Milwaukee Panthers
Encyclopedia
The Milwaukee Panthers are the athletic teams of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. A total of 15 Panthers athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I. Panthers have won the James J. McCafferty Trophy as the Horizon League
's all-sports champions five times since 2000.
From 1998-2007, the Milwaukee Panthers have qualified for NCAA Tournaments at the team level a total of 24 times in six different sports, making Milwaukee the second most successful college athletic program in the state of Wisconsin
(trailing only the Wisconsin Badgers
of the Big Ten Conference).
The Panthers received national media attention with an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2005 Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament
. Other sports that Milwaukee competes in include baseball
, women's volleyball
, men's and women's cross-country
, men's and women's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
, men's and women's Swimming
and Diving
, and women's tennis
.
In 1988, now retired Athletic Director Bud Haidet
came to the school and quickly moved the program from NAIA to NCAA Division I. Milwaukee currently ranks 64th out of all 336 NCAA Division I schools in this years NACDA Director's Cup
standings conducted by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
(NACDA). Formerly known as the Sears Directors' Cup, the annual contest awards points for NCAA post-season appearances and performances in all sports. Milwaukee, which won the McCafferty Trophy as the Horizon League's all-sports champion four of the last six years, ranks eighth in the nation among non-Division I-A programs and second among institutions that do not sponsor football at any level. The Panthers have earned 75 total points through the fall and are just 3 points behind North Carolina State University
. Milwaukee currently sits tied with several schools, including the University of Missouri
, and holds a 2 point lead on Northwestern University
. After picking up 50 points in women's soccer (NCAA Tournament 2nd round) and 25 points in women's volleyball (NCAA Tournament 1st round) in the fall, Milwaukee looks to maintain its edge on cross-city rival Marquette University
(91st place) and catch Horizon League leader Youngstown State
(66th) this spring.
and his knack for finding successful head coaches. In 1999, Haidet hired then UW–Platteville head coach Bo Ryan
. In Ryan's two seasons (99-00 and 00-01) he led Milwaukee to its first back-to-back winning seasons in eight years before accepting the head coaching position for the Wisconsin Badgers
.
In 2001, Bruce Pearl
was hired to replace Ryan and continue the success of the previous two seasons. It took Pearl only two seasons to take Milwaukee to its first ever "Big Dance" in March 2003
, where the Panthers came only a missed buzzer-beater away from pulling off a come-from-behind "12-5 upset" over Notre Dame. Milwaukee lost, 70-69, and Notre Dame went on to advance to the Sweet Sixteen in impressive fashion over fourth seeded Illinois. The following year, Pearl would lead Milwaukee to its first ever Division I postseason victory in men's basketball in the 2004 NIT
with a crushing home victory over Rice, 91-53 at the U.S. Cellular Arena
.
In March 2005
, Milwaukee's men's basketball
program entered the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
as the 12th Seed
in the Midwest regional bracket. After ousting fifth-seeded Alabama
in the first round and fourth-seeded Boston College
(coach Bruce Pearl
's alma mater
) in the second round, Milwaukee entered for the first time ever the "Sweet 16". The Panthers would go on to lose to the top-seeded eventual tournament runner-up, Illinois
, 77-63 in its Sweet Sixteen matchup. It was an Illinois team that included future NBA players Deron Williams
, Dee Brown, James Augustine and Luther Head
. In a bit of irony, The Illini's head coach, Bruce Weber beat his alma mater, Milwaukee, after Pearl did the same to Boston College a week earlier. Milwaukee's entrance into the Sweet Sixteen
was due in part to Pearl's full court press
playmaking style, what the Boston Globe would dub the "UWM Press". After their appearance in the NCAA Tournament, Bruce Pearl
was hired by the University of Tennessee
.
In March 2006, for the third time in four years, Milwaukee won the Horizon League
Championship to enter the NCAA Tournament
as an 11th Seed
under first-year coach Rob Jeter
. In the first round, the Panthers faced the sixth-seeded Oklahoma Sooners
in Jacksonville, Florida
, and won easily, 82-74. The Panthers never trailed against the Sooners, and led by as much as 14 late in the 2nd half. Milwaukee bowed out of the 2006 NCAA Tournament in the second round at the hands of the eventual National Champion Florida Gators
.
