College Sports Established
1906
Location
Richmond, Kentucky
College Name
Eastern Kentucky University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1948 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2021 - Present / ASUN Conference
1948 - 2021 / Ohio Valley Conference
Nickname
Colonels - The Eastern Kentucky Colonels are one of the most recognizable teams in NCAA sports, and their nickname has a long history. The team's name is derived from the uniform worn by Colonel William Casey's regiment members during the Civil War.
Colonel Casey was an important figure in Eastern Kentucky’s history, serving as a state senator and brigadier general for Union forces during the war. His men wore gray uniforms with red trimming that earned them their distinctive moniker - “The Gray Jackets With Red Trimmings” or simply “the Colonels."
In 1978, when EKU joined Division I athletics, they adopted this nickname to honor Colonel Casey and his service to eastern Kentucky. Today it remains an integral part of school spirit at EKU – from football games where fans don Colonial-style hats to basketball games where students dress up like colonels, complete with wigs! It is also featured prominently on all official Eastern Kentucky University Athletics merchandise, including jerseys, t-shirts, hats, and more!
Whether you're cheering on your favorite players or celebrating your school pride, make sure you do it wearing red & gray! Go Colonels!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1906
- 1945
- 1981
- 2006
- 2015
-
Eastern Kentucky fields its first football team.
In 1906, Eastern Kentucky University (then known as Eastern Kentucky State Normal School) fielded its first football team. The team was coached by W.O. Matthews and consisted of a group of young men who were eager to represent their school in athletic competition. The team played its first game on October 12, 1906, against the Georgetown College Tigers. The game ... -
The Eastern Kentucky Colonels baseball team wins their first Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championship
In 1945, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels baseball team won their first Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championship. The team was coached by James Park and consisted of a group of talented players who had worked hard throughout the season to achieve this accomplishment. The team’s success was due in part to the standout performances of several key players, including pitcher Frank ... -
Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team wins their second Division I-AA national championship
In 1981, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team won their second Division I-AA national championship. The team was coached by Roy Kidd and had a standout season, finishing with a 13-1 record and a dominating performance in the championship game. Led by quarterback Tim Boyle and running back Mark Higgs, the Eastern Kentucky offense was a force to be reckoned ... -
Matt Witt – Hall of Fame
Witt was a four-year starter at EKU from 2002-2006 and ended his career as Eastern’s all-time leading scorer with 1,832 points. He came to EKU after becoming the only player in the state of Ohio’s rich high school tradition to score more than 2,000 points and hand out more than 500 assists. He made a bang right out of the ... -
The Eastern Kentucky Colonels women’s soccer team wins their first OVC championship
In 2015, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels women’s soccer team won their first Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championship. The team was coached by Nick Flohre and had a strong season, finishing with an overall record of 12-6-2. Led by standout players like midfielder Emmi Carroll and forward Jordan Foster, the Eastern Kentucky women’s soccer team dominated their opponents throughout the season. ...
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 Colonels
The Colonels football team is one of its most successful programs, with 13 conference championships throughout history, including five Ohio Valley Conference titles (most recently won by EKU in 2019). They had also made four appearances at bowl games, with their last appearance being back in 2014, when they lost to Illinois State University. The basketball team has also had some success, making three NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently during the 2011-2012 season, where they lost against North Carolina Tar Heels, who went on to win that year's national championship title!
It isn't just about wins for EKU, though; many notable athletes have come out from this program, such as NFL Hall Of Fame inductee Tim Brown who played wide receiver for them during his collegiate career before going on to professional success with Oakland Raider's franchisee amongst other things like current NBA player Tyler Ulis or former Major League Baseball pitcher Bill Gullickson who pitched two no-hitters while playing under coach Jim Ward at Eastern Kentucky University respectively.
Overall, if you are looking for a school rich with tradition, then look no further than what eastern Kentucky colonials offer athletically speaking - whether you enjoy watching football or baseball games live on campus or even following along online through various streaming services available today - there will be plenty opportunities here show your support towards this historic university program!
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