College Sports Established
1851
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
College Name
Saint Joseph's University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1958 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1982 - Present / Atlantic 10 Conference
1958 - 1982 / East Coast Conference
Nickname
Hawks - The St. Joseph’s Hawks have been a staple of college athletics for decades, and their nickname is steeped in history. The origins of the name date back to 1851 when the school was founded by Father John F. Hogan, S.J., who wanted to honor his alma mater—St Joseph's College at Bardstown, Kentucky—by naming the new school after it as well.
Father Hogan chose “Hawks” as the team’s mascot because he believed that hawks represented strength and courage – qualities he hoped would embody himself and his students alike! Since then, St Joe's has become one of only three NCAA Division I programs with an animal mascot (the other two being Rhode Island Rams & South Dakota Coyotes).
The Hawks are also known for their iconic logo, which features a hawk head atop an old-fashioned shield with four stars on either side representing each branch of service within our nation's armed forces - Army, Navy, Air Force & Marines - honoring those who serve or have served this great country! This logo has been used since 1969, when it was first introduced during halftime ceremonies at home football games; however, its roots can be traced all way back to 1924 when it appeared in various publications associated with SJU Athletics Department, including yearbooks and game day programs throughout mid-20th century era until present day where you can find this iconic symbol everywhere from apparel items such basketball jerseys t-shirts hats etcetera!
So next time you spot someone sporting some Hawk gear around campus or in public, don't forget the rich history behind why we call ourselves "Hawks." Go SJU!!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1901
- 1940
- 2000
- 2005
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St. Joseph’s fields its first basketball team
In 1901, St. Joseph’s College (now St. Joseph’s University) fielded its first basketball team. The team played its first game on February 5, 1901, against the University of Pennsylvania. The game was played at the Philadelphia YMCA and St. Joseph’s lost by a score of 22-4. The team played only one other game that season, against the Philadelphia School of ... -
Jack Ramsay Era
Jack Ramsay is one of the most notable figures in the history of St. Joseph’s Hawks basketball. He played for St. Joseph’s in the early 1940s, and then went on to become a legendary coach in the NBA. As a player at St. Joseph’s, Ramsay was a standout guard on some very successful teams. He helped lead the Hawks to ... -
The men’s soccer team wins the Atlantic 10 Conference championship
In 2000, the St. Joseph’s Hawks men’s soccer team won the Atlantic 10 Conference championship. It was their second A-10 championship in program history, with the first coming in 1994. The team finished the regular season with a 10-4-3 record and entered the conference tournament as the #2 seed. In the championship game, played on November 12, 2000, St. Joseph’s ... -
St. Joseph’s basketball team wins Atlantic 10 Conference title
In 2005: The St. Joseph’s basketball team wins its 13th conference championship, the Atlantic 10 Conference title, and reaches the NCAA tournament.
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 Hawks
As one would expect from such an esteemed institution, St. Joseph’s Hawks teams are known for playing hard-nosed defense while emphasizing ball movement on offense—a style that’s earned them praise from coaches across all levels of basketball competition over time. In addition to excelling at basketball, Hawk teams compete successfully in other sports, including baseball, softball, soccer & lacrosse, with many student-athletes having achieved All-American status or higher throughout its history.
Perhaps most impressive about this school’s athletic success is that it comes despite limited resources compared with much larger universities which often benefit from bigger budgets & more recruiting opportunities than SJU can offer its players. This speaks volumes about how dedicated these student-athletes are towards achieving greatness both academically & athletically, no matter what obstacles may stand before them.
As we look forward to 2021, there will be plenty more exciting moments ahead for fans cheering on The Saint Joe‘s Hawks —from watching our talented young stars grow up right before us as they take center stage each season to supporting our experienced veterans who bring leadership year after year —there's something special happening here at SJU every day! So if you're looking for a college sports team full of heart-driven competitors striving together towards victory, look no further - Go, Saints!
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