Portland Pilots
| Portland Pilots | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| University | University of Portland |
| Conference | West Coast Conference |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletic director | Scott Leykam |
| Location | Portland, OR |
| Varsity teams | 14 |
| Basketball arena | Chiles Center |
| Baseball stadium | Joe Etzel Field |
| Soccer stadium | Merlo Field |
| Mascot | Wally the Pilot |
| Nickname | Pilots |
| Fight song | "University of Portland Victory March 1984" |
| Colors | Purple and White |
| Website | www |
The Portland Pilots is the nickname for athletics at the University of Portland. The Pilots compete in the West Coast Conference (WCC) at the NCAA Division I level.
The Pilots started to gain attention when Clive Charles began coaching the women's soccer team in 1989. He already had been the men's soccer coach since 1986, and he continued to coach both teams until his death in 2003. He was replaced by Bill Irwin. The women's soccer team won national championships in 2002 and 2005 and were led by numerous national-level players (see "notable alumni athletes" section). Additionally, the men's soccer team has been to the College Cup twice in its history: 1988 and 1995.
In addition to soccer, UP consistently has one of the top cross country programs in the nation. Their men's team, coached by Rob Conner, won their 34th overall West Coast Conference championship in October, 2014. The men's team has gone to the NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship a total of seventeen times, making their first appearance in 1993. The team has finished among the top 10 seven times in its history, placing 7th in 2001, 2008, and 2013. In 2014, the Pilots finished 3rd, their highest ever finish. In 2008, David Kinsella finished 4th overall, the highest any Pilot has ever placed individually at the national championships. Numerous other Pilots have earned All-American honors in cross country, including Scott Fauble, Alfred Kipchumba, Trevor Dunbar, Pete Julian, Uli Steidl, Joe Driscoll, Reid Buchanan, and John Moore. Rob Conner also heads the Pilots' Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams, and has coached 25 All-Americans in distance events ranging from the mile to the 10,000m run. Several Pilots have competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials under coach Conner, including William "Woody" Kincaid in the 5,000m in 2016, and John Moore and Michael Kilburg in 10,000m in 2008.
The Pilots have had success in other sports as well. The men's basketball team has gone to the NCAA tournament twice (1959 and 1996). Their women's basketball team has gone to the NCAA Tournament four times (1994-1997) and the WNIT twice (1998 and 2009). Their baseball team has also gone to the NCAA tournament five times (1957, 1958, 1979, 1989, and 1991).
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