SPORTS TEAM HISTORY

Sports Team HistorySports Logo History
  • Home
  • Sports History
    • Baseball History
    • Basketball History
    • College History
    • Football History
    • Hockey History
    • Soccer History
  • Greatest Player Polls
    • CFL Greatest Player
    • MLB Greatest Player
    • MLS Greatest Player
    • NBA Greatest Player
    • NFL Greatest Player
    • NHL Greatest Player
    • Premier League Greatest Player
    • WNBA Greatest Player
  • More…
    • Sports Team News
    • Sports Team History Products
STH #3 Home Header 1440x650

Virginia Commonwealth Rams School History

STH Greatest Player Polls Banner
Virginia Commonwealth Rams




  • 1968
  • 2007
  • 2012
  • 2015
  • Virginia Commonwealth Rams men’s basketball program is established

    The Virginia Commonwealth Rams men’s basketball program was established in 1968 as an independent team. The program played their first season in the 1968-69 season, and their first head coach was Chuck Noe. The team played their home games at Franklin Street Gymnasium.
    See Full Story
  • Eric Maynor – Most Outstanding Player of CAA tournament

    Maynor played for the Rams from 2005-2009 and was a key player during their historic run to the Final Four in 2011. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2007 CAA tournament and was selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft.
    See Full Story
  • VCU joins the Atlantic 10 Conference

    In 2012, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) joined the Atlantic 10 Conference, a NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference consisting of teams from the northeastern and midwestern United States. This move was considered a major step forward for VCU’s athletic program, as it provided the university with more exposure and competition against top-level teams. The Rams have been a member of ...
    Read More
    See Full Story
  • Rams women’s basketball team wins the Atlantic 10 Conference championship

    In 2015: The Rams women’s basketball team wins the Atlantic 10 Conference championship and participates in the NCAA Tournament.
    See Full Story
Rams Primary Logo
Rams Alternate Logo
Rams Wordmark Logo

History of the Rams

The Virginia Commonwealth Rams have been a mainstay in college sports for decades, and their NCAA tournament appearances are the stuff of legends. Since joining the Atlantic 10 Conference in 1995, VCU has established itself as one of the top programs in men’s basketball. The Rams have made it to at least one NCAA tournament yearly since the 2004-05 season, including Final Four, running during the 2011 and 2019 seasons.

VCU's success is rooted deep within its history, dating back to 1968 when they joined Division I play as members of the Sun Belt Conference (now known as CAA). During this period, VCU had some great teams that consistently competed for conference championships but only managed two trips to March Madness before moving up conferences into A-10 play.

After joining the A-10 conference, things began shifting upward quickly with three consecutive NIT berths from 1997–2000, followed by an Elite Eight appearance under then-head coach Jeff Capel during the 2002–03 season, which was later vacated due to recruiting violations involving former player Lamar Butler who was declared ineligible after playing his entire senior year without being cleared by school officials or NCAA investigators. Despite this setback, the program continued on a steady rise reaching five straight tournaments between 2004–08 under current head coach Shaka Smart who took over coaching duties prior 2010 -11 season. This streak included another Sweet Sixteen run and four consecutive first-round exits until finally breaking through into Final Four behind star players Jamie Skeen & Joey Rodriguez led the team during the 2011 – 12 campaign.

Today, the VCUs basketball program continues strong, having reached seven straight tournaments since 2013 while also winning multiple regular season titles along the way, culminating with the most recent trip back into the final four last spring, where eventual national champion Texas Tech University eventually eliminated them despite putting up valiant effort throughout the game. With all these accomplishments combined, it’s easy to see why Virginia Commonwealth Rams should be considered among elite programs not just regionally but nationally too!

