Villanova Wildcats
Encyclopedia
The Villanova Wildcats is the name of the athletic
teams of Villanova University
. They compete in the Big East (NCAA Division I) for every sport except football
, where they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association
(Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA).
. They have won one championship (1985
), and have been to the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
four times (1939
, 1971
, 1985, and 2009).
. Parretta reached a coaching milestone on 12 November with a win over Iona
, representing the 600th win of his career. He is one of seven NCAA Division I coaches to have 600 victories all at one school.
and are coached by Andy Talley
. Villanova played in bowl games following the 1936, 1947, 1948, 1961, and 1962 college football
seasons. Villanova dropped its football program altogether following the 1980 season. In 1985, Villanova began playing football again at the Division I-AA (now Division I FCS) level. Since moving to I-AA, Villanova has made 7 appearances in the I-AA/FCS playoffs, and won the 2009 FCS Championship. Villanova football has produced such NFL talents as Howie Long
, formerly of the Oakland Raiders
, and Brian Westbrook
, San Francisco 49ers
running back formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles
.
Villanova plays the University of Delaware
Fightin' Blue Hens in the "Battle of the Blue
," which Villanova won in its first four years. Villanova leads the all-time series with Delaware 22-20-1. The Wildcats also have a four-year series where they will play Temple University for the Philadelphia "Mayor's Cup," which Villanova took possession of in the inaugural game in September 2009 (Villanova leads that all-time series 16-12-2).
In 2009, the Wildcats played in the NCAA Division I Football Championship game against the University of Montana Grizzlies
. The Wildcats beat the Grizzlies 23–21 to win their first FCS national championship. Their recent success has fueled speculation regarding a potential promotion to the Football Bowl Subdivision and into the Big East in which they already participate for basketball. In September 2010, the Big East formally issued Villanova an invitation to join in football; the school is currently considering the offer.
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse
. Villanova currently competes as a member of the Big East Conference
and plays their home games at Villanova Stadium
in Villanova, Pennsylvania
. Through 2009, Villanova men's lacrosse was a member of the Colonial Athletic Association
and won the CAA tournament for their first title in 2009. The fourth-seeded Wildcats were the lowest-seeded championship team in conference history. That season, Villanova also made their first NCAA tournament
appearance, where they were routed in the first round by first-seeded Virginia
, 18–6. The 2004 team, which finished 13-3, was most likely better than the 2009 team, but the 2004 team played against stiffer competition in the CAA than the 2009 team.
team has a long history of athletic success that has spanned from Big East Conference Championships to NCAA Championships.
The men's team has produced 69 NCAA championships, 36 indoor and 33 outdoor. The team has had 8 NCAA team championships (4 cross country, 3 indoor, 1 outdoor). Villanova has produced 28 athletes who have made appearances in the Olympics, 10 of whom have medaled (7 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals). The men's team has also won 112 Penn Relay Championships, which stands as the most wins by any school. The men's current coaches include head coach, Marcus O'Sullivan
, and assistant head coach, Anthony Williams.
The women's team has also had a multitude of success, producing 10 Big East team Championships and 7 NCAA team Championships. They have also produced 7 Olympians including Vicki Huber
, Sonia O'Sullivan
, Kim Certain, Kate Fonshell, Jen Rhines, Carmen Douma, and Carrie Tollefson
. Olympic hopefuls for the 2008 Summer Olympics include alumna Marina Muncan. The Women's team has won 28 Penn Relay Championships, which is the most wins by any women's team. The current women's coaches include head coach, Gina Procaccio, and assistant head coach, Anthony Williams.
At least one Villanova athlete has competed in every Summer Olympics since 1948, winning a total of 13 medals (9 gold, 4 silver).
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
teams of Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. They compete in the Big East (NCAA Division I) for every sport except football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, where they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
(Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA).
Men's basketball
The Villanova Wildcats compete in the Big EAST and are currently coached by Jay WrightJay Wright (coach)
Jerold Taylor "Jay" Wright, Jr. is an American basketball coach. He is currently the men's coach at Villanova University. He was born in Churchville, Pennsylvania, U.S., and is married to a former Villanova cheerleader...
. They have won one championship (1985
1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began...
), and have been to the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
four times (1939
1939 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1939 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
, 1971
1971 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1971 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1971, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in Houston, Texas...
, 1985, and 2009).
Women's basketball
The Villanova Wildcats women's basketball team are coached by Harry Parretta, now serving his 34th year as head coach of the team. They play their home games in The PavilionThe Pavilion
The Pavilion is a 6,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States, about 20 miles outside of Philadelphia. It was built in 1985, and is home to the Villanova University Wildcats basketball teams. It is recognizable from the outside for its hyperbolic paraboloid roofline,...
. Parretta reached a coaching milestone on 12 November with a win over Iona
Iona College (New York)
Iona College is located in New Rochelle, New York, 20 miles north of Manhattan in suburban Westchester County. The college occupies 35 acres on North Ave. The college also operates a Graduate Center in Pearl River, Rockland County, New York....
, representing the 600th win of his career. He is one of seven NCAA Division I coaches to have 600 victories all at one school.
