College Sports Established
1865
Location
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
College Name
Lehigh University
Collegiate History
1979 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1986 - Present / Patriot League
1979 - 1986 / Independent
Nickname
Mountain Hawks - The Lehigh Mountain Hawks have been a fixture in NCAA sports since the late 19th century. As one of the oldest teams in college athletics, they’ve had plenty of time to develop traditions and build a fan base. One tradition that stands out is their nickname: The Mountain Hawks. But where did this name come from?
The origins of the Lehigh Mountain Hawk can be traced back to 1895 when two rival universities merged to form what is now known as Lehigh University. Both schools already had mascots – The Engineers for one school and The Huskies for another – but after merging into one university, it was decided that they needed an all-encompassing mascot that represented both sides equally well. After much deliberation, it was decided that “Mountain Hawk” would be fitting because not only does it represent strength and power (like a hawk), but it also represents resilience (like mountains).
Since then, fans have proudly embraced the mountain hawk as their team's official mascot! From cheering them on during football games at Goodman Stadium or basketball games at Stabler Arena - no matter what sport you're watching - you'll always hear chants of "Go Hawks" echoing throughout campus! So next time you cheer on your favorite team, shout, “Go Mountainhawks!"
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1884
- 1960
- 1995
- 2008
- 2020
-
Lehigh’s First Intercollegiate Football Game
In 1884, Lehigh plays its first intercollegiate football game, against Lafayette College. -
Middle Atlantic Conference Championship for Basketball
In 1960, Lehigh’s basketball team wins the Middle Atlantic Conference championship. -
Patriot League Championship
1995: Lehigh’s football team wins the Patriot League championship and makes its first appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. -
C.J. McCollum Basketball Legend
C.J. McCollum – McCollum was a standout basketball player for Lehigh in the late 2000s and early 2010s, leading the team to a stunning upset over Duke in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. He was drafted 10th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2013 and has since become an NBA All-Star. -
Sports Program Cuts Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2020: Lehigh Athletics announces the decision to cut several sports programs, including men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and men’s and women’s golf, due to financial constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 Mountain Hawks
Lehigh first made its mark on Division I basketball when they won back-to-back Patriot League titles during the mid-90s under legendary head coach Fran McCaffery. This was followed by a run to two consecutive Sweet 16 appearances and three straight trips to New York City's Madison Square Garden for tournament play from 2003 through 2005 under then-head coach Billy Taylor. The team also earned multiple All-Americans along with several conference Player Of The Year awards while making numerous NCAA Tournament appearances throughout this period as well—most notably reaching the #1 ranking at one point during the 2004–05 season before bowing out against North Carolina State University's Wolfpack squad led by Julius Hodge who later went onto become an NBA star player with Denver Nuggets franchise.
While not quite achieving a similar level of success on hardwood courts like those days, recent times also saw them continue their tradition for excellence across all other varsity programs. In 2019, the football program achieved its best record, going 11–3 overall, including wins over nationally ranked opponents such as Princeton & Villanova en route to capturing the Patriot League crown. Similarly, a baseball program that had already produced Major League stars such as Mike Mussina ( Baltimore Orioles ) & Ryan Howard ( Philadelphia Phillies ) added another feather to its cap after clinching the 2019 championship title, thereby earning a bid into the prestigious 64-team College World Series event held annually at Omaha Nebraska.
Overall, it is clear that Lehigh Mountain Hawks are proud members of elite groups within collegiate sporting circles, having established themselves among the nation’s premier athletic institutions whose passion for competition remains strong even after 137 years since the founding date!
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