Beginning with the 2007-08 season, Milwaukee Panthers basketball radio broadcasts moved to AM-1130 WISN, the former home of cross-town rival Marquette University. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=590616 The move gives the Panthers the largest listening audience in the city of Milwaukee for their games. http://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/$rol.exe/arb043 The Panthers were previously on 920 WOKY
The saying on the door of the locker room in the Klotsche Center reads "Take care of the little things." It was added in conjunction with the renovations of the men's basketball locker room at the Klotsche Center. It follows in the tradition of other university teams posting sayings on the way to the playing field, such as "Play like a champion today" at Notre Dame or "The Road to the Rose Bowl begins here" at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The men's basketball team plays at the US Cellular Arena in downtown Milwaukee. In February 2010, plans were announced to build an on-campus arena, or update the outdated Klotsche Center. The Klotsche Center does not meet the Horizon League
's 5000-seat minimum for men's basketball, and this would be among the issues to be fixed. The proposed new arena would likely be in the slot of land currently owned by Columbia St. Mary's Hospital. It is hoped that the propsed arena would bring up attendance, which has been limited especially for students because of the current off-campus facility. http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/02/15/daily12.html
was named the 2006 Horizon League
women's basketball coach of the year. Botham had been voted the league’s top coach two times previously in her 10 years at Milwaukee.
record of 4-7-1 in eight appearances. Milwaukee has won four of the past five Horizon League Tournament Championships and four of the past six regular season crowns, as well as qualified for five consecutive NCAA Tournaments (2001–2005). In the second round of both the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Tournament, Milwaukee fell to the #1 team in the nation in either double overtime (2004, #1 UC-Santa Barbara), or in a penalty kick shootout (2005, #1 New Mexico
). Both those teams eventually advanced to play in each year's national championship game. On September 13, 2006, Milwaukee smashed their previous home attendance record by more than 30% as they hosted their first-ever night match under the newly installed lights at Engelmann Field
on the Milwaukee campus. Milwaukee's come-from-behind victory over Marquette
, 3-2, allowed them to retain possession of the coveted Milwaukee Cup, and moved their all-time (Division I) record vs their cross-city rival to 25-7-2. The standing-room only record crowd of 3,256 broke the Engelmann Field attendance record by over 1,000. The previous mark, set in 1990, had been 2,250 fans.
Conference Affiliations
program competed at the NCAA College Division (now Division II) level; due to lack of funds and a long string of losing seasons, they dropped the sport after the 1974 season. A club team exists known as Milwaukee Panther Football. In the April 13, 2011 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, new Athletic Director Rick Costello admitted that football although costly is not that farfetched in returning to UWM in the near future.
Men's Championships
Women's Championships
, men's lacrosse
, wrestling
, American football
, men's volleyball
, men's rugby union
, women's rugby union
, men's ultimate frisbee, and women's ultimate frisbee.
The Milwaukee men's rugby union
team, for the first time since its creation in 1983, won a Midwest Conference Championship and advanced to the USA Rugby Division II National Tournament for the 2005-06 season. Having beaten the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and Ohio University
to qualify, the fourth-seeded Panthers competed in the 2006 USA Rugby Collegiate Championships. In 2007-2008 season the men's rugby club beat Purdue in pool play and went to the Division I playoffs for the first time since the club's creation in 1983. The women's rugby club made it to the Division II final the same year.
Horizon League
The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States....
's all-sports champions five times since 2000.
History
UWM's athletic teams are nicknamed the Panthers. UWM has had two mascots and nicknames: Cardinals (1956–1964) and Panthers (1964–present). Before 1990, the University's athletics program spent the majority of its history at the NCAA Division III and II levels, as well as several years at the NAIA level. All non-Division I sports moved to the NCAA Division I level for the 1990-91 academic year.From 1998-2007, the Milwaukee Panthers have qualified for NCAA Tournaments at the team level a total of 24 times in six different sports, making Milwaukee the second most successful college athletic program in the state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
(trailing only the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
of the Big Ten Conference).
The Panthers received national media attention with an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2005 Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
. Other sports that Milwaukee competes in include baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, women's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, men's and women's cross-country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, men's and women's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Track 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...
, men's and women's Swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and Diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, and women's tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
.
