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 (MVFC). Western Illinois announced on May 12, 2023 its departure from the Summit League to become a full member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in all sports beginning seven weeks subsequent on July 1. Its football program will remain in the MVFC through the autumn of 2023 before joining the OVC in 2024.[2]

Western Illinois Leathernecks
Logo
UniversityWestern Illinois University
ConferenceSummit League (primary) Ohio Valley Conference in 2023
Missouri Valley Football Conference leaving in 2024
NCAADivision I (FCS)
Athletic directorPaul Bubb
LocationMacomb, Illinois
Varsity teams17 (8 men's, 9 women's)
Football stadiumHanson Field
Basketball arenaWestern Hall
Baseball stadiumAlfred D. Boyer Stadium
Softball stadiumMary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium
Soccer stadiumMacKenzie Alumni Field
Other venuesHarry Mussatto Golf Course
Spring Lake Course
WIU Tennis Facility
MascotColonel Rock (Live Bulldog), Rocky the Bulldog (Costumed Bulldog)
NicknameLeathernecks
Fight songWe're Marching On
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
Websitewww.goleathernecks.com
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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.[3] 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.[3] Since the fall semester of 2009, the men's and women's teams have been unified under the Leathernecks name;[4] previously, the women's teams and athletes at the school had been known as the Westerwinds.

Sports sponsored
Men's sports Women's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballCross country
Cross countryGolf
FootballSoccer
GolfSoftball
SoccerTennis
Track and field†Track and field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor
Summit League logo in Western Illinois' colors

Baseball
Main article: Western Illinois Leathernecks 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
Main article: Western Illinois Leathernecks 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
Main article: Western Illinois Leathernecks 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
Main article: Western Illinois Leathernecks 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

As of the upcoming 2023 season, the Western Illinois Leathernecks men's soccer team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, 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.[5]

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

Western Illinois Leathernecks traditions

Western Loyalty

The name of the "official" Alma Mater for Western Illinois University is "Western Loyalty".[6]

We're Marching On

The name of the "official" fight song for Western Illinois University is "We're Marching On".[6]

Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks
Main article: Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks

The "Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks" is the marching band which represents Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.[7]

Rocky the Bulldog

"Rocky the Bulldog" is the costumed athletics mascot for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[8]

Colonel Rock

"Colonel Rock" is the live athletics mascot for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[9]

Western Illinois Cheerleaders

The "Western Illinois Cheerleaders" are the co-ed cheerleading squad for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[10]

Notable former athletes

Baseball

American Football

Soccer

Track

References
  1. Western Illinois Leathernecks Athletics 2017–18 Branding & Style Guidelines (PDF). July 11, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  2. "Leatherneck Athletics Moving to Ohio Valley Conference for All Sports," Western Illinois University Athletics, Friday, May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  3. "The Leatherneck Nickname". Western Illinois Athletics. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  4. University Relations (2009-06-05). "University comes to decision on nickname unification". Western Illinois University. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  5. 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.
  6. "Traditions". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  7. "WIU Marching Leathernecks". wiu.edu. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  8. "Rocky the Mascot". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  9. "Colonel Rock". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  10. "Cheerleading". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
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