Football
The Wildcats compete in the Colonial Athletic AssociationColonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
and are coached by Andy Talley
Andy Talley
Andrew J. "Andy" Talley is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach of the Villanova Wildcats. Before becoming the Villanova head coach, he served as the coach at St. Lawrence University. In 1997, he was named the AFCA Coach of the Year and the Eddie Robinson Award winner...
. Villanova played in bowl games following the 1936, 1947, 1948, 1961, and 1962 college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
seasons. Villanova dropped its football program altogether following the 1980 season. In 1985, Villanova began playing football again at the Division I-AA (now Division I FCS) level. Since moving to I-AA, Villanova has made 7 appearances in the I-AA/FCS playoffs, and won the 2009 FCS Championship. Villanova football has produced such NFL talents as Howie Long
Howie Long
Howard "Howie" Matthew Moses Long is an American former National Football League defensive end and actor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000...
, formerly of the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook
Brian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
running back formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Villanova plays the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
Fightin' Blue Hens in the "Battle of the Blue
Battle of the Blue
The Battle of the Blue is an annual college football rivalry game between the University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens and Villanova University Wildcats. Beginning in 2007, the annual Delaware–Villanova game became known as Battle of the Blue...
," which Villanova won in its first four years. Villanova leads the all-time series with Delaware 22-20-1. The Wildcats also have a four-year series where they will play Temple University for the Philadelphia "Mayor's Cup," which Villanova took possession of in the inaugural game in September 2009 (Villanova leads that all-time series 16-12-2).
In 2009, the Wildcats played in the NCAA Division I Football Championship game against the University of Montana Grizzlies
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
. The Wildcats beat the Grizzlies 23–21 to win their first FCS national championship. Their recent success has fueled speculation regarding a potential promotion to the Football Bowl Subdivision and into the Big East in which they already participate for basketball. In September 2010, the Big East formally issued Villanova an invitation to join in football; the school is currently considering the offer.
Men's lacrosse
The Villanova Wildcats men's lacrosse team represents Villanova UniversityVillanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse
College lacrosse
College lacrosse refers to lacrosse played by student athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played in both the varsity and club levels...
. Villanova currently competes as a member of the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
and plays their home games at Villanova Stadium
Villanova Stadium
Villanova Stadium is a stadium located on the campus of Villanova University in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, USA.Villanova Stadium was originally built in 1927 and dedicated on October 8, 1927, Villanova Stadium plays host to a wide variety of events including serving as home to the Villanova...
in Villanova, Pennsylvania
Villanova, Pennsylvania
Villanova is a community in the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It straddles Lower Merion Township of Montgomery County and Radnor Township of Delaware County. It is located at the center of the Pennsylvania Main Line, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburban towns located...
. Through 2009, Villanova men's lacrosse was a member of the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
and won the CAA tournament for their first title in 2009. The fourth-seeded Wildcats were the lowest-seeded championship team in conference history. That season, Villanova also made their first NCAA tournament
2009 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was held from May 9 through May 25, 2009. This was the 39th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament...
appearance, where they were routed in the first round by first-seeded Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, 18–6. The 2004 team, which finished 13-3, was most likely better than the 2009 team, but the 2004 team played against stiffer competition in the CAA than the 2009 team.
Track and field
Villanova University's Track and fieldTrack and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team has a long history of athletic success that has spanned from Big East Conference Championships to NCAA Championships.
The men's team has produced 69 NCAA championships, 36 indoor and 33 outdoor. The team has had 8 NCAA team championships (4 cross country, 3 indoor, 1 outdoor). Villanova has produced 28 athletes who have made appearances in the Olympics, 10 of whom have medaled (7 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals). The men's team has also won 112 Penn Relay Championships, which stands as the most wins by any school. The men's current coaches include head coach, Marcus O'Sullivan
Marcus O'Sullivan
Marcus O'Sullivan is a retired Irish middle distance runner. Although he wasn't planning to go to any of Ireland's universities, O'Sullivan's running encouraged him to go to Villanova University at 19...
, and assistant head coach, Anthony Williams.
The women's team has also had a multitude of success, producing 10 Big East team Championships and 7 NCAA team Championships. They have also produced 7 Olympians including Vicki Huber
Vicki Huber
Vicki Huber is a retired American middle distance and cross country runner.-Biography:Vicki Huber was born on May 29, 1967 in Wilmington, Delaware. Huber attended Concord High School where she began running as conditioning for field hockey...
, Sonia O'Sullivan
Sonia O'Sullivan
Sonia O'Sullivan in Cobh, County Cork. She began her running career in Ballymore Running Club which is located in the eastern side of Cobh Town. She was one of the world's leading female 5000 m runners for most of the 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century...
, Kim Certain, Kate Fonshell, Jen Rhines, Carmen Douma, and Carrie Tollefson
Carrie Tollefson
Carrie Tollefson is an American middle distance runner who was on the US 2004 Summer Olympic team....
. Olympic hopefuls for the 2008 Summer Olympics include alumna Marina Muncan. The Women's team has won 28 Penn Relay Championships, which is the most wins by any women's team. The current women's coaches include head coach, Gina Procaccio, and assistant head coach, Anthony Williams.
At least one Villanova athlete has competed in every Summer Olympics since 1948, winning a total of 13 medals (9 gold, 4 silver).