College Sports Established
1821
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
College Name
George Washington University
Collegiate History
1976 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1976 - Present / Atlantic 10 Conference
Nickname
Colonials - The George Washington Colonials are one of the most storied teams in college sports. The team has been around since 1932 and is a member of the NCAA's Atlantic 10 Conference. But many people don't know that their nickname, "Colonials," dates back to before they were even part of the NCAA!
In 1931, when GW was still an independent school, its athletic director sought a new name for his football program. After much deliberation, he settled on “Colonials” as it captured a sense of history and pride that reflected his alma mater’s place in American history – after all, George Washington was known as “The Father Of Our Country!”
Today this proud tradition continues with every GW student-athlete proudly wearing their Colonial uniforms each time they take to the field or court representing their university with honor and distinction. And while many other schools have adopted similar nicknames over time (such as William & Mary's Tribe), there can be no doubt that GW will always remain true to its original moniker: The Colonials!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1890
- 1960
- 2010
- 2006
- 2014
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The first organized sports teams are formed at George Washington University
In the late 1800s, athletics at George Washington University were mainly limited to informal recreational activities. However, in the 1890s, the university began to form its first organized sports teams. These teams included football, baseball, and basketball, which would go on to become some of the university’s most popular and successful sports programs. The football team, which was formed in ... -
The baseball team wins the Southern Conference championship
In 1960, the George Washington University baseball team won the Southern Conference championship, which was a significant achievement for the program. The team was coached by Hall of Famer Walter “Mike” Michie, who was in his 12th season at the helm of the Colonials. The team had a strong season, finishing with a record of 12-3 in conference play and ... -
women’s soccer team wins the Atlantic 10 Conference championship
In 2010, the George Washington University women’s soccer team had a historic season, winning the Atlantic 10 Conference championship and making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The team had a strong regular season, finishing with a record of 12-6-1 overall and 7-2-0 in conference play. They were led by standout players such as forward Jane Wallis, midfielder Sierra ... -
Pops Mensah-Bonsu – Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year
During his time at George Washington, Pops Mensah-Bonsu was a standout player for the Colonials, earning numerous accolades and helping to lead the team to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. Some of his notable accomplishments include: Averaging 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game over his three-year career at George Washington. Being named the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year ... -
The baseball team wins the Atlantic 10 Conference championship
In 2014, the George Washington University baseball team had a memorable season, winning the Atlantic 10 Conference championship and making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2002. The team had a strong regular season, finishing with a record of 31-25 overall and 17-7 in conference play. They were led by standout players such as catcher Eric Kalman, outfielder ...
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 Colonials
Throughout their illustrious career, GW has had some great players come through its program, including Hall-of-Famer Patrick Ewing, who played for them from 1983 to 1985 before being drafted 1st overall by the New York Knicks. Other notable alumni include former NBA player Yinka Dare who also attended GW during his college years (1991–94), and current NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins, who played at GW from 2008 to 2011 before being selected by Washington Redskins in the 2012 draft.
In more recent times, George Washington's men’s basketball team made it all way to Sweet 16 of the 2006 NCAA tournament, where they lost out narrowly against eventual champions Florida Gators, while the women’s soccer program reached Elite 8 twice consecutively between 2013 & 2014 seasons under head coach Sarah Barnes – making this one of most successful runs any school ever achieved across both genders within the same sport! With so much success over decades, it is no wonder why many fans consider themselves diehard supporters these days!
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