Rams Products

Barnesmith Virginia Commonwealth University Rams Long Sleeve Adult Unisex T-Shirt, Heritage, Black, Large
4.6 out of 5 stars(2124)
Available for Amazon Prime $29.95 (as of December 1, 2023 11:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Buy on Amazon
Rico Industries Virginia Commonwealth Rams NCAA Officially Licensed Lanyard. Double Sided Print, Great for Any Fan & Student. Detachable Buckle. Safe, Functional, and Light Weight
4.5 out of 5 stars(9)
Available for Amazon Prime $11.95 (as of December 1, 2023 11:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Buy on Amazon
NCAA Virginia Commonwealth Rams Ladies Soft Touch Hood, Gold, Large
4.5 out of 5 stars(11)
Available for Amazon Prime $36.38 (as of December 1, 2023 11:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Buy on Amazon
Rico Industries NCAA Virginia Commonwealth Rams Primary Design Triple Sticker Sheet
$13.79 (as of December 1, 2023 11:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Buy on Amazon
Barnesmith Virginia Commonwealth University Rams Crewneck Sweatshirt, Heritage, Charcoal Grey, Large
4.7 out of 5 stars(2868)
Available for Amazon Prime $42.95 (as of December 1, 2023 11:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Buy on Amazon
Fan Creations NCAA Virginia Commonwealth Rams Unisex VCU Mini Roadmap State Sign, Team Color, 12 inch
Available for Amazon Prime $14.99 (as of December 1, 2023 11:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Buy on Amazon
Fan Creations NCAA Virginia Commonwealth Rams Unisex VCU Team Logo 8in Cutout, Team Color, 8 inch
Available for Amazon Prime $14.99 (as of December 1, 2023 11:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Buy on Amazon
Barnesmith Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Rams Short Sleeve Adult Unisex T-Shirt, Classic, Charcoal Grey, Medium
4.6 out of 5 stars(4509)
Available for Amazon Prime $24.95 (as of December 1, 2023 11:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Buy on Amazon




College Sports Established
1838

Location
Richmond, Virginia

College Name
Virginia Commonwealth University

Collegiate History
1979 - Present / NCAA Division I

Conference History
2012 - Present / Atlantic 10 Conference
1995 - 2012 / Colonial Athletic Association
1979 - 1991 / Sun Belt Conference

Nickname
Rams - The Virginia Commonwealth Rams are a well-known NCAA basketball team, but did you know the origins of their nickname? The Rams were first known as the “Panthers” when they were founded in 1968. However, after two years of use, the school changed its name and mascot to reflect its new status as an independent university. In 1970, VCU officially became known as the “Rams” and adopted a ram logo for their teams' jerseys.

Richmond's history with sheep farming during colonial times heavily influenced the choice behind this new moniker. At one point in time, it is estimated that more than 100 thousand sheep were roaming around what is now downtown Richmond! Furthermore, many local roads had names such as Sheep Hill Road or Sheeppen Road, which further solidified this connection between VCU and these four-legged animals from centuries ago!

Today Ram fans can be found all over campus proudly wearing their maroon & gold colors while shouting "Go RAMS!" at sporting events throughout Virginia Commonwealth University's athletic programs. Whether cheering on your favorite basketball team or looking for some school spirit, knowing where your beloved mascot comes from adds even more meaning to being part of something special here at VCU!

NCAA Championships
Baseball 0

Men's Basketball 0

Women's Basketball 0

Football 0

Soccer 0

Who is the greatest Virginia Commonwealth Rams?
  • Add your greatest player

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.

Sports News History

Sports News Worth Knowing

RSS NCAA Football Headline News

  • Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys live stream info, start time, TV channel: How to watch college football on TV, stream online
  • Saban: No SEC team in CFP would be ‘disrespect’
  • Miami football recruiting: Five-star DT Justin Scott flips commitment from Ohio State to Hurricanes
  • Things didn’t add up for Ohio State and the rest of the Bottom 10
  • We project all 41 bowls ahead of one dramatic championship week

Sports Market History

Sports Team Marketplace of Champions!

