The College of Idaho Athletic Department is focused on developing excellence on and off of the playing surfaces. The Yotes stand by the five core values of the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative. The pillars of the program woven into each program are integrity, respect, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
Our teams host annual mental health awareness games in partnership with the Jae Foundation and The Hidden Opponent. The Jae Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Twin Falls, Idaho, dedicated to raising awareness and fostering open conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. Founded in 2021 in memory of Jae Bob Bing, the foundation uses the symbolic gesture of gifting cowboy boots, called "Jae Boots", to encourage people to slow down, check in on others, and break the stigma surrounding mental health struggles. In fall of 2024 the Yotes men's basketball team announced The Jae Foundation as the jersey sponsor. Rather than seeking a transactional sponsorship, the Yotes have chosen a partnership that reflects their desire to provide a transformational experience on and off the court. The Hidden Opponent is another mental health partnership with a focus on mental health with athletes.These games held by The College of Idaho draw awareness to an important issues facing many student-athletes.
The Yotes are also heavily invested in cultivating the community that supports them so dearly. Through the Idaho Special Olympics, the Yote student-athletes host a annual field day for youth Special Olympics athletes where they all come together to play and compete together. Yotes men's basketball also hosts a Unified Basketball Game where The College's basketball team and athletes representing the Special Olympics Idaho combined teams to put on a combined showcase at the J.A.. Albertsons Activities Center. Another pillar for Yotes student-athletes is their participation through the Legacy Program. Beginning in 2019, the Legacy Program originally spearheaded by men's basketball has grown to have athletes from nearly every sport spread the message of community service to over 7,000 students in the Caldwell and Vallivue school districts. Yote athletes spend time at each elementary school encouraging and challenging each student to give back to their community. Students that complete the requisite hours of community service are welcomed to a football game or basketball game to be honored for their commitment.
Yotes have been honored often for their work in the community with multiple student-athletes and teams earning the Cascade Collegiate Conference Champion of Character Award as well as the NAIA national award. Cross country runner Molly Connor was the recipient of the 2023 NAIA Champions of Character award. Cross country runner Emily Hawgood (2017) and softball infielder Lena Zahniser (2025) earned individual Cascade Collegiate Conference Champion of Character awards, while the Yotes softball earned the team award in 2025 and men's basketball earned the award in 2020.
At The College of Idaho, our commitment to the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative is reflected in every aspect of our athletic program. We strive to build a culture where integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership are more than just words, they are lived values. Through intentional training, our student-athletes learn to carry these principles into both practice and competition. Coaches actively model and reinforce them through mentorship, while parents are encouraged to support the experience by demonstrating those same values from the sidelines. Together, we are dedicated to shaping well-rounded individuals who do the right thing on and off the field.
