College Sports Established
1821
Location
Moon Township, Pennsylvania
College Name
Robert Morris University
Collegiate History
1994 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
2020 - Present / Horizon League
1996 - 2020 / Northeast Conference
1994 - 1996 / Independent
Nickname
Colonials - The Robert Morris Colonials are one of American collegiate history's most storied sports teams. With a rich heritage and a proud tradition, it’s no wonder that this team has such passionate fans. But what is the origin of their nickname?
It all began with Robert Morris, Jr., an influential financier during America’s Revolutionary War. He was known as “the Financier of the Revolution” for his generous contributions to George Washington and other prominent figures in our nation's early days. As a sign of respect for his generosity and patriotism, he was bestowed with the honorary title “Colonial."
This title proved so popular that when Robert Morris University opened its doors in 1921 (then called Pittsburgh Institute), they adopted Colonial as their official mascot name – making them one of only three NCAA Division I programs to do so at that time! The school also kept its original colors from 1922 until 1967: red & white - chosen to symbolize colonial-era uniforms worn by soldiers serving under General Washington during those turbulent times.
From there on out, The Colonials have been proudly representing RMU across various athletic events over decades - including men's basketball tournaments like March Madness or NIT; football games against top opponents like Duquesne; soccer matches versus local rivals Pitt Panthers; baseball series against Big East foes Georgetown Hoyas, etc. No matter where they play or who they face against, these loyal supporters always ensure everyone knows about "The Colonials."
So next time you hear someone talking about The Robert Morris Colonials, don't forget why we call them 'Colonials' – because it pays tribute to both their university roots & patriotic past!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2019
-
Ice hockey: Rapid Program Improvement
The Robert Morris Colonials men’s ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Robert Morris University. The Colonials men had been members of CHA until its men’s division disbanded at the end of the 2009–10 season. RMU shocked CCHA member Western Michigan in a 5–2 victory that Schooley called “the ... -
Women’s Basketball NEC Success
Colonials women’s teams have had success in their conference.The women’s team won the NEC Championship in 2008 and made an appearance in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, only to bow out in the first round to Rutgers. The women’s team won the NEC Championship again in 2014, losing to Notre Dame in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The ... -
Men’s NEC Championship Triumph
The team’s most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament was in 2015, where the Colonials beat North Florida in the First Four. Five years earlier, in the 2010 NCAA tournament, the 15th-seed Colonials nearly upset No. 9-ranked Villanova in the First Round before losing in overtime. The team is also known for its upset over No. ... -
Three Consecutive Regular Season Titles
Robert Morris Colonials women’s ice hockey is a college ice hockey program representing Robert Morris University in NCAA Division I as a member of the Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) conference. The most successful season for the Colonials was the 2016–17 season. Their 24–5–6 record (15–3–2 in the CHA) earned them their first year-ending ranking, 8th, in both the USCHO and ...
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 Colonials
The Robert Morris Colonials are a proud and storied athletic program with an impressive history that dates back to the early 1900s. The school's teams have won numerous championships in individual sports and team competitions. In addition to their success on the court and field, they boast some of the most passionate fans in all college athletics.
Robert Morris began its athletic program in 1912 when it became known as Robert College for Women. At this time, basketball was the only sport offered by the school; however, over time, other sports, such as baseball and track & field, were added to its offerings. From 1920 to 1930, RMU's athletics programs saw tremendous growth with several successful seasons, including multiple conference titles and national rankings from various polls. During this era, Robert Morris also produced several notable athletes who became professional players, like former NBA player Bobby Jones, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers during his career, or NFL Hall Of Famer Jack Butler, who starred at a cornerback position while playing Pittsburgh Steelers.
In recent years, RMU has continued its winning tradition by claiming many NEC Championships across different sports, including men’s soccer (2009), women’s tennis (2010), and men’s lacrosse (2015), among others. The Colonials have had great success competing against traditional powerhouses like Syracuse University or Villanova University, showing that they can hang with big schools even if they do not have the same resources available compared to those universities. As part of NCAA Division I since 1993, RMU is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association Conference, competing against other northeastern schools such as Drexel University or Delaware State Hornets, to name a few examples.
The rich history behind RMU Athletics makes it one of the best college programs today, providing students the opportunity to excel academically while still enjoying a competitive collegiate experience through participating in any varsity teams offered by the university.
Sports Fan Products
