College Sports Established
1791
Location
Burlington, Vermont
College Name
University of Vermont
Collegiate History
1979 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1979 - Present / America East Conference
Nickname
Catacounts - The Vermont Catamounts are one of the country's most beloved college sports teams, and their unique nickname is a source of pride for fans. But where did this unusual moniker come from?
It turns out that the name was derived from an old French term, “catamont” which translates to “mountain lion.” This made perfect sense since Vermont is home to many mountain lions (also known as cougars), so it seemed natural for them to be associated with their state's team.
In addition, there may have been some political motivation behind choosing this particular name. The Catamounts were founded in 1891 by a group of students who wanted to honor then-governor William Aiken Walker, who had served during World Wars I and II and was highly respected among Vermonters then. It's possible they chose such an intimidating animal like a catamount because they wanted it to symbolize his strength and courage throughout his service career!
Whatever the reason, we can all agree that "Catamount" makes for one fierce mascot! Plus, its connection with Vermont gives it even more significance - something every fan can appreciate when cheering on our favorite team!
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.
History of the Catamounts
Vermont Catamounts sports teams have a long and storied history. For over 150 years, the Catamounts have been competing in various collegiate sports at the University of Vermont (UVM). The school's athletic program is part of the America East Conference and began competing in NCAA Division I athletics during the 1974-75 academic year.
The first recorded sport played by UVM was baseball, which dates back to 1867 when students competed against each other for fun. Since then, a variety of different varsity teams have been established, including football (1890), men’s basketball (1904), and women’s basketball (1974). Over time, these programs grew into some of UVM’s most successful athletic endeavors, with multiple conference championships and several NCAA tournament appearances across all three divisions: D1 Basketball Tournament, FCS Football Championship Subdivision, and D2 Baseball World Series.
In addition to their success on field or court, UVM has also earned recognition as one of only two universities in New England that offers both varsity ice hockey programs – men's since 1926-27 season & women's since 1997–98 season – making them an ideal destination for any aspiring student-athlete looking to play competitive college hockey at its highest level!
Moreover, throughout its history, Vermont has maintained strong ties with local communities through events such as “Catamount Day," where alumni come together annually to celebrate their alma mater while raising funds for scholarships & endowments supporting current student-athletes who represent our proud university colors - green & gold! With so much tradition behind it, there is no doubt why fans from near and far flock towards Burlington every fall, cheering loudly "Go Cats Go!"