Kristian Ferrell
The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers currently compete in NCAA Division III for all sports except for men's and women's ice hockey, which competes in Division I. The men's basketball team at RIT began in the 1915-16 season and has since participated in the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament several times, most recently in 2009. The women's basketball team began in 1988 and has appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament in 2017, 2018, and 2019. With a rich history in athletics, RIT has 22 intercollegiate teams, including basketball, and over 675 student-athletes competing across various sports. While there is no specific mention of plans for the basketball teams to transition to Division I, RIT has demonstrated a willingness to adjust the competitive level of its sports programs based on performance and other factors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| RIT's men's and women's basketball teams | Participated in the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament in 1976, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2009 |
| RIT's men's and women's ice hockey teams | Play at the Division I level |
| RIT's men's lacrosse team | Plays at the Division I level |
| RIT's other sports teams | Play at Division III level |
| RIT's athletics nickname | Tigers |
| RIT's colours | Brown and orange |
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What You'll Learn
RIT Tigers: the history of the name
The RIT Tigers are composed of 22 teams representing the Rochester Institute of Technology in intercollegiate athletics, including men's and women's basketball, crew, cross country, cheerleading, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, and track and field. The name "Tigers" was given to the team following the undefeated men's basketball season of 1955–1956, where they achieved 17 wins and 0 losses. The name was chosen by local media to commemorate the team's success.
The RIT Tigers men's ice hockey team is a collegiate ice hockey team representing the Rochester Institute of Technology in suburban Rochester, New York, United States. The school's men's team competes in Division I Atlantic Hockey America. The team has won two national championships, one each at the Division II and Division III levels. The RIT Tigers women's hockey team began in the 1975–76 season and won the 2012 NCAA Division III tournament before moving up to Division I the following season.
The RIT Tigers compete in the NCAA Division III and are members of the Liberty League for all sports except ice hockey, which competes in Division I. The men's and women's ice hockey teams are members of Atlantic Hockey America, which was formed by the 2024 merger of the Tigers' former hockey homes: the men-only Atlantic Hockey Association and the women-only College Hockey America. The RIT Tigers men's lacrosse team was founded in 1964, with their first season in the spring of 1966. In 1968, men's lacrosse became a university-sanctioned sport, and the Tigers played their first season in NCAA Division II.
The official mascot of the RIT Tigers is RITchie the Tiger, a fictional mascot often depicted at events and sporting events, as well as in logos for different clubs. The name RITchie was entered in a "Name the RIT Tiger" contest in 1989 by alumnus Richard P. Mislan. The original tiger's pelt now resides in the school's archives at the on-campus library.
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RIT's basketball history
The RIT Tigers are composed of 22 teams representing the Rochester Institute of Technology in intercollegiate athletics, including men's and women's basketball. Men's basketball at RIT started with the 1915–16 season. In the 1955–56 season, under coach A. Leo Fox, they went undefeated with 17 wins and 0 losses, a success that led local media to dub the team "Tigers". The name "Tigers" also came from RIT purchasing a rescued Bengal tiger in 1963, which became the institute's mascot, named SPIRIT.
Women's basketball began at RIT on January 6, 1988, with their first varsity match against the Brockport Golden Eagles, which they lost 73–39. Their first postseason appearance took place in the 2007 Empire 8 tournament. They appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
The men's basketball team has participated in the NCAA Division III tournament several times, including in 1976, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2009. The team was coached by Bob McVean for 40 seasons from 1983 to 2024, during which they finished with 20 or more wins and qualified for the NCAA tournament for three seasons in a row.
While RIT has a rich history in basketball, it is important to note that the institute's basketball teams currently compete at the Division III level. Only the men's and women's ice hockey teams compete at the Division I level.
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RIT's hockey history
The RIT Tigers men's ice hockey team is a collegiate ice hockey team representing the Rochester Institute of Technology in suburban Rochester, New York, United States. The school's men's team competes in Division I Atlantic Hockey America. The team has won two national championships, one each at the Division II and Division III levels.
