Portland Pilots

For the baseball team, see Portland Pilots (baseball team).
Portland Pilots
University University of Portland
Conference West Coast Conference
NCAA Division I
Athletic director Scott Leykam
Location Portland, OR
Varsity teams 14
Basketball arena Chiles Center
Baseball stadium Joe Etzel Field
Soccer stadium Merlo Field
Mascot Wally the Pilot
Nickname Pilots
Fight song "University of Portland Victory March 1984"
Colors Purple and White[1]
         
Website www.portlandpilots.com

The Portland Pilots is the nickname for athletics at the University of Portland. The Pilots compete in the West Coast Conference (WCC) at the NCAA Division I level.

History

The Pilots started to gain attention when Clive Charles began coaching the women's soccer team in 1989. He already had been the men's soccer coach since 1986, and he continued to coach both teams until his death in 2003. He was replaced by Bill Irwin. The women's soccer team won national championships in 2002 and 2005 and were led by numerous national-level players (see "notable alumni athletes" section). Additionally, the men's soccer team has been to the College Cup twice in its history: 1988 and 1995.

In addition to soccer, UP consistently has one of the top cross country programs in the nation. Their men's team, coached by Rob Conner, won their 34th overall West Coast Conference championship in October, 2014. The men's team has finished among the top 10 at the NCAA championships five times in its history. In 2001 and 2008, the Pilots finished 7th. In 2014, the Pilots finished 3rd, their highest ever finish.[2] In 2008, David Kinsella finished 4th overall, the highest any Pilot has ever placed individually at the national championships.

The Pilots have had success in other sports as well. The men's basketball team has gone to the NCAA tournament twice (1959 and 1996). Their women's basketball team has gone to the NCAA Tournament four times (1994-1997) and the WNIT twice (1998 and 2009). Their baseball team has also gone to the NCAA tournament five times (1957, 1958, 1979, 1989, and 1991).

UP has not fielded a football team since 1950.

Teams

The Pilots men's basketball team warming up in the Chiles Center

The University of Portland sponsors teams in seven men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports:[3]

Men's intercollegiate sports

Women's intercollegiate sports

Former teams

National championships

Conference championships

The Pilots compete in the West Coast Conference, which they joined in 1976. Below are a few of their conference titles:

Venues

The Chiles Center, which is now painted white

The Portland Pilots play home soccer matches at Merlo Field, part of the Clive Charles Soccer Complex.[5] All volleyball and basketball games are held in the Chiles Center. The baseball team plays in Joe Etzel Field. The Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center is home to the tennis teams.

Olympians

Notable alumni athletes

See also

References

  1. ↑ University of Portland Brand Book. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  2. ↑ http://portlandpilots.com/news/2014/11/22/MXC_1122142946.aspx
  3. ↑ http://www.portlandpilots.com/
  4. ↑ "NCAA DII, DIII membership approves Sand Volleyball as 90th championship". NCAA. January 17, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ NCAA Website "A very gracious man" Sep 29, 2003 by Beth Rosenburg
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