History of the Mountain Hawks

The Lehigh Mountain Hawks have been a powerhouse in NCAA sports since their inception in 1883. As one of the oldest teams in the nation, they have seen their share of success over the years, both on and off the field. From winning championships to producing some of college sports’ most iconic players, there is no doubt that Lehigh has played an essential role in shaping college athletics as we know it today.

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!