† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor
Eastern has been a member of NCAA Division I since the summer of 1983, moving up from Division II. For most of its history, Eastern was a member of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) before upgrading its programs and joining the NCAA in the late 1970s. EWU has been a member of the Big Sky athletic conference since 1987; the school's mascot is Swoop and the school colors are red and white.
In 1973, the student body voted to make Eastern's mascot the Eagles.[2][3] Shortly before that, the board of trustees declared "Savages", its mascot through its first 92 years, no longer acceptable.
Eastern men's basketball is currently coached by David Riley. Eastern has claimed two Big Sky regular season championships and two Big Sky conference tournament championships. Eastern advanced to the 2004 NCAA tournament and the 2015 NCAA tournament. Eastern lost to Oklahoma State in the first round in 2004 and Georgetown in the opening round in 2015.
Baseball joined the Northern Pacific Conference in 1980 as its eighth team,[8][9] but after the next season, half of those programs had disbanded,[10] and Oregon dropped the sport as well.[11][12] The NorPac merged into the northern division of the Pac-10 for the 1982 baseball season, bringing the total up to seven schools.[13][14]
Baseball and wrestling were discontinued 35 years ago, following the 1990 seasons.[15][16][17] The EWU wrestling team won NAIA tournament in 1977 scoring 95.5 points. Lanny Davidson is one of only 18 wrestlers in the history of the tournament to win three national NAIA wrestling championships.
National championships
The Eagles have won two team NCAA national championships.
The EWU football team plays at Roos Field, opened in 1967; expanded and renovated in 2004 and 2010 to increase capacity to 11,702. The stadium was originally named 'Woodward Field' in honor of former Eagles head football and basketball coach Arthur C. Woodward. It replaced the original Woodward Field, which was located near the present JFK Library.[18] The introduction of red artificial turf and name change to Roos Field occurred in 2010.
Reese Court is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena that is home to the Eastern Washington University women's volleyball and men's and women's basketball teams. It replaced the Eastern Washington Fieldhouse when it opened in 1975. It was named for William B. "Red" Reese(1899–1974), the athletic director and head coach in multiple sports.
In 1973, the student body voted to make Eastern's mascot the Eagles.[2][3] Shortly before that, the Eastern Board of Trustees declared "Savages", its mascot through its first 92 years, no longer acceptable. Eagles are native to eastern Washington and thus a logical choice for a replacement.
