Miami RedHawks
The Miami RedHawks are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I intercollegiate athletic teams representing Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.[1] The program fields 18 varsity teams—eight for men and ten for women—competing primarily in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), with men's ice hockey participating in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).[1][2] Established with the university's founding traditions in the early 19th century, the RedHawks have a storied athletic history marked by multiple conference championships across sports, particularly in football, where the team has secured Mid-American Conference titles and appeared in 14 bowl games with a 7-7 record.[3][4] The hockey program has also achieved prominence, posting a strong 45–27–3 record in its initial independent Division I seasons.[5] Notable alumni include professional athletes such as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who set school records for touchdowns during his tenure.[6] In 1997–1998, Miami University changed its mascot from Redskins to RedHawks at the request of the Miami Tribe, reflecting a shift in naming conventions while honoring regional heritage.[7] The program's Hall of Fame inductees, including figures like baseball manager Walter "Smokey" Alston and football coach Bill Arnsparger, underscore its contributions to sports leadership and professional ranks.[8] Recent successes, such as the baseball team's record conference wins in 2025, highlight ongoing competitiveness within the MAC.[9]History
Origins and early athletic development
The origins of organized athletics at Miami University trace to the late 19th century, amid the institution's expansion following its chartering in 1809 and opening to students in 1824. Initial student activities included informal games and physical exercises, but intercollegiate competition formalized with football in 1888, when the university fielded its first team for a matchup against the University of Cincinnati on December 8, resulting in a 0-0 tie conducted in front of Old Main; this contest established Ohio's oldest continuous non-conference football rivalry and marked the state's inaugural intercollegiate gridiron event.[10] [11] Early development accelerated with infrastructure investments, including the 1896 construction of Herron Gymnasium as the university's inaugural dedicated athletic venue, equipped with a basketball court seating 500 and a suspended running track spanning 22 laps to the mile.[10] This facility enabled indoor sports growth, with men's basketball emerging around the early 1900s and logging its first documented intercollegiate victory, 27-8 over Ohio University, on February 8, 1908.[12] Baseball followed suit, with university-backed traveling squads active by 1900, though formal varsity status arrived in 1915.[10] These nascent programs operated under student-led governance with minimal professional oversight, emphasizing amateur participation amid the university's modest enrollment of under 1,000 by 1900.[13] Football schedules expanded modestly in the 1890s, incorporating regional opponents, while track and field events drew from gym resources; by the early 1900s, state funding infusions bolstered facilities and competition, laying groundwork for broader varsity expansion into the 20th century.[10][11]Evolution of team identity and the 1997 name change
Miami University's athletic teams initially competed without a fixed nickname, commonly referred to as the Miami Boys, Big Reds, Reds, or Red and Whites in early records.[14] This informal naming reflected the institution's nascent intercollegiate program, established in the late 19th century, with football debuting in 1888.[14] In 1928, amid efforts to formalize school spirit under new president Charles D. Abbott—though often attributed to PR initiatives—the nickname Redskins was adopted, drawing from the university's namesake Miami Tribe to symbolize indigenous resilience and regional history.[4] The term persisted through decades of athletic competition, evolving visually with logos such as a winged "M" in the mid-20th century and an alternate hawk design introduced in 1972, which foreshadowed later branding shifts.[15] By the 1990s, the Redskins identity faced scrutiny when, on November 19, 1996, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma—descendants of the Myaamia people after whom the university is named—withdrew its endorsement and formally requested discontinuation of the nickname and Chief Wahoo-inspired mascot, arguing it misrepresented tribal imagery and sovereignty.[16] University officials, emphasizing respect for the tribe's direct input over broader cultural debates, formed a committee to select a replacement; after considering options like Recruits and Merlins, RedHawks was chosen for its avian symbolism tied to existing hawk motifs and Ohio's natural heritage.[7][17] On April 18, 1997, the board of trustees approved the change, effective July 1, 1997, despite a lawsuit by 13 alumni, students, and supporters seeking to preserve the traditional name on grounds of heritage continuity.[18][19] The court dismissed the suit, allowing implementation; the new mascot, Swoop the RedHawk, debuted on December 7, 1997, during a men's basketball game against Xavier University.[17] This transition marked a deliberate pivot from anthropomorphic tribal references to a non-human emblem, aligning with the tribe's preferences while retaining red coloration and hawk elements for visual continuity.[7]Program overview and achievements
Conference affiliations and competitive record