College Logo Battle

Greatest Player Polls

STH Product Sale

College Schools
Menu
  • ACC
    • Boston College Eagles
    • Clemson Tigers
    • Duke Blue Devils
    • Florida State Seminoles
    • Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
    • Louisville Cardinals
    • Miami Hurricanes
    • North Carolina State Wolfpack
    • North Carolina Tar Heels
    • Notre Dame Fighting Irish
    • Pittsburgh Panthers
    • Syracuse Orange
    • Virginia Cavaliers
    • Virginia Tech Hokies
    • Wake Forest Demon Deacons
  • America East
    • NJIT Highlanders
  • American Athletic
    • Charlotte 49ers
    • East Carolina Pirates
    • Florida Atlantic Owls
    • Memphis Tigers
    • North Texas Mean Green
    • Rice Owls
    • SMU Mustangs
    • South Florida Bulls
    • Temple Owls
    • Tulane Green Wave
    • Tulsa Golden Hurricane
    • UAB Blazers
    • UTSA Roadrunners
    • Wichita State Shockers
  • ASUN
    • Austin Peay Governors
    • Bellarmine Knights
    • Central Arkansas Bears
    • Eastern Kentucky Colonels
    • Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
    • Jacksonville Dolphins
    • Kennesaw State Owls
    • Lipscomb Bisons
    • North Alabama Lions
    • North Florida Ospreys
    • Queens Royals
    • Stetson Hatters
  • Atlantic 10
    • Davidson Wildcats
    • Dayton Flyers
    • Duquesne Dukes
    • Fordham Rams
    • George Mason Patriots
    • George Washington Colonials
    • La Salle Explorers
    • Loyola Ramblers
    • Massachusetts Minutemen
    • Rhode Island Rams
    • Richmond Spiders
    • Saint Louis Billikens
    • St. Bonaventure Bonnies
    • St. Joseph’s Hawks
    • Virginia Commonwealth Rams
  • Big 10
    • Illinois Fighting Illini
    • Indiana Hoosiers
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Maryland Terrapins
    • Michigan State Spartans
    • Michigan Wolverines
    • Minnesota Golden Gophers
    • Nebraska Cornhuskers
    • Northwestern Wildcats
    • Ohio State Buckeyes
    • Penn State Nittany Lions
    • Purdue Boilermakers
    • Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    • Wisconsin Badgers
  • Big 12
    • Baylor Bears
    • BYU Cougars
    • Central Florida Knights
    • Cincinnati Bearcats
    • Houston Cougars
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • Kansas Jayhawks
    • Kansas State Wildcats
    • Oklahoma Sooners
    • Oklahoma State Cowboys
    • TCU Horned Frogs
    • Texas Longhorns
    • Texas Tech Red Raiders
    • West Virginia Mountaineers
  • Big East
    • Butler Bulldogs
    • Connecticut Huskies
    • Creighton Bluejays
    • DePaul Blue Demons
    • Georgetown Hoyas
    • Marquette Golden Eagles
    • Providence Friars
    • Seton Hall Pirates
    • St. John’s Red Storm
    • Villanova Wildcats
    • Xavier Musketeers
  • Big Sky
    • Eastern Washington Eagles
    • Idaho State Bengals
    • Idaho Vandals
    • Montana Grizzlies
    • Montana State Bobcats
    • Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
    • Northern Colorado Bears
    • Portland State Vikings
    • Sacramento State Hornets
    • Weber State Wildcats
  • Big West
    • Cal Poly Mustangs
    • Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
    • Cal State Fullerton Titans
    • Cal State Northridge Matadors
    • Hawaii Warriors
    • Long Beach State 49ers
    • UC Davis Aggies
    • UC Irvine Anteaters
    • UC Riverside Highlanders
    • UC San Diego Tritons
    • UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
  • C-USA
    • FIU Panthers
    • Jacksonville State Gamecocks
    • Liberty Flames
    • Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
    • Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
    • New Mexico State Aggies
    • Sam Houston State Bearkats
    • UTEP Miners
    • Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
  • Horizon
    • Cleveland State Vikings
    • Detroit Mercy Titans
    • Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
    • Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers
  • Ivy
    • Brown Bears
    • Columbia Lions
    • Cornell Big Red
    • Dartmouth Big Green
    • Harvard Crimson
    • Penn Quakers
    • Princeton Tigers
    • Yale Bulldogs
  • MAC
    • Akron Zips
    • Ball State Cardinals
    • Bowling Green Falcons
    • Buffalo Bulls
    • Central Michigan Chippewas
    • Eastern Michigan Eagles
    • Kent State Golden Flashes
    • Miami (Ohio) Redhawks
    • Northern Illinois Huskies
    • Ohio Bobcats
    • Toledo Rockets
    • Western Michigan Broncos
  • Missouri Valley
    • Belmont Bruins
    • Bradley Braves
    • Drake Bulldogs
    • Evansville Purple Aces
    • Illinois State Redbirds
    • Indiana State Sycamores
    • Missouri State Bears
    • Murray State Racers
    • Northern Iowa Panthers
    • Southern Illinois Salukis
    • UIC Flames
    • Valparaiso Beacons
  • Mountain West
    • Air Force Falcons
    • Boise State Broncos