In 1988, now retired Athletic Director Bud Haidet
Bud Haidet
Bud Haidet is the former athletic director at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He announced his retirement back in April of 2009.-External links:*...
came to the school and quickly moved the program from NAIA to NCAA Division I. Milwaukee currently ranks 64th out of all 336 NCAA Division I schools in this years NACDA Director's Cup
NACDA Director's Cup
The NACDA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup is an award given annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics...
standings conducted by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics is a professional organization for college and university athletic directors in the United States. NACDA boasts a membership of more than 6,100 individuals and more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico...
(NACDA). Formerly known as the Sears Directors' Cup, the annual contest awards points for NCAA post-season appearances and performances in all sports. Milwaukee, which won the McCafferty Trophy as the Horizon League's all-sports champion four of the last six years, ranks eighth in the nation among non-Division I-A programs and second among institutions that do not sponsor football at any level. The Panthers have earned 75 total points through the fall and are just 3 points behind North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
. Milwaukee currently sits tied with several schools, including the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, and holds a 2 point lead on Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. After picking up 50 points in women's soccer (NCAA Tournament 2nd round) and 25 points in women's volleyball (NCAA Tournament 1st round) in the fall, Milwaukee looks to maintain its edge on cross-city rival Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
(91st place) and catch Horizon League leader Youngstown State
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
(66th) this spring.
Teams
| Milwaukee competes in the following NCAA 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... sports |
|||||
| Men's sports | Women's sports | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Division | Sport | Division | ||
| Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... |
Horizon League Horizon League The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States.... |
Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... |
Horizon League Horizon League The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States.... |
||
| Cross Country Cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road... |
Horizon League | Cross Country Cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road... |
Horizon League | ||
| Soccer | Horizon League | Soccer | Horizon League | ||
| Baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... |
Horizon League | Volleyball Volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive... |
Horizon League | ||
| Indoor Track & Field | Horizon League | Indoor Track & Field | Horizon League | ||
| Outdoor Track & Field | Horizon League | Outdoor Track & Field | Horizon League | ||
| Swimming Swimming (sport) Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native... & Diving Diving Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one... |
Horizon League | Swimming Swimming (sport) Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native... & Diving Diving Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one... |
Horizon League | ||
| Tennis Tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all... |
Horizon League | ||||
Men's basketball
The Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team has flourished under the helm of Athletics Director Bud HaidetBud Haidet
Bud Haidet is the former athletic director at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He announced his retirement back in April of 2009.-External links:*...
and his knack for finding successful head coaches. In 1999, Haidet hired then UW–Platteville head coach Bo Ryan
Bo Ryan
William "Bo" Francis Ryan, Jr. is an American college basketball coach and current head coach of the University of Wisconsin–Madison men's basketball team.-Playing career:...
. In Ryan's two seasons (99-00 and 00-01) he led Milwaukee to its first back-to-back winning seasons in eight years before accepting the head coaching position for the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
.
In 2001, Bruce Pearl
Bruce Pearl
Bruce Dean-Fredrick Pearl is an American college basketball coach who most recently served as head coach of the University of Tennessee Volunteers men's team. He is a graduate of Boston College, where he obtained his first position as an assistant basketball coach. He was the first coach to lead...
was hired to replace Ryan and continue the success of the previous two seasons. It took Pearl only two seasons to take Milwaukee to its first ever "Big Dance" in March 2003
2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, where the Panthers came only a missed buzzer-beater away from pulling off a come-from-behind "12-5 upset" over Notre Dame. Milwaukee lost, 70-69, and Notre Dame went on to advance to the Sweet Sixteen in impressive fashion over fourth seeded Illinois. The following year, Pearl would lead Milwaukee to its first ever Division I postseason victory in men's basketball in the 2004 NIT
2004 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:...
with a crushing home victory over Rice, 91-53 at the U.S. Cellular Arena
U.S. Cellular Arena
U.S. Cellular Arena is an indoor arena, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
.
In March 2005
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
, Milwaukee's men's basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
program entered the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
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...
as the 12th Seed
Bracketology
Bracketology is the process of predicting the field of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, named as such because it is commonly used to fill in tournament brackets for the postseason...
in the Midwest regional bracket. After ousting fifth-seeded Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in the first round and fourth-seeded Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
(coach Bruce Pearl
Bruce Pearl
Bruce Dean-Fredrick Pearl is an American college basketball coach who most recently served as head coach of the University of Tennessee Volunteers men's team. He is a graduate of Boston College, where he obtained his first position as an assistant basketball coach. He was the first coach to lead...
's alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
) in the second round, Milwaukee entered for the first time ever the "Sweet 16". The Panthers would go on to lose to the top-seeded eventual tournament runner-up, Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, 77-63 in its Sweet Sixteen matchup. It was an Illinois team that included future NBA players Deron Williams
Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
, Dee Brown, James Augustine and Luther Head
Luther Head
Luther Dale Head is an American professional basketball player. Standing 6'3" and weighing 185 lb , Head plays primarily shooting guard but played small forward as a college basketball star at the University of Illinois.-High school:Head attended Manley Academy in Chicago where he averaged over...
. In a bit of irony, The Illini's head coach, Bruce Weber beat his alma mater, Milwaukee, after Pearl did the same to Boston College a week earlier. Milwaukee's entrance into the Sweet Sixteen
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...
was due in part to Pearl's full court press
Full Court Press
A full-court press is a basketball term that refers to a defensive style in which the defense applies man-to-man or zone defense to pressure the offensive team the entire length of the court before and after the inbound pass. Some presses attempt to deny the initial inbounds pass and trap ball...
playmaking style, what the Boston Globe would dub the "UWM Press". After their appearance in the NCAA Tournament, Bruce Pearl
Bruce Pearl
Bruce Dean-Fredrick Pearl is an American college basketball coach who most recently served as head coach of the University of Tennessee Volunteers men's team. He is a graduate of Boston College, where he obtained his first position as an assistant basketball coach. He was the first coach to lead...
was hired by the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
.
In March 2006, for the third time in four years, Milwaukee won the Horizon League
Horizon League
The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States....
Championship to enter the NCAA Tournament
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...
as an 11th Seed
Bracketology
Bracketology is the process of predicting the field of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, named as such because it is commonly used to fill in tournament brackets for the postseason...
under first-year coach Rob Jeter
Rob Jeter
Rob Jeter is an American college basketball coach and the current coach of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Panthers basketball team.-Personal:...
. In the first round, the Panthers faced the sixth-seeded Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, and won easily, 82-74. The Panthers never trailed against the Sooners, and led by as much as 14 late in the 2nd half. Milwaukee bowed out of the 2006 NCAA Tournament in the second round at the hands of the eventual National Champion Florida Gators
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
.
Beginning with the 2007-08 season, Milwaukee Panthers basketball radio broadcasts moved to AM-1130 WISN, the former home of cross-town rival Marquette University. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=590616 The move gives the Panthers the largest listening audience in the city of Milwaukee for their games. http://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/$rol.exe/arb043 The Panthers were previously on 920 WOKY
WOKY
WOKY is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, radio station. They broadcast a classic country radio format emphasizing country from the 50s-80s...
The saying on the door of the locker room in the Klotsche Center reads "Take care of the little things." It was added in conjunction with the renovations of the men's basketball locker room at the Klotsche Center. It follows in the tradition of other university teams posting sayings on the way to the playing field, such as "Play like a champion today" at Notre Dame or "The Road to the Rose Bowl begins here" at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The men's basketball team plays at the US Cellular Arena in downtown Milwaukee. In February 2010, plans were announced to build an on-campus arena, or update the outdated Klotsche Center. The Klotsche Center does not meet the Horizon League
Horizon League
The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States....
's 5000-seat minimum for men's basketball, and this would be among the issues to be fixed. The proposed new arena would likely be in the slot of land currently owned by Columbia St. Mary's Hospital. It is hoped that the propsed arena would bring up attendance, which has been limited especially for students because of the current off-campus facility. http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/02/15/daily12.html
Women's basketball
After leading the Lady Panthers to their first regular-season title since 2001 and second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history, Milwaukee women’s basketball coach Sandy BothamSandy Botham
Sandy Botham is the head coach of the NCAA Division I UW–Milwaukee Panthers women's basketball team, which competes in the Horizon League. Through her nine years as a head coach, she has compiled a 143–110 record, including a 98–61 mark in conference play. She led the Panthers to their first ever...
was named the 2006 Horizon League
Horizon League
The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States....
women's basketball coach of the year. Botham had been voted the league’s top coach two times previously in her 10 years at Milwaukee.
