Sports teams of Western Illinois University
The Western Illinois Leathernecks are the teams and athletes that represent Western Illinois University , located in Macomb, Illinois , in NCAA Division I sports. The school's primary conference affiliation is with the Summit League ; its football team is a member of the Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA) Missouri Valley Football Conference .
Nickname
WIU's nickname, the Leathernecks , and its mascot, the English bulldog , are taken from the traditions of the United States Marine Corps . The university has had permission to use the official nickname and mascot of the Corps since 1927, when Ray Hanson , then-athletic director and coach of the baseball, basketball and football teams, gained permission to use the symbols as an homage to his service in that military branch during World War I .[2] [2] [3]
Men's sports
Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Cross country
Golf
Football Soccer
Golf
Softball
Soccer
Tennis
Track and field†
Track and field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor
Summit League logo in Western Illinois' colors
Baseball
The Western Illinois Leathernecks baseball team represents the university in NCAA Division I college baseball . The team is a member of the Summit League . It plays its home games at the 500-seat Alfred D. Boyer Stadium and are coached by Andy Pascoe .
Men's basketball
The Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team competes in NCAA Division I men's college basketball competition. The school's team is a member of the Summit League . The team plays it home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by Rob Jeter .
Women's basketball
The Western Illinois Leathernecks women's basketball team is a member of the Summit League , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by JD Gravina .
The Western Illinois Leathernecks football program competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference . The team has made numerous NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoff appearances. The Leathernecks have been ranked as high as number one and ranked number two numerous times. The team plays its home games at the 16,368 seat Hanson Field and are coached by Jared Elliott.
Men's soccer
The Western Illinois Leathernecks men's soccer team is a member of the Summit League , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home games at 500-seat MacKenzie Alumni Field and are coached by Dr. Eric Johnson.
Women's soccer
The Western Illinois Leathernecks women's soccer team is a member of the Summit League , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home games at 500-seat MacKenzie Alumni Field and are coached by Dr. Eric Johnson.
Softball
The Western Illinois Leathernecks softball team is a member of the Summit League , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home games at 500-seat Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium and are coached by Alisa Goler. The team has appeared in eight Women's College World Series , in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980 and 1982 .[4]
Volleyball
The Western Illinois Leathernecks volleyball team is a member of the Summit League , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by Ben Staupe.
Western Illinois Leathernecks traditions
Western Loyalty
The name of the "official" Alma Mater for Western Illinois University is "Western Loyalty".[5]
We're Marching On
The name of the "official" fight song for Western Illinois University is "We're Marching On".[5]
Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks
The "Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks" is the marching band which represents Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.[6]
Rocky the Bulldog
"Rocky the Bulldog" is the costumed athletics mascot for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[7]
Colonel Rock
"Colonel Rock" is the live athletics mascot for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[8]
Western Illinois Cheerleaders
The "Western Illinois Cheerleaders" are the co-ed cheerleading squad for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[9]
