Western Illinois Leathernecks | |
---|---|
University | Western Illinois University |
Conference | Ohio Valley Conference (primary) OVC–Big South Football Association |
NCAA | Division I (FCS) |
Athletic director | Paul Bubb |
Location | Macomb, Illinois |
Varsity teams | 20 (8 men's, 12 women's) |
Football stadium | Hanson Field |
Basketball arena | Western Hall |
Baseball stadium | Alfred D. Boyer Stadium |
Softball stadium | Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium |
Soccer stadium | MacKenzie Alumni Field |
Other venues | Harry Mussatto Golf Course Spring Lake Course Brophy Courts |
Mascot | Colonel Rock (Live Bulldog), Rocky the Bulldog (Costumed Bulldog) |
Nickname | Leathernecks |
Fight song | We're Marching On |
Colors | Purple and gold[1] |
Website | goleathernecks |
The Western Illinois Leathernecks are the teams and athletes that represent Western Illinois University, located in Macomb, Illinois, in NCAA Division I sports. The school is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Its football team is a member of the Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA) OVC–Big South Football Association.
Previously Western Illinois was a member of the Summit League, with its football team playing in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). On May 12, 2023 the school announced its departure from the Summit League to become a full member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in most sports beginning seven weeks subsequent on July 1. Two Leathernecks teams played outside the OVC in the fall 2023 season before joining the rest of the school's teams in the OVC in 2024—the football team in the MVFC,[2] and the men's soccer team in the Summit League.[3]