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Western Illinois Leathernecks
Western Illinois Leathernecks
University	Western Illinois University
Conference	Ohio Valley Conference (primary); OVC–Big South Football Association
NCAA	Division I (FCS)
Athletic director	Paul Bubb
Location	Macomb, Illinois
Varsity teams	20 (8 men's, 12 women's)
Football stadium	Hanson Field
Basketball arena	Western Hall
Baseball stadium	Alfred D. Boyer Stadium
Softball stadium	Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium
Soccer stadium	MacKenzie Alumni Field
Other venues	Harry Mussatto Golf Course; Spring Lake Course; Brophy Courts
Mascot	Colonel Rock (Live Bulldog), Rocky the Bulldog (Costumed Bulldog)
Nickname	Leathernecks
Fight song	We're Marching On
Colors	Purple and gold;
Website	goleathernecks.com

The Western Illinois Leathernecks are the teams and athletes that represent Western Illinois University, located in Macomb, Illinois, in NCAA Division I sports. The school is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Its football team is a member of the Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA) OVC–Big South Football Association.

Previously Western Illinois was a member of the Summit League, with its football team playing in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). On May 12, 2023 the school announced its departure from the Summit League to become a full member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in most sports beginning seven weeks subsequent on July 1. Two Leathernecks teams played outside the OVC in the fall 2023 season before joining the rest of the school's teams in the OVC in 2024—the football team in the MVFC,^[2] and the men's soccer team in the Summit League.^[3]

History and nickname

WIU's nickname, the Leathernecks, and its mascot, the English bulldog, are taken from the traditions of the United States Marine Corps. The university has had permission to use the official nickname and mascot of the Corps since 1927, when Ray Hanson, then-athletic director and coach of the baseball, basketball and football teams, gained permission to use the symbols as an homage to his service in that military branch during World War I.^[4] The university holds the distinction of being the only non-military institution to officially have its nickname derived from a branch of the military service.^[4] Since the fall semester of 2009, the men's and women's teams have been unified under the Leathernecks name;^[5] previously, the women's teams and athletes at the school had been known as the Westerwinds.

On December 18, 2020 Western Illinois officially discontinued their men’s and women’s swimming programs citing budgetary and COVID-19 concerns.^[6] On May 12, 2023 Western Illinois accepted an invitation to join the Ohio Valley Conference starting the 2023-24 season. Prior to Western Illinois joining the Ohio Valley Conference, they were members of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1914–1970 and the Summit League from 1982–2023. Western leaves the Summit League after being the last charter member of the conference since it was founded in 1982.^[7] A week later on May 18, 2023 Western Illinois announced the addition of three more sports for women, this includes beach volleyball, bowling, and STUNT.^[8]

Sports sponsored

Men's sports	Women's sports
Baseball	Basketball
Basketball	Beach volleyball
Cross country	Bowling
Football	Cross country
Golf	Golf
Soccer	Soccer
Track and field^†	Softball
	STUNT
	Tennis
	Track and field^†
	Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

Baseball

The baseball team represents the university in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. It plays its home games at the 500-seat Alfred D. Boyer Stadium and are coached by Andy Pascoe.

Men's basketball

The men's basketball team competes in NCAA Division I men's college basketball competition. The school's team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. The team plays it home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by Chad Boudreau.

Women's basketball

The women's basketball team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays its home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by JD Gravina.

Men's cross country

The men's cross country team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team runs at Spring Lake Course. The team won the 1991 Summit League conference championship.

Football

The football program competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). WIU football plays in the OVC–Big South Football Association, a football-only alliance between the Ohio Valley and Big South conferences that shares a single automatic berth in the FCS playoffs.

The team has made numerous FCS (formerly Division I-AA) playoff appearances. The Leathernecks have been ranked as high as number one and ranked number two numerous times. The team plays its home games at the 16,368 seat Hanson Field and are coached by Joe Davis.

Men's golf

The men's golf team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays its home meets at Harry Mussatto Golf Course. The team has won eight Summit League championships in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. They have made four NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship appearances in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Men's soccer

The men's soccer team played one final Summit League season in 2023 before joining the rest of the university's sports in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2024. Both conferences are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays its home games at 500-seat MacKenzie Alumni Field and are coached by Dr. Eric Johnson. at Harry Mussatto Golf Course. The team has won nine Summit League championships in 1995, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014. The team has also made six NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament appearances in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2012.

Women's soccer

The women's soccer team, like its men's counterpart, is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I Ohio Valley Conference. The team plays its home games at 500-seat MacKenzie Alumni Field and are coached by Dr. Eric Johnson. The team won the 2007 Summit League conference championship.

Softball

The softball team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays its home games at 500-seat Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium and are coached by Alisa Goler. The team has won ten Summit League championships in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The team has appeared in eight Women's College World Series, in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980 and 1982.^[9] The team has also made four NCAA Division I softball tournament appearances in 1992, 2000, 2001, and 2008.

Men's track and field

The team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team competes its home meets at Hanson Field. The team has won two Indoor Track and Field Summit League championships in 2001 and 2002. The team has also won two Outdoor Track and Field Summit League championships in 2001 and 2002.

Women’s track and field

The team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team competes its home meets at Hanson Field. The team has won two Outdoor Track and Field Summit League championships in 1996 and 2005.

Volleyball

The team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays its home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by Ben Staupe.

Athletic facilities

Hanson Field, football venue

Harry Mussatto Golf Course

Alfred D. Boyer Stadium — Baseball
Brophy Courts — Women's tennis
Hanson Field — Football, Men's and women's track and field
Harry Mussatto Golf Course — Men's and women's golf
MacKenzie Alumni Field — Men's and women's soccer
Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium — Softball
Spring Lake Course — Men's and women's cross country
Western Hall — Men's and women's basketball, Volleyball

Western Illinois traditions

Western Loyalty

The name of the "official" Alma Mater for Western Illinois University is "Western Loyalty".^[10]

We're Marching On

The name of the "official" fight song for Western Illinois University is "We're Marching On".^[10]

Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks

The "Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks" is the marching band which represents Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.^[11]

Rocky the Bulldog

"Rocky the Bulldog" is the costumed athletics mascot for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.^[12] He first appeared in 1959. ^[13]

Colonel Rock

"Colonel Rock" is the live athletics mascot for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.^[14]

Western Illinois Cheerleaders

The "Western Illinois Cheerleaders" are the co-ed cheerleading squad for the Western Illinois Leathernecks.^[15]