Grady the Greyhound Celebrates Fifth Anniversary as UIndy’s Live Mascot

Written by Troi Watts

This year, Grady the Greyhound celebrates his fifth anniversary as the University of Indianapolis’s beloved live mascot!

Introduced in 2019, Grady is the first live mascot at UIndy in nearly 40 years and only the third in the University’s history. His arrival marked the reinstatement of a beloved UIndy tradition, spearheaded by the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement. Former Director of Alumni Relations Coran Sigman ‘14 ‘21 (Sociology, Communication, MA in Public Relations) played a pivotal role in the process, conducting extensive research on successful collegiate live mascot programs, and ultimately becoming Grady’s official handler.

Grady’s journey to UIndy began when Floridians voted to ban commercial greyhound racing in 2018. This decision left hundreds of retired greyhounds, including a two-year-old Grady, in need of homes. Greyhound Pets of America Indianapolis (GPA Indy) stepped in to help rehome some of the hounds in Indiana and surrounding regions.

“We worked with Greyhound Pets of America and their Daytona contact,” Sigman explained. “We didn’t have specific requirements for gender, fur color, or anything like that—we just cared about temperament. They pulled two dogs for us, a male and a female. We met Grady on a random Thursday night in October, and within five minutes, his harness and muzzle were off, and he was playing with my dogs. We didn’t end up actually meeting the female greyhound. We just felt a really great connection with Grady.”

Shortly after, UIndy officially adopted Grady, and he began his tenure as the University’s live mascot.

Life as a collegiate live mascot looks completely different from that of a racing hound. On campus at least four days a week, Grady visits the Office of Admissions to welcome new Greyhounds, attends campus events, cheers on Greyhound Athletics, and enjoys UIndy’s beautiful campus on walks (and keeps the campus squirrels in check). When not out and about, Grady can be found napping in his office, playing with his many toys, and enjoying pup cups from the Perk. His door is always open to students, staff, and friends who want to stop by to visit.

“A student once asked to sit with Grady. I could tell they were in distress, so I gave them space. After a while, they shared that their family dog had recently passed away, and they just needed to be around a dog. Watching Grady provide that comfort made me realize that he’s more than just a mascot; he’s a source of connection and care.”

Grady’s impact extends well beyond UIndy. This year, he was the only Division II live mascot featured in the NCAA Hall of Champions Mascot Exhibit. He also appeared in a Division II recognition segment on ESPN’s College GameDay. Most recently, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame announced plans to create a Grady the Greyhound bobblehead—the first of its kind featuring a greyhound.

At seven years old, Grady is nearing the typical retirement age for live mascots, which the Collegiate Live Mascot Association recommends as eight to ten years. Sigman is currently in the process of drafting Grady’s succession plan.

“The University has started thinking about what the live mascot program may look like in the future,” said Sigman. “Nothing has been finalized yet; we’re in the beginning steps of making those plans.”

As Grady the Greyhound continues his duties as UIndy’s goodest boy, there are a few things the UIndy community should know about him and his program:

• Grady loves his job! If his teeth are chattering, he’s excited—not anxious. Greyhounds also commonly tuck their tails and keep their ears back. Sigman assures that Grady’s comfort and safety are always her priority. 
• Book Grady for your next event. He’s available for RSO activities, classroom visits (with your professor’s approval), birthday surprises, and more. Submit your request at https://uindy.edu/grady/grady-appearance-requests. 
• Grady’s program is donor-supported. No tuition dollars fund the live mascot program. You can support Grady at https://uindy.edu/grady/support.