William and Mary Tribe

Baseball

In the 1960s Joe Plumeri, future Chairman & CEO of Willis Group Holdings and owner of the Trenton Thunder, who later donated $2 million to build the team's Plumeri Park, played on the baseball team as a second baseman and outfielder. Plumeri also funded the Joseph J. Plumeri Endowment Fund for baseball scholarships for the school. The baseball team has qualified for the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 1983, 2001, 2013 and 2016, with the most recent appearance including an upset of the Tribe's rival (and defending College World Series champion) Virginia Cavaliers.

Football

The football team has won eight conference championships. While a member of the Southern Conference, W&M were champions or co-champions in 1942, 1947, 1966, and 1970. In the 1960s, future Willis Group Holdings Chairman & CEO Joe Plumeri played on the football team on scholarship as a halfback for Lou Holtz. After joining the Yankee Conference, the Tribe won the Mid-Atlantic Division in 1993 and won the conference championship in 1996. After the Yankee Conference's 1997 merger with the A-10 Conference, the Tribe were co-champions in 2001 and 2004. After the Colonial Athletic Association began sponsoring football with the 2007 season, the Tribe were co-champions in 2010.

The 2004 season saw William & Mary reach the Division I-AA national semi-finals before finally falling to rival James Madison University.

In 2008, the Tribe played Richmond, at home, on the very last game of the season. While Richmond was assured of a berth in the playoffs, having played and won an extra game due to a 12-game schedule that year (Tribe only played 11 games), the Tribe entered the game needing a win to secure a playoff spot. William & Mary trailed by 14 points going into the 4th quarter but made a huge comeback (largely due to Derek Cox) to send the game into overtime. The Tribe lost in overtime after Richmond blocked a field goal attempt during the Tribe's possession, then kicked a successful field goal during its possession. By failing to beat the Spiders William & Mary missed the playoffs. Richmond, however, would go on to win the NCAA Division I Football Championship by defeating Eastern Kentucky, Appalachian State, Northern Iowa, and the University of Montana 24–7 in the National Championship Game in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In 2009, the Tribe played the Virginia Cavaliers (UVa), in a season opening match-up for both schools in Charlottesville for the first time since 1986. The Tribe upset Virginia 26–14. It was the second Tribe win over Virginia in as many tries and mirrored several other recent wins by CAA (FCS) programs over those in the ACC (FBS), including three by Richmond over Duke (2006, 2009, 2011). The Tribe finished the year 11-3, after a run to the national semifinals that ended with a 14-13 loss to CAA rival and eventual champion Villanova.

Men

Traditionally, the Tribe has not been a storied basketball program, though they have achieved sporadic success. Their only postseason berths ever were the 1983 National Invitation Tournament after winning the regular season conference title and the 2010 National Invitation Tournament after beating both Wake Forest University and the University of Maryland on the road during the regular season. The Tribe qualified for the 2015 National Invitation Tournament after winning their first ever CAA regular season title.

They have appeared in nine conference tournament finals. While in the Southern Conference they lost the tournament final in 1958, 1961, 1965, and 1975, and while in the ECAC South (precursor to the Colonial Athletic Association) they lost the 1983 final to James Madison, 38–41. Their most recent CAA tournament final appearances came in 2008 (L, 59–68 vs. George Mason), 2010 (L, 53–60 vs. Old Dominion), 2014 (L, 74–75 vs. Delaware), and 2015 (L, 61–72 vs. Northeastern).

Women

The Tribe women's basketball team has generally not been a successful program. Their only conference tournament final appearance to date was in the 1993 CAA final, which they lost to perennial power Old Dominion, 51-65. The 2014-15 season was their most successful in many years and resulted in a bid to the 2015 Women's Basketball Invitational.

Cross country, track & field

The College of William & Mary's most dominant sports are its men's and women's cross country and track & field teams. The cross country teams host their home meets on the grounds of the Eastern State Hospital. Home track meets are held at Zable Stadium. However, the university's 2014 master plan called for relocating the track to a new facility adjacent to Albert–Daly Field and Plumeri Park. The totals below are current as of the end of the 2014-15 season.

Men

The men's cross country team qualified for fourteen straight NCAA Division I championships (1997-2010), and 26 total NCAA championship appearances. Alumnus Brian Hyde represented the United States in the 1996 Olympics. In November 2009, the Tribe placed 5th at the Division 1 NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Indiana.

William & Mary hosted the men's cross country championship at Eastern State Hospital in 1970.

Total conference championships:

NCAA championship team appearances:

Women

The women's cross country squad has made nine NCAA championship appearances, most recently in 2014 when they won their first-ever NCAA Regional title.

Total conference championships:

NCAA championship team appearances:

Men

The Tribe men's soccer team has produced two First Team All-Americans and fourteen NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently in 2010. They have won eight conference tournaments since the program's inception in 1965. The most famous alumnus from this program is TV pundit Jon Stewart. He played from 1981–1983 and scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over UConn in the 1983 ECAC Tournament Championship to give William & Mary their second ever conference tournament championship crown. Stewart ended his career with 10 goals and 12 assists while playing as a midfielder and winger.

The majority of the Tribe's success in men's soccer was overseen by Al Albert during an illustrious 33-year career as head coach. In 2004, Albert passed the coaching reins to his capable protege, Chris Norris. Norris was a player and assistant coach at W&M for 13 years before becoming Albert's successor in Williamsburg.

