College Sports Established
1955
Location
Los Angeles, California
College Name
Loyola Marymount University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1955 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1989 - Present / West Coast Conference
1955 - 1989 / West Coast Athletic Conference
Nickname
Lions - The Loyola Marymount Lions are among the NCAA's most storied college sports teams. With a rich history and an impressive list of achievements, it's no wonder why they have such a devoted fan base. But what many fans may not know is that there is an interesting story behind their nickname: The Lions.
It all began with Father Robert Fulton, appointed President of Loyola College in 1929 and later became its first Chancellor when it merged with Marymount College to form Loyola-Marymount University (LMU). He had strong connections to both institutions and wanted to create something special for them by combining elements from each school’s traditions into one unified identity – hence the name “Lions,” symbolizing strength and courage.
Father Fulton chose this mighty mascot because he felt that these qualities were essential traits needed by students at LMU if they were going to succeed in life; he believed strongly that education should help people develop character and knowledge to become successful citizens. To further emphasize his point, Father Fulton even adopted two live lions who roamed campus grounds until their deaths due to old age!
As time passed, more schools adopted lion mascots, but none could match up against LMU’s original Lion pride - making them stand out among other universities across America! Nowadays, you can find various images representing LMU's iconic mascot around campus, including statues near athletic fields or banners hanging from buildings – all proudly displaying their beloved Lion logo, which has come full circle since its inception almost 90 years ago!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1955
- 1983
- 1990
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Loyola Marymount Lions Basketball Team History
Loyola Marymount has played in the West Coast Conference since 1955, when the Lions and Pepperdine Waves joined the hitherto Northern Californian league that included Santa Clara University, the University of San Francisco, Saint Mary’s College, and the University of Pacific. LMU has played in the WCC ever since, fostering heated rivalries with all WCC members, especially Pepperdine University and ... -
Loyola Lions Home games playground
The Lions play home games at George C. Page Stadium, a 1,200 seat stadium which has been home to the program since 1983. The Lions have been to the College World Series once, in 1986, and also recorded 9 NCAA appearances, and 10 West Coast Conference Championships (three Championship Series and seven regular season). -
Hank Gathers
At 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) and 210 pounds (95 kg), Gathers was Loyola Marymount’s strongest inside player. He had a high field goal percentage because he seldom shot from beyond 10 feet (3.0 m). He used his power and quickness for follow-up baskets and scoring on fast breaks. “I don’t care much about the points,” said Gathers. “In ...
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History of the Lions
The Loyola Marymount Lions have been a collegiate sports team in the NCAA since 1949. The school is located in Los Angeles, California, and offers various sports for its students. From basketball to volleyball, the LMU Lions have an impressive history of success.
For many fans, winning their first NCAA tournament game against New Mexico State University in 1990 was one of the most memorable moments. This game marked a significant milestone for this small school as it was their first-ever victory at this level and showed how far they had come from being an unknown program two decades prior. Since then, they have made waves with solid yearly performances and even made it to Sweet Sixteen twice!
In addition to basketball success on the court, LMU also boasts some very successful alumni who went on after college life, such as NBA legend Hank Gathers who played for both USC Trojans & Philadelphia 76ers during his professional career before tragically passing away due to heart condition he developed while playing at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). Other notable alums include actor/comedian George Lopez & former MLB pitcher Darren Dreifort, which shows you what kind of quality education one can get by attending LMU if not into professional athletics.
Aside from academics & athletics, there’s another aspect that makes up part of what makes them so unique: community service initiatives like “Lions Care,” which helps provide food assistance programs throughout Southern California, or hosting annual events like “Hoops For Hope” charity fundraiser games where proceeds go towards helping those affected by cancer or other illnesses - something no other university does quite like them!
Overall, Loyola Marymount's athletic department has done an incredible job making sure every student-athlete feels welcomed while representing their beloved university proudly across all levels of competition, whether it be regular season conference play or post-season tournaments alike, showing why they will always remain relevant within competitive landscape today tomorrow!
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