University University of Portland NCAA Division I Location Portland, OR | Conference West Coast Conference Athletic director Scott Leykam Varsity teams 14 | |
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.
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History
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).
UP has not fielded a football team since 1950.
Teams
The University of Portland sponsors teams in seven men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports:
Former teams
National championships
Conference championships
The Pilots compete in the West Coast Conference, which they joined in 1976. Below are a few of their conference titles:
Venues
The Portland Pilots play home soccer matches at Merlo Field, part of the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. All volleyball and basketball games are held in the Chiles Center. The baseball team plays in Joe Etzel Field. The Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center is home to the tennis teams.