NCAA Division III Location Lexington, Virginia | Athletic director Jan Hathorn Varsity teams 21 | |
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University Washington and Lee University Conference Old Dominion Athletic Conference | ||
The Washington and Lee Generals are the athletic teams that represent Washington and Lee University, located in Lexington, Virginia, in NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports. The Generals compete as members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference for all sports except wrestling, which competes in the Centennial Conference. Altogether, Washington and Lee sponsors 21 sports: 10 for men and 11 for women.
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Washington and Lee was one of the founding members of the Division I Southern Conference in 1921. The Generals remained members of the SoCon until 1958. During this time, they played alongside other Virginia universities like Virginia, Virginia Tech, VMI (also located in Lexington), and William & Mary. Generals basketball won the Southern Conference twice: 1934 an 1937. The football team even made an appearance in the 1951 Gator Bowl against Wyoming.
After leaving the Southern Conference, the Generals moved into Division III and joined the College Athletic Conference in 1962. This was followed by a move to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in 1976, also as a founding member. Washington & Lee's men's lacrosse remained the school's only Division I program until 1987.
National championships
Washington and Lee holds two NCAA National Championship titles. In 1988, the men's tennis team won the NCAA Division III National Championship title. In 2007, the women's tennis team claimed the NCAA Division III National Championship title. In 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2015 the Generals football team won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship and in 2011. In 2009, the Generals baseball team won the ODAC championship.
Men's lacrosse
After downgrading to Division III in 1958, the men's lacrosse team remained at the Division I level. Washington and Lee made seven appearances in the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980. The Generals reached the semifinals three times, in 1973, 1974, and 1975. However, the team was eventually moved down to Division III in 1987.