College Sports Established
1931
Location
Monroe, Louisiana
College Name
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1972 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2006 - Present / Sun Belt Conference
1982 - 2006 / Southland Conference
1972 - 1982 / Independent
Nickname
Warhawks - Regarding sports nicknames, few are as unique and exciting as that of the Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks. This nickname has been a part of the University of Louisiana–Monroe’s identity since 1955, but its origin story is far from straightforward. Here we will explore how this intriguing moniker came to be.
The first recorded use of “Warhawks” at ULM (then known as Northeast Louisiana State College) was in 1955 when the school's student newspaper began using it for their football team coverage - though there is no clear explanation for why they chose this name at the time. Some believe that students may have chosen "Warhawk" due to its association with Native American warriors who were brave and fierce on the battlefield; however, there is no definitive proof supporting this theory either way.
Whatever inspired them initially, by 1957, “Warhawks” had become firmly established within university culture - appearing in yearbooks and other publications throughout campus life - so much so that when ULM officially adopted ‘Indians' as their mascot in 1959 (which they later changed back), many fans still referred to them collectively by their original nickname: The Warhawks!
Despite various changes over time – such as switching from Indians back again – one thing remains constant: The spirit behind those three syllables, which embody strength and courage through adversity, continues today just like it did all those years ago…Go War Hawks!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1931
- 1979
- 2006
- 2003
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Early Era of Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks
What is now Louisiana–Monroe originally competed as a junior college from 1931 through 1950. In 1951 the Indians completed their first season in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as Northeast Louisiana State College. The team’s head coach was James L. Malone, who compiled a record of 12–15 in three seasons. Malone resigned after the 1953 season, and Malone ... -
Men’s basketball Game at Fant-Ewing Coliseum
Men’s and women’s basketball teams play home games at Fant-Ewing Coliseum, a 7,000-seat on-campus arena that opened in 1971. The largest crowd to watch a men’s basketball game at Fant-Ewing Coliseum was 8,044, who watched the Northeast Louisiana Indians play the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on January 25, 1979. The ULM Warhawks have won 19 men’s basketball regular season, tournament or ... -
Warhawks Nickname Controversy
On January 30, 2006, university president James Cofer announced officially that ULM would be retiring the 75-year-old “Indians” mascot in light of new NCAA restrictions against Indigenous-themed mascots, which the NCAA considers “hostile and abusive” to Native Americans, despite issuing an appeal to the NCAA to keep the name after the NCAA’s ruling allowing Florida State to keep their Seminoles ... -
Football Coach Charlie Weatherbie era
Former Navy and Utah State head coach Charlie Weatherbie was hired to replace Keasler in 2003. In Weatherbie’s seven seasons, ULM compiled a 31–51 record. The highlight of the Weatherbie era came in 2007, when ULM, who were 25-point underdogs heading into the game, beat Alabama, coached by Nick Saban, in Tuscaloosa 21-14 on November 16. The win marked Louisiana–Monroe’s ...
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History of the Warhawks
The Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks have a long and storied history in NCAA sports. Since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 1994, they’ve been a competitive force both on and off the field. From its first bowl game appearance to its current status as one of the top teams in college football, ULM has enjoyed many successes over its decades-long tenure with NCAA athletics.
ULM's rise began as Northeast Louisiana University (NLU) from 1971 to 1999 when it was part of Division I-AA (now known as FCS). During this period, NLU made four consecutive appearances at the Division I-AA playoffs between 1986 and 1989—the only school ever to do so—and won two conference championships along with numerous individual awards for players such as Boomer Esiason, who went on to become an All-Pro quarterback for Cincinnati Bengals. The team also succeeded against high-profile opponents like Auburn Tigers, which earned them national recognition in college football circles.
In 1994 ULM joined Sun Belt Conference, where they quickly established themselves among other programs by making three straight postseason appearances from 1998 through 2000, including winning back-to-back New Orleans Bowls championship titles in 1999 & 2000, respectively, under head coach Bobby Keasler’s guidance, before moving up into Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) play beginning 2001 season onwards till the present day where they currently compete within FBS level playing against powerhouses like LSU Tigers or Arkansas Razorbacks, etc. As part of FBS level competition since the 2001 season onward, ULM has appeared 4 times at post-season bowl games while achieving several notable wins versus more prominent schools throughout these years, such as Big 10 member Indiana Hoosiers or SEC members Kentucky Wildcats & Mississippi State Bulldogs too!
Overall, there is no doubt that Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks have left quite an impression on collegiate sports over the past few decades thanks largely due strong leadership provided by coaches/administrators/players alike combined with dedication towards excellence both academically & athletically, thus making them one most successful mid-major programs across the entire nation today!
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