Men's soccer
The Milwaukee men’s soccer team has a rich history of achievements in its 34 years as a Division I program. Milwaukee is regularly ranked in the top 25 of the country, and was as high as eighth in 2002. Milwaukee men's soccer began the 2006 season ranked 24th in the nation. Since first fielding a team in 1973, Milwaukee men's soccer has compiled an impressive all-time record of 396-223-53 and an all-time NCAA TournamentNCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
record of 4-7-1 in eight appearances. Milwaukee has won four of the past five Horizon League Tournament Championships and four of the past six regular season crowns, as well as qualified for five consecutive NCAA Tournaments (2001–2005). In the second round of both the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Tournament, Milwaukee fell to the #1 team in the nation in either double overtime (2004, #1 UC-Santa Barbara), or in a penalty kick shootout (2005, #1 New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
). Both those teams eventually advanced to play in each year's national championship game. On September 13, 2006, Milwaukee smashed their previous home attendance record by more than 30% as they hosted their first-ever night match under the newly installed lights at Engelmann Field
Engelmann Field
Engelmann Stadium is a soccer field located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. It is home to the Milwaukee Panthers men's and women's soccer teams, both of which compete in the Horizon League of the NCAA's Division I. Engelmann Field is home to the...
on the Milwaukee campus. Milwaukee's come-from-behind victory over Marquette
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, 3-2, allowed them to retain possession of the coveted Milwaukee Cup, and moved their all-time (Division I) record vs their cross-city rival to 25-7-2. The standing-room only record crowd of 3,256 broke the Engelmann Field attendance record by over 1,000. The previous mark, set in 1990, had been 2,250 fans.
- Playing Facility: Engelmann FieldEngelmann FieldEngelmann Stadium is a soccer field located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. It is home to the Milwaukee Panthers men's and women's soccer teams, both of which compete in the Horizon League of the NCAA's Division I. Engelmann Field is home to the...
- Head Coach: Chris Whalley
- Most Victories: 19 in 2002
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 8
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2005
- All-Americans: 6
- Panther Professionals: 6
Conference Affiliations
| Independent | 1973–1982 |
| Wisconsin Intercollegiate Soccer League (WISL) | 1983–1988 |
| Big Central Soccer Conference (BCSC) | 1987–1990 |
| Independent | 1991–1992 |
| Summit League | 1993 |
| Horizon League Horizon League The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States.... |
1994–Present |
Women's soccer
Milwaukee's women's soccer team has also been a regular at the NCAA Tournament in recent years, including advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year in 2006.- Playing Facility: Engelmann FieldEngelmann FieldEngelmann Stadium is a soccer field located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. It is home to the Milwaukee Panthers men's and women's soccer teams, both of which compete in the Horizon League of the NCAA's Division I. Engelmann Field is home to the...
- Head Coach: Michael Moynihan
- Most Victories: 18 in 2008
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 8
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2010
- All-Americans: 7
- Panther Professionals: 1
Baseball
As the only Division I college baseball team in the state of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Panthers have seen much success, including posting six 30-win seasons in the last nine years. They have also qualified for three NCAA Tournaments since 1999, including a win over #1 ranked Rice in the first round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament.Football
Milwaukee's now-defunct footballAmerican 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...
program competed at the NCAA College Division (now Division II) level; due to lack of funds and a long string of losing seasons, they dropped the sport after the 1974 season. A club team exists known as Milwaukee Panther Football. In the April 13, 2011 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, new Athletic Director Rick Costello admitted that football although costly is not that farfetched in returning to UWM in the near future.
Women's volleyball
The women's volleyball team at Milwaukee has also enjoyed national success in recent years, qualifying for six of the last nine NCAA Tournaments and compiling an all-time record of 867-477-7 through the end of the 2006 season.Swimming and diving
Both the men and women have been very successful since the sports beginning. They are currently coached by Kyle Clements.Men's Championships
| Horizon League Horizon League The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States.... |
2000, 2010, 2011 |
| National Championships | none |
Women's Championships
| Horizon League Horizon League The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States.... |
2001 |
| National Championships | none |
Club sports
Club sports at Milwaukee include: men's ice hockeyIce hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, men's lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, American 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...
, men's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, men's rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, women's rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, men's ultimate frisbee, and women's ultimate frisbee.
