College Sports Established
1826
Location
Easton, Pennsylvania
College Name
Lafayette College
Collegiate History
1982 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1986 - Present / Patriot League
1982 - 1986 / Independent
Nickname
Leopards - The Lafayette Leopards have been a part of the NCAA since 1882, and their nickname has an exciting history. The name “Leopard” was chosen to honor General Marquis de Lafayette, who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He also helped secure French support for America's independence from Great Britain.
General Marquis de Lafayette had his coat of arms, which featured two leopards, hence why he is often called "the Leopard." This made him an ideal choice when choosing a mascot for the college sports teams at what is now known as Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Since then, several variations of this symbol have been used by various athletic programs throughout its history, including Leopards (1882), Maroon & White (1914–1915), Indians (1920–1966), and finally back to Leopards again beginning with 1967 season up until present day!
The current version features two black leopard heads facing each other with orange eyes surrounded by green foliage - representing both strength and agility associated with these powerful animals while paying homage to General Marquis De La Fayette's original coat of arms design!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1873
- 1946
- 1978
- 1994
- 2000
- 2015
-
Lafayette Leopards First Football Team
In 1873 Lafayette fields its first intercollegiate football team, beginning a long tradition of athletic excellence. -
Bob Cousy Basketball legend
Bob Cousy is a basketball legend who played for Lafayette College’s basketball team, the Lafayette Leopards, from 1946 to 1950. Here’s a timeline of his time with the team: 1946: Bob Cousy starts his college basketball career as a freshman at Lafayette College. He immediately becomes a standout player for the Lafayette Leopards, averaging 15.4 points per game in his ... -
AIAW Division III national championship Winner
In 1978 Lafayette women’s basketball team wins the AIAW Division III national championship. -
Frank Baur Hall of Fame
In 1994 Frank Baur becomes the first Lafayette football player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. -
Lafayette baseball team NCAA
In 2000 Lafayette baseball team wins the Patriot League championship and earns a berth in the NCAA Division I tournament. -
Lafayette women’s soccer team Wins
In 2015 Lafayette women’s soccer team wins the Patriot League championship and earns a berth in the NCAA Division I tournament.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Leopards
The Leopards have also seen their fair share of great players come through their ranks over time, including two-time NBA All-Star Adonal Foyle, who played for them from 1994 to 1997 before becoming a star player for Golden State Warriors. Other notable alumni include former NFL quarterback Mark Brunell who was part of Lafayette's 1985 National Championship team; current New York Mets infielder Jeff McNeil; former Philadelphia Eagles safety Quintin Mikell; as well as numerous other professional athletes across all major sports leagues around North America.
In recent years, Lafayette has continued its tradition of excellence by producing outstanding teams year after year under head coach Fran O'Hanlon whose tenure began in 2000 - he currently holds the record for most wins among active coaches at any level within NCAA basketball with 514 victories! This past season saw him lead his squad into yet another post-season tournament, where they eventually lost out to Syracuse University but still put up an admirable fight against much higher-ranked opponents throughout this competition run which speaks volumes about both O'Hanlon's coaching abilities & how far this program has come since its inception over 120 years ago!
Overall it can be said that when it comes down to collegiate athletics, there are few better than what you'll find at Lafayette College & if you're looking for a school that will provide not only top-notch academics but also competitive sporting opportunities, then look no further than here - go Leopards!
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