Western Illinois Leathernecks
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.
| Western Illinois Leathernecks | |
|---|---|
| University | Western Illinois University |
| Conference | Summit League (primary) Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| NCAA | Division I (FCS) |
| Athletic director | Paul Bubb |
| Location | Macomb, Illinois |
| Varsity teams | 17 (8 men's, 9 women's) |
| Football stadium | Hanson Field |
| Basketball arena | Western Hall |
| Baseball stadium | Alfred D. Boyer Stadium |
| Softball stadium | Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium |
| Soccer stadium | MacKenzie Alumni Field |
| Other venues | Harry Mussatto Golf Course Spring Lake Course WIU Tennis Facility |
| Mascot | Colonel Rock (Live Bulldog), Rocky the Bulldog (Costumed Bulldog) |
| Nickname | Leathernecks |
| Fight song | We're Marching On |
| Colors | Purple and gold[1] |
| Website | www |
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] The university holds the distinction of being the only non-military institution to officially have its nickname derived from a branch of the military service.[2] Since the fall semester of 2009, the men's and women's teams have been unified under the Leathernecks name;[3] previously, the women's teams and athletes at the school had been known as the Westerwinds.
Sports sponsored
| 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 | |
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.
Football
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.
Athletic facilities
- Alfred D. Boyer Stadium — Baseball
- Hanson Field — Football, Men's and women's track and field
- Harry Mussatto Golf Course — Men's and women's golf
- MacKenzie Alumni Field — Men's and women's soccer
- Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium — Softball
- Spring Lake Course — Men's and women's cross country
- Western Hall — Men's and women's basketball, Volleyball
- WIU Tennis Facility — Women's tennis
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]
Notable former athletes
Baseball
- Gene Lamont, Major League Baseball
- Paul Reuschel, Major League Baseball
- Rick Reuschel, Major League Baseball
American Football
- Don Beebe, National Football League
- David Bowens, National Football League
- Bryan Cox, National Football League
- Don Greco, National Football League
- Rodney Harrison, National Football League
- Edgerton Hartwell, National Football League
- Frisman Jackson, National Football League
- William James, National Football League
- Rob Lazeo, Canadian Football League
- Jeff Loots, Arena Football League
- Bruce McCray, National Football League
- Mike McEachern, Canadian Football League
- Russ Michna, Canadian Football League
- Peter Mueller, Canadian Football League
- J.R. Niklos, National Football League
- Mike Scifres, National Football League
- Rich Seubert, National Football League
- Aaron Stecker, National Football League
- Mike Wagner, National Football League
- Jason Williams, National Football League
- Frank Winters, National Football League
Soccer
Track
- Lee Calhoun, Olympic gold medal winner
References
- ^ Western Illinois Leathernecks Athletics 2017–18 Branding & Style Guidelines (PDF). July 11, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
- ^ a b "The Leatherneck Nickname". Western Illinois Athletics. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- ^ University Relations (2009-06-05). "University comes to decision on nickname unification". Western Illinois University. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
- ^ Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4.
- ^ a b "Traditions". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
- ^ "WIU Marching Leathernecks". wiu.edu. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
- ^ "Rocky the Mascot". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
- ^ "Colonel Rock". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
- ^ "Cheerleading". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
External links
- Official website