The Milwaukee men's rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team, for the first time since its creation in 1983, won a Midwest Conference Championship and advanced to the USA Rugby Division II National Tournament for the 2005-06 season. Having beaten the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
to qualify, the fourth-seeded Panthers competed in the 2006 USA Rugby Collegiate Championships. In 2007-2008 season the men's rugby club beat Purdue in pool play and went to the Division I playoffs for the first time since the club's creation in 1983. The women's rugby club made it to the Division II final the same year.
Athletic facilities
- U.S. Cellular Arena - men's basketball
- J. Martin Klotsche Center - men's and women's basketball, volleyball, swimming and diving, indoor track and field
- Englemann Field - men's and women's soccer
- Henry Aaron Field - baseball
- Paley Tennis Center - women's tennis
- Shorewood High School track - outdoor track and field
Soccer
- Jimmy BanksJimmy BanksFor the English footballer see Jimmy Banks James "Jimmy" Banks is a retired U.S. soccer defender. After a standout career at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Banks spent six seasons playing indoor soccer with the Milwaukee Wave...
(Former Milwaukee WaveMilwaukee WaveThe Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
defender from 1987–1993 and US National team member from 1986–1991) - Sasho CirovskiSasho CirovskiSasho Cirovski is a Yugoslavian-American soccer coach, raised in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, who led his University of Maryland team to the NCAA championship in 2005 and 2008.-Early life and career:...
(Soccer coach of the University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College ParkThe University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
) - Tighe DombrowskiTighe DombrowskiTighe Dombrowski is an American soccer player, currently without a club.Dombrowski played four years of college soccer for the UW–Milwaukee Panthers of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee from 2000–2003, during which he was named first team All-Horizon League three times. He was named an...
(full back and winger for IK SiriusIK SiriusIK Sirius are a Swedish bandy club located in Uppsala, currently playing in Elitserien. IK Sirius were formed in 1907 and play their home games at Studenternas Idrottspark. IK Sirius finished in 4th place in the Superallsvenskan in the 2005/2006 season...
of the Swedish Superettanan) - Manny LagosManny LagosManuel "Manny" Lagos is a former American soccer midfielder who last played for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, and is the current Head Coach of NSC Minnesota Stars...
(former MLSMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
player from 1997–2005 and former US National teamUnited States men's national soccer teamThe United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
member) - Tony SannehTony SannehAnthony "Tony" Sanneh is an American soccer player who most recently played for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
(mid-fielder and defender for the Minnesota ThunderMinnesota ThunderMinnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
) - Steve Bode (4th round 47th overall by the Chicago Fire in the 2008 MLS draftMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
) - Erin Kane (goalkeeper for the Saint Louis Athletica of Women's Professional SoccerWomen's Professional SoccerWomen's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
)
Basketball
- Clay TuckerClay TuckerClay Tucker is an American professional basketball player. Currently he plays as shooting guard for Virtus Roma in the Italian top division.-College career:...
(professional basketball player for Joventut BadalonaJoventut BadalonaClub Joventut Badalona, S.A.D. is a Spanish professional basketball club based in Badalona, Catalonia, playing in the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto . Known to their fans as La Penya , it is one of only three teams that have never been relegated from the top division of the Spanish League...
in Liga ACB) - Bruce WeberBruce Weber (coach)Bruce Brett Weber is an American college basketball coach. Weber is the head coach of the University of Illinois men's basketball team...
(men's basketball head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignThe University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
) - Von McDadeVon McDadeVon McDade is a former American basketball player. He played for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Milwaukee Panthers basketball teams. In 1991, he was third in the nation among college basketball players in points per game, with an average of 29.6...
(retired professional basketball player, he was drafted by the New Jersey NetsNew Jersey NetsThe New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 2nd round of the 1991 NBA Draft1991 NBA DraftThe 1991 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 1991 in New York City, New York. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as the best overall pick in this draft, becoming one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight...
) - Larry Pikes, drafted in 8th round1977 NBA DraftThe 1977 NBA Draft was the 31st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1977 before the 1977–78 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
in 1977 - Dylan PageDylan PageDylan Page is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for Chorale Roanne Basket in France. He also played for the NCAA Division I UW–Milwaukee Panthers from 2000-2004 where he, along with Clay Tucker, helped the Panthers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003...
, (professional basketball player for Chorale Roanne BasketChorale Roanne BasketChorale Roanne Basket is a professional basketball club that is based in Roanne, France. The club plays in the Pro A. Their coach is Jean-Denys Choulet. Their home arena is Halle André Vacheresse...