Women

When counting all-time women's soccer NCAA Tournament appearances, just behind national powerhouses North Carolina (with 30) and UConn (with 28) are the William & Mary Tribe (24). As of the end of 2011, they are on an NCAA-record 30-year consecutive winning seasons streak (tied with North Carolina), dating back to 1982, capturing ten conference tournament crowns in that span. Twice have players been selected at the NSCAA National Player of the Year (1987, 1995), and three times the team has made it all the way to the Tournament's Elite 8 (1987, 1994, 1997).

Field hockey

The field hockey team plays at Busch Field on campus. The team has qualified for two NCAA tournaments (2000 and 2002) with a combined record of 0–2.

Gymnastics

The men's and women's gymnastics teams host their meets at William & Mary Hall.

Men

The men's team has been very successful across the years. While never winning a team national title, the team has achieved two individual championships: Scott McCall on the rings in 1996 and Ramon Jackson on the parallel bars in 2004. The team has appeared at five NCAA championship events: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008. Tribe men's gymnastics has also won thirteen USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009) and produced five CGCA National Academic Team Champions. Additionally, they are members of the Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League. The Tribe has a total of four ECAC gymnastics titles, 1992, 1994, 2006, and 2014.

Women

The women's team, on the other hand, has never qualified for the national championship meet or won an individual event. Nonetheless, the women's team has still won six ECAC gymnastics championships: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2014 & 2015. They also won an NAIA gymnastics title in 1983.

Golf

Both the men's and women's golf teams host their home tournaments at the River Course at the Kingsmill Resort. Neither the men nor women have ever qualified as a team for the NCAA golf championships. However, the women's team won an AIAW championship in 1981. In conference play, the men's team won their sole CAA championship in 1985.

Lacrosse

The women's lacrosse team plays at Busch Field. They have qualified for seven NCAA tournaments and have a combined record of 0–7. They also have one CAA title, from 1992.

Swimming and diving

The men's and women's teams compete at the Student Recreation Center. Previously, they swam at the Adair Gymnasium.

Men

The men's teams has competed at two NCAA championships, 1985 and 1986, but has not won a team or individual national championship. The team has won three CAA championships: 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Women

The women's team, on the other hand, has never qualified for a NCAA championship meet. They have also won three CAA championships: 2007, 2016, and 2017.

Tennis

The men's and women's tennis teams play at the Millie West Tennis Facility and the McCormack–Nagelsen Tennis Center. Both teams (as of 2015) are the defending CAA tennis champions.

Men

The men's team won two NCAA championships in 1947 (10–4 vs. Rice) and 1948 (6–5 vs. San Francisco); they were led by coach Sharvey G. Umbeck to both titles. They were runners up in 1946 against USC. Individually, players have won two individual events: Gardner Larned won the singles title in 1947 and the pair of Fred Kovaleski and Bernard Bartzen won the doubles title in 1948. Since then, Tribe men's tennis has made four national championship appearances (with a record of 0–3): 1999, 2005, 2007, and 2015. Additionally, the men have won four CAA tennis championships: 1988, 1990, 2005, and 2015.

Women

The women's team, while never winning an NCAA title, has also been prolific. The team has made 20 appearances in the NCAA championships with a combined record of 21–19: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, and 2015. Furthermore, the women's team has won 24 conference titles: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016.

Volleyball

The women's indoor volleyball team competes at William & Mary Hall. They have won eight CAA championships (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 2001) and made one appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2001 losing in the first round to Duke University.

National championships

William & Mary has won two NCAA national team championships, both for men's tennis; the Tribe won back-to-back national championships in 1947 and 1948. During the era when the AIAW conducted women's collegiate championships, the Tribe women claimed one AIAW national team title, for golf (Division II) in 1981.

Tribe athletes have also won individual national championships, including Gardner Larned (men's tennis singles, 1947), Fred Kovaleski and Bernard Bartzen (men's tennis doubles, 1948), Scott McCall (men's gymnastics—rings, 1996), Ramon Jackson (men's gymnastics—parallel bars, 2004), and Jeanne Foster (women's Division II gymnastics—uneven bars and all-around, 1986).

Rivalries

William & Mary's most heated, traditional rivalry is with the Richmond Spiders of the University of Richmond, which they play annually as the final football game on each school's schedule in what is termed the "Oldest Football Rivalry in the South." The Tribe first visited Richmond in 1898, losing 15-0. However, William & Mary holds the all-time series edge 61-57-5 (through 2013), in what is the fourth most-played rivalry game in Division I college football. Only Lafayette-Lehigh, Princeton-Yale, and Harvard-Yale have played more games. The winner of this annual contest wins the Capital Cup, reflecting the historical significance of the cities of Williamsburg and Richmond as the two capitals of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In addition, William & Mary maintains an in-state rivalry with the University of Virginia unofficially coined "The Jefferson Cup." Recent highlights have included an upset by the Tribe's football team over UVA on September 5, 2009 with a 26-14 victory on the season opener at Charlottesville, and then-defending College World Series champion Virginia's elimination during the 2016 NCAA Baseball Tournament by a 5-4 win for the Tribe at UVA's own Davenport Field.

Notable alumni

Notable graduates from the athletic programs include Jon Stewart, Adin Brown, Mike Leach, Buster Ramsey, Darren Sharper, Mike Tomlin, Bill Chambers, J. D. Gibbs, Steve Christie, Wade Barrett, Jill Ellis, and Derek Cox.

Fight songs

In addition to the most common Fight Song, the "William and Mary Victory March" (composed in the 1930s by Rolf Kennard) is occasionally heard before games. There is a long-running superstition that playing the Victory March during a game will lead to a bad result.

Radio Affiliates

Two radio stations in eastern Virginia broadcast Tribe football and men's basketball, under the branding "William & Mary Bookstore Tribe Radio Network."