Always a Billiken: Inside SLU Athletics

In part one of this episode of 1818: A Saint Louis Alumni Podcast,  Meg Connolly (A&S ‘90, GRAD  A&S ‘92) talks with SLU alumna and associate vice president of brand management, Laura Geiser (A&S ‘90, GRAD A&S ‘92), on the origins of one of the most iconic and unusual aspects of SLU’s sporting history: the Billiken. From the origins of “the god of things as they ought to be” as a turn of the 20th-century Labubu to the best ways for a Billiken to bring you good luck, Geiser shares the history and symbolism behind SLU’s iconic mascot.

Then Meg and co-host Tony Minor (A&S ‘03) welcome Janet Oberle, Ph.D., (GRAD '99, GRAD ED '18) Saint Louis University’s deputy director of athletics and two-time alum, and former men’s basketball standout Jordair Jett (A&S ‘14) for a roundtable on Billiken Athletics.

From playing on SLU’s first Division I women’s soccer team to witnessing NCAA tournament milestones and the program’s steady climb, Oberle hits on the highlights of Billiken athletics, including the strong connections between student-athletes and the University for years after graduation. Then relive SLU’s legendary NCAA comeback over NC State and the heartbreak against Michigan State with Jett, who also shares what it meant to be the first in his family to attend college and tells us about a new arrival who will carry on the name “Jordair.”

Then, as always, Tony shares a valuable alumni perk you can enjoy year-round while on campus: access to Simon Recreation Center and Pius Memorial Library. Learn more about how to enjoy these benefits.

Want to learn more about today’s topics?

Explore SLU’s resources that help explain the Billiken, including a page dedicated to the topic on slu.edu and a 2019 article about the legends and lore around the mascot.

Stay on top of all things Billiken athletics on its website, or tune into another SLU podcast, hosted by Saint Louis University Director of Athletics Chris May, From the Stands.

Creators and Guests

Host

Meg Connolly

Meg Connolly (A&S ‘90, GRAD ‘92) is a two-time Saint Louis University graduate who has been a member of the alumni and development teams for over 30 years. Her favorite Billiken memories include SLU’s 200th celebration under the Gateway Arch, men’s basketball and women’s soccer NCAA tournament pregames, and getting married in the St. Francis Xavier College Church. Connolly is fortunate to have engaged with so many wonderful graduates and friends of the University from across the country — alumni who literally change the world in ways only Billikens can. She is thrilled to share more SLU conversations and stories through the 1818 podcast.

Host

Tony Minor

Tony Minor (A&S ‘03) is a longtime leader in alumni and donor engagement at Saint Louis University, where he currently serves as an assistant vice president. During his 20-plus years in higher ed advancement, he’s led teams across alumni engagement, annual giving, stewardship, marketing and events — all with the goal of building stronger connections between SLU and its community of graduates and supporters. Minor got his start in the Office of the President and has grown his career entirely at SLU. He’s a proud Billiken, holding degrees in English and communications, and is passionate about ensuring SLU’s alumni feel connected.

Guest

Dr. Janet Oberle

Dr. Janet Oberle has climbed through the administrative ranks in the Saint Louis University department of athletics since arriving on campus as a member of the Billikens' inaugural women's soccer team in 1996. As deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator, Oberle's responsibilities include departmental operational oversight when the director of athletics is away from the office on University business. Additionally, she oversees areas related to student-athlete welfare – academics, compliance, sports medicine and sports performance – and is the sport supervisor for men's and women's soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, men's and women's cross country, and men's and women's track and field. In addition, Oberle serves as the department's liaison to multiple campus areas and as a Title IX deputy. In 2019, Oberle was one of 22 senior athletics administrators invited to participate in the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program. The yearlong program’s goal is to prepare these individuals to excel as directors of athletics or conference commissioners. In addition to her SLU responsibilities, Oberle served a successful stint as chair of the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Committee during the 2014-15 season. That appointment followed a multi-year stretch as a member of the committee. Oberle joined the SLU staff in 1997 as the women's soccer graduate assistant and became the program's first full-time assistant coach in 1998. She helped the Billikens capture the 1999 Conference USA regular-season title. In 2003, Oberle joined Saint Louis' administrative staff as director of compliance and was named assistant director of athletics for compliance and student services in 2006. In 2011, she was named associate director of athletics for sports programs and compliance. She was elevated to her current role in the summer of 2014. A St. Louis native, Oberle earned a Ph.D from Saint Louis University in 2019, a master's degree from SLU in 1999 and a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in 1996. Oberle serves as president of the Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA), a St. Louis-based not-for-profit soccer program for young people with disabilities.

Guest

Jordair Jett

Jordair Jett is the founder of Players First, an organization in Saint Paul, Minn., that hosts basketball training opportunities and camps. A former basketball guard for the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team, he played in 134 games and scored 1,239 points over his four-year career with the Billikens. Jett was named Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball Player of the Year in 2014, the same year he graduated from SLU’s College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in communication. He is ranked 18th all-time in scoring at SLU and was voted to the A-10 All-Defensive team, first-team All-Conference and NABC first-team All-District selection. During his senior year, the Billikens were A-10 regular season champions and reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament. He was among 16 players named to the Saint Louis Billikens' All-Century Team in 2015. After SLU, Jett played professional basketball in Australia and New Zealand from 2015 to 2019. Since then, Jett has committed himself to coaching, mentorship and education.

Guest

Laura Geiser

Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad A&S ’92) is the assistant vice president for brand management at Saint Louis University. A member of the Division of Marketing and Communications staff since 1993, she oversees SLU’s web, digital content and graphic design teams. She is also the editor of Universitas, SLU's alumni magazine. Geiser has received several awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and, in 2012, was named a Saint Louis University Woman of the Year. She served on the Jesuit Advancement Administrators executive committee for several years and chaired the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Marcom Summit in 2024. A native St. Louisan, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Saint Louis University.

Producer

Megan Favignano Mansouri

Megan Favignano-Mansouri is the digital content specialist for Saint Louis University's development communications team. Her passion is storytelling and uplifting the voices of the community. Megan is an award-winning storyteller with a decade of experience working in journalism, public relations, and marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with certificates in Environmental Journalism and Leadership from Webster University. In her free time, Megan enjoys watercolor, family game nights, walks with her two dogs and exploring St. Louis with her husband.

What is 1818: A Saint Louis University Alumni Podcast?

Shaping the Future Since 1818

As the oldest institution of its kind west of the Mississippi River, Saint Louis University has stood at the forefront for more than two centuries. From revolutionizing football with the forward pass to performing the Midwest's first heart transplant, SLU is where history is made.

Some traditions endure: our proud Jesuit, Catholic foundation, a deep commitment to academic excellence and a calling to pursue social justice. Other stories have been lost to history — until now.

In the debut season of 1818: A Saint Louis University Alumni Podcast, we dive into SLU's rich and often surprising legacy. Each episode features an unexpected conversation about SLU's background, a dynamic roundtable with alumni, thought leaders and changemakers shaping the University's next chapter, and a spotlight on distinctive alumni events and services.
Whether you're a Billiken from yesterday, today or tomorrow, join us as we showcase the people and moments that define us.

Once a Billiken, Always a Billiken.