) - Joah TuckerJoah TuckerJoah Tucker is an American professional basketball player. He played for the NCAA Division I Milwaukee Panthers between 2004-2006 where he was member of the team that made the sweet sixteen for the first time in school history. He was also previously a member of the Harlem...
- James EayrsJames EayrsJames Eayrs started his basketball career in Roseville, MN .He is best known for playing for the NCAA Division I Milwaukee Panthers between 2008-2010. He also played for the North Dakota State College of Science, a junior college in Wahpeton, ND before going to UWM.-College statistics:-External...
- Chris HillChris Hill (point guard)Chris Hill is a former American professional basketball player who has played in Liga II, the Lithuanian Basketball League and the Baltic Basketball League. He also played for the NCAA Division I Milwaukee Panthers...
Football
- Bill CarolloBill CarolloWilliam F. "Bill" Carollo is a retired American football official who officiated National Football League games from the 1989 through 2008. He wore uniform number 63. Carollo officiated in two Super Bowls and seven conference championship games...
(American footballAmerican footballAmerican 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...
official in the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) since 1989) - Mike ReinfeldtMike ReinfeldtMichael Ray Reinfeldt is a former American football safety who played 8 seasons in the National Football League. Reinfeldt attended UWM, and was the captain of the football team in 1974, the last year the school fielded a football team...
(All-Pro Safety for the Houston Oilers of the NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, played 8 seasons from 1976–1983 and he is the current General Manager of the NFL'sNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Tennessee TitansTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
)
Notable coaches
- Sandy BothamSandy BothamSandy Botham is the head coach of the NCAA Division I UW–Milwaukee Panthers women's basketball team, which competes in the Horizon League. Through her nine years as a head coach, she has compiled a 143–110 record, including a 98–61 mark in conference play. She led the Panthers to their first ever...
- Bob GanslerBob GanslerBob Gansler is a Hungarian-born American soccer player and coach of German descent. He coached the US National Team at the 1990 World Cup, the team's first appearance at the tournament since 1950....
- Bruce PearlBruce PearlBruce Dean-Fredrick Pearl is an American college basketball coach who most recently served as head coach of the University of Tennessee Volunteers men's team. He is a graduate of Boston College, where he obtained his first position as an assistant basketball coach. He was the first coach to lead...
- Bo RyanBo RyanWilliam "Bo" Francis Ryan, Jr. is an American college basketball coach and current head coach of the University of Wisconsin–Madison men's basketball team.-Playing career:...
- Brian TompkinsBrian TompkinsBrian Tompkins is the current coach of Yale Varsity Soccer. He joined Yale in 1996 and helped Yale to win its first Ivy League title since 1991, in 2005...
- Rob JeterRob JeterRob Jeter is an American college basketball coach and the current coach of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Panthers basketball team.-Personal:...
- Jerry AugustineJerry AugustineGerald Lee Augustine is a retired American professional baseball player who was a pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1975-1984 for the Milwaukee Brewers....
- Louis BennettLouis BennettLouis Bennett is an English-American soccer coach who played professionally in the American Indoor Soccer Association. He is currently the head coach of Marquette University men's soccer team.-Player:...
Athletic directors
- Herman Kluge (1956–1970)
- Albert Negratti (1970–1971)
- Thomas P. Rosandich (1972–1975)
- Jim Harding (1975–1980)
- Daniel I. Harris (Associate Director for Men's Athletics, 1980–1983)
- Daryl A. Leonard (Associate Director for Women's Athletics, 1980–1983)
- Daniel I. Harris (1983–1988)
- Bud HaidetBud HaidetBud Haidet is the former athletic director at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He announced his retirement back in April of 2009.-External links:*...
(1988–2009) - George KoonceGeorge KoonceGeorge Koonce is a former linebacker in the NFL and also served as the Director of Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee between 2009 and 2010.-Atlanta Falcons:...
(2009–2010) - Dave Gilbert (interim, 2010)
- Rick Costello (2010–present)
McCafferty Trophy
| Year | Points |
| 2008-09 | 49.0 |
| 2005-06 | 53.0 |
| 2004-05 | 49.0 |
| 2003-04 | 48.0 |
| 2000-01 | 53.0 |