    • Colorado State Rams
    • Fresno State Bulldogs
    • Nevada Wolf Pack
    • New Mexico Lobos
    • San Diego State Aztecs
    • San Jose State Spartans
    • UNLV Rebels
    • Utah State Aggies
    • Wyoming Cowboys
  • Ohio Valley
    • Eastern Illinois Panthers
    • Lindenwood Lions
    • Little Rock Trojans
    • Morehead State Eagles
    • SE Missouri State Redhawks
    • SIU Edwardsville Cougars
    • Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
    • Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks
    • Tennessee State Tigers
    • Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
    • Western Illinois Leathernecks
  • PAC 12
    • Arizona State Sun Devils
    • Arizona Wildcats
    • California Golden Bears
    • Colorado Buffaloes
    • Oregon Ducks
    • Oregon State Beavers
    • Southern California Trojans
    • Stanford Cardinal
    • UCLA Bruins
    • Utah Utes
    • Washington Huskies
    • Washington State Cougars
  • Patriot
    • American Eagles
    • Army Black Knights
    • Boston Terriers
    • Bucknell Bisons
    • Colgate Raiders
    • Holy Cross Crusaders
    • Lafayette Leopards
    • Lehigh Mountain Hawks
    • Loyola-Maryland Greyhounds
    • Navy Midshipmen
  • SEC
    • Alabama Crimson Tide
    • Arkansas Razorbacks
    • Auburn Tigers
    • Florida Gators
    • Georgia Bulldogs
    • Kentucky Wildcats
    • LSU Tigers
    • Mississippi State Bulldogs
    • Missouri Tigers
    • Ole Miss Rebels
    • South Carolina Gamecocks
    • Tennessee Volunteers
    • Texas A&M Aggies
    • Vanderbilt Commodores
  • Southland
    • Houston Christian Huskies
    • Incarnate Word Cardinals
    • Lamar Cardinals
    • McNeese Cowboys
    • New Orleans Privateers
    • Nicholls State Colonels
    • Northwestern State Demons
    • Southeastern Louisiana Lions
    • Texas A&M Commerce Lions
    • Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders
  • Southwestern
    • Alabama A&M Bulldogs
    • Alabama State Hornets
    • Alcorn State Braves
    • Arkansas-PB Golden Lions
    • Bethune–Cookman Wildcats
    • Florida A&M Rattlers
    • Grambling State Tigers
    • Jackson State Tigers
    • Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
    • Prairie View A&M Panthers
    • Southern Jaguars
    • Texas Southern Tigers
  • Summit
    • Denver Pioneers
    • Kansas City Roos
    • Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks
    • North Dakota Fighting Hawks
    • North Dakota State Bison
    • Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
    • South Dakota Coyotes
    • South Dakota State Jackrabbits
    • St. Thomas Tommies
  • Sun Belt
    • Appalachian State Mountaineers
    • Arkansas State Red Wolves
    • Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
    • Georgia Southern Eagles
    • Georgia State Panthers
    • James Madison Dukes
    • Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
    • Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks
    • Marshall Thundering Herd
    • Old Dominion Monarchs
    • South Alabama Jaguars
    • Southern Miss Golden Eagles
    • Texas State Bobcats
    • Troy Trojans
  • West Coast
    • Gonzaga Bulldogs
    • Loyola Marymount Lions
    • Pacific Tigers
    • Pepperdine Waves
    • Portland Pilots
    • Saint Marys Gaels
    • San Diego Toreros
    • San Francisco Dons
    • Santa Clara Broncos
  • WAC
    • Abilene Christian Wildcats
    • Cal Baptist Lancers
    • Grand Canyon Antelopes
    • Seattle Redhawks
    • Southern Utah Thunderbirds
    • Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
    • Tarleton State Texans
    • UT Arlington Mavericks
    • UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
    • Utah Tech Trailblazers
    • Utah Valley Wolverines

STH News

Latest Sports Team History News

The Oldest Basketball Team in the NBA: Sacramento Kings

November 30, 2023

Nick Sirianni Applauds His Eagles After Their Revenge Victory Over the Chiefs

November 27, 2023

The Evolution of the National Basketball Association: A Journey Through Time

November 15, 2023

The Unforgettable 2004 ALCS: Boston Red Sox’s Historic Comeback

November 2, 2023

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Sports Logo History
Sports News History
Sports Market History
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Sports Team History
© 2013 - 2023 Sports History Group LLC - All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Sports History
    • Baseball History
    • Basketball History
    • College History
    • Football History
    • Hockey History
    • Soccer History
  • Greatest Player Polls
    • CFL Greatest Player
    • MLB Greatest Player
    • MLS Greatest Player
    • NBA Greatest Player
    • NFL Greatest Player
    • NHL Greatest Player
    • Premier League Greatest Player
    • WNBA Greatest Player
  • More…
    • Sports Team News
    • Sports Team History Products
Available for Amazon Prime