History of the Monarchs
The Old Dominion Monarchs are composed of 18 intercollegiate athletic teams representing Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, sailing, soccer, swimming, and tennis. Women's sports include basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, golf, sailing, soccer, swimming, tennis, rowing, and volleyball. The Monarchs compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and are members of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC); the university joined the conference on July 1, 2022.
In 2017, the university announced it would add Women's Volleyball as a scholarship sport, slated to compete in 2020. The university discontinued wrestling in April 2020 after a study on the athletic department's sports sponsorship, combined with added financial pressure from the coronavirus pandemic.
College Sports Established
1930
Location
Norfolk, Virginia
College Name
Old Dominion University
Collegiate History
1991 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1982 - 1991, 2023 - Present / Sun Belt Conference
2013 - 2023 / C-USA Conference
1991 - 2013 / Colonial Athletic Association
Nickname
Monarchs - For many years, the athletic teams of the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary (as Old Dominion was formerly called) were known as the Braves. This was a derivation of the William & Mary nickname, the Indians. As Old Dominion achieved its own four-year status and saw its enrollment surpass that of its Williamsburg neighbor, it was not longer suitable or acceptable to have its teams called the Braves.
The name Monarchs evokes much of the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia and of Old Dominion's mother institution, the College of William & Mary. The nickname "Old Dominion" was first coined to the Virginia colony by King Charles II after Virginia's loyalty to the crown during the English Civil War. Furthermore, William III & Mary II, whose patronage helped found the College of William & Mary in Virginia in 1693, ruled England at the invitation of Parliament as "joint monarchs."
The Monarch used by Old Dominion has a royal crown on a lion's head, representing a rich history and a strong future. The school's current family of athletic logos were adopted in April of 2002.
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
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.