football player.
“Through the exceptional leadership and examples set by the past and current IU leadership, coaches, teammates and faculty, I am profoundly grateful to be able to make endowments to our great University. My intentions for the gifts are that they are inspirational as well as aspirational for past, present and future student-athletes interested in leadership, not only to pay it back but also to pay it forward to future generations of IU men and women student-athletes. With an Indiana University education and the work ethic required as Big Ten IU student-athlete, I am living proof that anything is possible in this world,” said Tallen.
Located in Memorial Stadium and adjacent to the playing surface, the Terry Tallen Indiana Football Complex opened in 2019. It includes a dramatic and extensive expansion and renovation of the Trent and Julie Green Locker Room; a new spacious team and recruiting lounge that includes a nutrition center, big screen TVs, video play stations, over-sized leather chairs, ping pong tables, and a pool table; equipment room; coaches’ locker room; hydrotherapy center; the renovated and expanded Dr. John M. Miller Training Room; and new branding, pictures, and graphics throughout the complex.
“It’s difficult to put into words the impact that Terry continues to have on our department and specifically on IU Football, so I’m very excited to see Indiana University bestow one of its highest philanthropic honors on him,” said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson. “Terry’s passion for the program is evident in everything that he says and everything that he does. He’s an ideal selection for this special honor.”
Terry Tallen came to IU after an All-State high school career in Hamilton, Ohio. He was elected team captain of the South squad for the 1977 Ohio All Star football game and inducted into the Stephen T. Badin High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. He played for the Hoosiers and Coach Lee Corso from 1977-80, was elected team captain in 1979 and 1980, and helped lead IU Football to its first-ever bowl game victory in the 1979 Holiday Bowl. “Terry Tallen was one of the most gifted football players I coached at Indiana University, but he was also a great leader. Terry was a two-time captain for us and captain of our 1979 Holiday Bowl Championship team,” said Corso. “Following his graduation from IU, he has been a great leader in the business and real estate world.”
Since graduating from the Kelley School of Business in 1982, Tallen has gone on to a highly-successful career in real estate investment and development. He founded Tallen Capital Partners LLC in 2001, and remains the company’s Chairman and CEO.
“I want to give a special a thank you to President Pamela Whitten, the IU Foundation and to our outstanding athletic director, Scott Dolson. Scott has fearlessly and successfully led our 24 NCAA athletic programs through challenging and unprecedented times. To all of our alumni, students and fans, we are very fortunate to have Scott at the helm,” said Tallen.
In addition to his professional successes, Tallen has been a loyal and active Indiana University alumnus including giving his time, talent and treasure back to his alma mater. In recognition of his lifetime commitment, he was awarded Indiana University’s highest honor for past letter winners, the Z.G. Clevenger Award, in 2016. In 2008, Terry established the Terry Tallen Football Leadership Scholarship given each year to a team captain. Terry co-chaired the IU Holiday Bowl scholarship fund in 1999 raising $100,000 for this annual scholarship. Under his leadership and as a component of the funding, every player, trainer, coach and administrator received a Holiday Bowl Championship ring. Terry is also an advisory board member and frequent guest lecturer at the Kelley School of Business Center for Real Estate Studies and speaks at athletic and leadership related events and charities. In 2021, Tallen received the university’s Bicentennial Medal, in honor and recognition of his distinguished service and dedication to the university.