The Miami RedHawks athletic program competes primarily in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), of which Miami University was a charter member upon the league's founding on May 14, 1946.[1] All varsity sports except men's ice hockey participate in the MAC, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, track and field, and others across 18 NCAA Division I programs (nine men's and ten women's as of 2025).[1] The men's ice hockey team has competed in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) since the league's inaugural 2013–14 season, following prior affiliation with the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).[20] The synchronized skating team, an NCAA emerging sport, affiliates with the U.S. Figure Skating Association for competitions.[1] In terms of competitive record within the MAC, the RedHawks hold a dominant historical position, particularly in football, where they lead all-time with 732 conference wins, 324 division/conference victories, 17 championships (most recently in 2023), and eight bowl wins as of December 2024.[21] The program has secured the MAC's Reese Trophy—awarded annually to the top-performing men's athletic department—for a record 26 occasions through the 2024–25 academic year, reflecting consistent excellence across multiple sports.[22] Women's teams have finished as high as third in the corresponding Jacoby Trophy standings, as in the 2020–21 season.[23] Overall, Miami athletics have claimed 74 conference championships since 1997, underscoring sustained success despite occasional national-level limitations inherent to mid-major conference competition.[24] In hockey, the NCHC affiliation has yielded Frozen Four appearances but no national titles since joining the league.[20]Championships, rankings, and notable milestones
The Miami RedHawks football program holds the Mid-American Conference record with 17 championships, including titles in 1948, 1950, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1999, 2003, 2010, 2017 (co-champions), and 2019.[25] [26] The team has participated in 14 bowl games, achieving a 7-7 record, and has finished ranked in the final AP Poll on five occasions, with 42 total weeks in the poll.[27] A notable milestone came in 2003 under quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, when the RedHawks reached a No. 10 national ranking and secured a MAC title before a 49ers Bowl appearance. Men's basketball has claimed 18 MAC regular-season championships and 4 tournament titles, earning berths in 17 NCAA Tournaments with a 6-17 record in those appearances.[28] The program set a modern-era record with 25 wins in the 2024–25 season (25-9 overall), advancing to the MAC Tournament championship game for the first time since 1999 before a 76-74 loss to Akron.[29] The men's ice hockey team, competing in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association until 2013 and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference thereafter, reached the NCAA Frozen Four in 2009 and 2010, including a national runner-up finish in 2009 and the No. 1 overall tournament seed in 2010. [30] Across programs, the RedHawks captured a school-record 10 conference championships in the 2024–25 academic year.[31] The athletic department has earned the MAC's Reese Trophy for top men's program 26 times and the Jacoby Trophy for top women's program 7 times as of 2025, reflecting sustained excellence.[32] [33]Cradle of Coaches tradition in football
Miami University's football program is renowned for the "Cradle of Coaches" tradition, which highlights its disproportionate production of influential coaches in the sport. The nickname originated in 1959 when Bob Kurz, a 1958 alumnus and former sports information director, coined the term to describe the university's legacy of developing top-tier coaching talent, particularly through its football teams in the mid-20th century.[34] This tradition stems from a coaching tree rooted in the 1920s and 1930s, where players and assistants under early mentors like Chester Smiley and Frank Wilton advanced to lead major programs and professional teams, emphasizing disciplined, innovative strategies that influenced modern football.[35] The Cradle of Coaches Association, formed in 1971, formalizes this heritage by inducting alumni who exemplify the tradition, with ceremonies honoring figures like Ara Parseghian, John Pont, Bo Schembechler, and Earl Blaik as recently as October 2022.[36] A physical memorial plaza adjacent to Yager Stadium, dedicated in 2009, features bronze statues of ten pioneering coaches, serving as a tangible tribute to their contributions and drawing visitors to reflect on Miami's impact.[37] This setup underscores the program's emphasis on leadership development, with alumni coaches collectively winning multiple national championships, Super Bowls, and professional titles.| Coach | Miami Connection | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Brown | Player (1926), coach (1935–1940) | Coached Miami to 18–9–2 record; led Ohio State to 1942 national title; founded Cleveland Browns (4 AAFC titles) and Cincinnati Bengals; 170–51–10 NFL record.[34][35] |
| Weeb Ewbank | Assistant coach (1939) | Coached Baltimore Colts to 1958 NFL championship; New York Jets to Super Bowl III victory over Baltimore Colts; first coach to win both NFL and AFL titles.[38][37] |
| Woody Hayes | Player (1931–1933) | Ohio State head coach (1951–1978); 205–61–18 record; 5 national titles (1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970); Big Ten titles in 13 seasons.[35][34] |
| Bo Schembechler | Player (1948–1950), assistant coach | Michigan head coach (1969–1989); 194–48–5 record; 13 Big Ten titles; never lost to Ohio State in Rose Bowl-qualifying seasons.[35][39] |
| Ara Parseghian | Player (1947–1949) | Notre Dame head coach (1964–1974); 95–17–4 record; national titles in 1966 and 1973.[35][40] |
| John Harbaugh | No direct play/coach, but coaching tree ties | Baltimore Ravens head coach (2008–present); Super Bowl XLVII winner; 160–101 record as of 2024.[38] |
| Sean McVay | No direct, but modern extension | Los Angeles Rams head coach (2017–present); Super Bowl LVI winner; youngest NFL head coach to win Super Bowl at age 36.[38][41] |