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Western Illinois Leathernecks

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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 Ohio Valley Conference; its football team is a member of the Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA) Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and its men's soccer team plays in the Summit League, in which the school had been a member since that conference's formation in 1982. 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 most sports beginning seven weeks subsequent on July 1. Two Leathernecks teams will play outside the OVC in the fall 2023 season before joining the rest of the school's teams in the OVC in 2024—the football team in the MVFC,[2] and the men's soccer team in the Summit League.[3]

Western Illinois Leathernecks
Logo
UniversityWestern Illinois University
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference (primary)
Big South–OVC Football Association
NCAADivision I (FCS)
Athletic directorPaul Bubb
LocationMacomb, Illinois
Varsity teams20 (8 men's, 12 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
Brophy Courts
MascotColonel Rock (Live Bulldog), Rocky the Bulldog (Costumed Bulldog)
NicknameLeathernecks
Fight songWe're Marching On
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
Websitegoleathernecks.com
Western Illinois Leathernecks new wordmark

History and nickname

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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.[4] 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.[4] Since the fall semester of 2009, the men's and women's teams have been unified under the Leathernecks name;[5] previously, the women's teams and athletes at the school had been known as the Westerwinds.

On December 18, 2020 Western Illinois officially discontinued their men’s and women’s swimming programs citing budgetary and COVID-19 concerns.[6] On May 12, 2023 Western Illinois accepted an invitation to join the Ohio Valley Conference starting the 2023-24 season. Prior to Western Illinois joining the Ohio Valley Conference, they were members of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1914–1970 and the Summit League from 1982–2023. Western leaves the Summit League after being the last charter member of the conference since it was founded in 1982.[7] A week later on May 18, 2023 Western Illinois announced the addition of three more sports for women, this includes beach volleyball, bowling, and STUNT.[8]

Sports sponsored

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Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Beach volleyball
Cross country Bowling
Football Cross country
Golf Golf
Soccer Soccer
Track and field† Softball
STUNT
Tennis
Track and field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor
 
Ohio Valley Conference logo in Western Illinois' colors

Baseball

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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 Ohio Valley Conference. It plays its home games at the 500-seat Alfred D. Boyer Stadium and are coached by Andy Pascoe.

Men's basketball

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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 Ohio Valley Conference. The team plays it home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by Chad Boudreau.

Women's basketball

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Main article: Western Illinois Leathernecks women's basketball

The Western Illinois Leathernecks women's basketball 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 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by JD Gravina.

Men’s cross country

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The Western Illinois Leathernecks men’s cross country team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team runs at Spring Lake Course. The team won the 1991 Summit League conference championship.

Men’s golf

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The Western Illinois Leathernecks men’s golf 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 meets at Harry Mussatto Golf Course. The team has won eight Summit League championships in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. They have made four NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship appearances in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Football

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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 through the 2023 season, after which the program will join the rest of the team's sports in the Ohio Valley Conference. Technically, WIU football will compete in a football-only alliance between the OVC and the Big South Conference that shares a single automatic berth in the FCS playoffs. The team has made numerous FCS (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

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The Western Illinois Leathernecks men's soccer team will play one final Summit League season in 2023 before joining the rest of the university's sports in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2024. Both conferences are 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. at Harry Mussatto Golf Course. The team has won nine Summit League championships in 1995, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014. The team has also made six NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament appearances in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2012.

Women's soccer

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The Western Illinois Leathernecks women's soccer team, like its men's counterpart, is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I Ohio Valley Conference. The team plays its home games at 500-seat MacKenzie Alumni Field and are coached by Dr. Eric Johnson. The team won the 2007 Summit League conference championship.

Softball

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The Western Illinois Leathernecks softball 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 Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium and are coached by Alisa Goler. The team has won ten Summit League championships in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The team has appeared in eight Women's College World Series, in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980 and 1982.[9] The team has also made four NCAA Division I softball tournament appearances in 1992, 2000, 2001, and 2008.

Men’s track and field

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The Western Illinois Leathernecks men’s track and field team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team competes its home meets at Hanson Field. The team has won two Indoor Track and Field Summit League championships in 2001 and 2002. The team has also won two Outdoor Track and Field Summit League championships in 2001 and 2002.

Women’s track and field

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The Western Illinois Leathernecks women’s track and field team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team competes its home meets at Hanson Field. The team has won two Outdoor Track and Field Summit League championships in 1996 and 2005.

Volleyball

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The Western Illinois Leathernecks volleyball 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 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by Ben Staupe.

Athletic facilities

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Western Illinois traditions

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Western Loyalty

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The name of the "official" Alma Mater for Western Illinois University is "Western Loyalty".[10]

We're Marching On

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The name of the "official" fight song for Western Illinois University is "We're Marching On".[10]

Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks

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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.[11]

Rocky the Bulldog

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"Rocky the Bulldog" is the costumed athletics mascot for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[12]

Colonel Rock

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"Colonel Rock" is the live athletics mascot for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[13]

Western Illinois Cheerleaders

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The "Western Illinois Cheerleaders" are the co-ed cheerleading squad for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[14]

Notable former athletes

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Baseball

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Men's basketball

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Women's basketball

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American football

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Soccer

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Softball

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Track

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See also

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References

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  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. ^ "Western Illinois University Begins New Era in Ohio Valley Conference" (Press release). Western Illinois Leathernecks. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "The Leatherneck Nickname". Western Illinois Athletics. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  5. ^ University Relations (2009-06-05). "University comes to decision on nickname unification". Western Illinois University. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  6. ^ "COACH-LESS WESTERN ILLINOIS DROPS SWIMMING & DIVING PROGRAM, CITING BUDGET" (Press release). Swim Swam. December 18, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "Western Illinois University to Join the OVC in 2023-24 As New Full Members" (Press release). Ohio Valley Conference. May 12, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "WIU Moving to the Ohio Valley Conference; Adding Three Sports for Women" (Press release). Western Illinois Athletics. May 12, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b "Traditions". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  11. ^ "WIU Marching Leathernecks". wiu.edu. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  12. ^ "Rocky the Mascot". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  13. ^ "Colonel Rock". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  14. ^ "Cheerleading". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
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