The RIT Hockey Club was founded in 1958 and competed in the Monroe County Amateur Hockey Association (MCAHA) until the league folded in 1960. The hockey club was founded in the fall of 1959 and was given a budget of $1,020 to purchase the initial equipment to outfit 16 players. At that time, the team participated in the MCAHA, playing 13 games against three other league teams. The first jerseys worn by RIT hockey players were hand-me-downs from the Rochester Americans.
In the 2008–2009 season, the Tigers played some of their best regular-season hockey, notably an 11-game win streak from December 6 to January 25. They met Holy Cross again in the playoffs and won the series 2–1 but fell in the AHA Tournament to the Mercyhurst Lakers 5–4 in overtime. In the 2009–10 season, their most successful season to date, the Tigers made a historic run to the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four, sweeping Connecticut in the first round and winning the AHA Tournament by beating the Canisius Golden Griffins and the Sacred Heart Pioneers to advance to the NCAA tournament as the conference's autobid.
The Tigers went on to defeat Canisius in the semifinals of the AHA Tournament by a score of 2–1 and the Mercyhurst Lakers in the championship game by a score of 5–1 to win the Atlantic Hockey championship and advance to the NCAA Division I tournament for the second time in program history.
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RIT's other sports
RIT, the Rochester Institute of Technology, has 22 intercollegiate teams, known as the RIT Tigers. The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division III and are members of the Liberty League for all sports except ice hockey, which competes in NCAA Division I.
The Tigers have a rich history in men's basketball, with the team going undefeated in the 1955-56 season, which led to the team being nicknamed the 'Tigers'. However, men's basketball at RIT has not been a Division I sport. The men's basketball team has competed in the NCAA Division III tournament several times, with their most recent appearances being in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
While RIT has not had a football team since 1978 due to funding issues, the institute offers a wide range of other sports. The men's soccer team has been playing since 1960 and the women's team since 1982, with both teams competing in NCAA Division III. The men's lacrosse team has a long history, dating back to 1964, and has had success in recent years, winning the NCAA Division III tournament in 2021 and 2022.
RIT also has teams for crew, cross country, cheerleading, swimming & diving, tennis, and track and field, with some sports offering both men's and women's teams. Men's sports include baseball and wrestling, while women's sports include softball and volleyball.
The institute also offers a range of intramural, club, and pick-up sports, providing a less competitive and recreational option for students.
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RIT's athletics today
RIT Tigers is the nickname for the athletic teams representing the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). RIT has 12 men's and 12 women's intercollegiate teams, with more than 675 student-athletes competing across a variety of sports.
The Tigers compete in NCAA Division III for most sports, including basketball, crew, cross country, cheerleading, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. Men's sports also include baseball and wrestling, while women's sports include softball and volleyball.
However, RIT's men's and women's ice hockey teams compete at the Division I level. They are members of Atlantic Hockey America. The hockey teams play at the Gene Polisseni Center, which has a seating capacity of 4,300 fans. The men's team moved up to Division I for the 2005-06 season, while the women's team joined them for the 2013-14 season.
RIT has a rich history in basketball, with the men's team going undefeated in the 1955-56 season, earning them the nickname "Tigers." The women's basketball team began in 1988 and has since appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament multiple times.
In addition to intercollegiate teams, RIT offers a range of club sports teams, intramural sports, and state-of-the-art recreation facilities for students to stay active and engage in athletics.
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Frequently asked questions
RIT is home to Division I and Division III athletics. All of RIT's teams compete at the Division III level, with the exception of the men's and women's ice hockey programs, which play at the Division I level.
The RIT Tigers compete in the NCAA Division III for basketball.
No, they have not. The men's basketball team at RIT started with the 1915-16 season and went undefeated in the 1955-56 season. The women's basketball team began at RIT with their first varsity match on January 6, 1988, and their first postseason appearance took place in the 2007 Empire 8 tournament.
The RIT Tigers are composed of 22 teams representing the Rochester Institute of Technology in intercollegiate athletics, including men's and women's crew, cross country, cheerleading, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track and field, baseball, wrestling, softball, and volleyball.
