DePaul Blue Demons


The DePaul Blue Demons are the athletic teams that represent DePaul University, located in Chicago, Illinois. The Blue Demons participate in NCAA Division I and are a member of the Big East Conference.
DePaul was not affiliated with any conference until it helped establish the Great Midwest Conference in 1991. It subsequently became a charter member of Conference USA from 1995 until its move to the original Big East in 2005 through 2012. DePaul and the other six Catholic, non-FBS schools announced on December 15, 2012 their separation to eventually form a new conference that would carry the Big East name in 2013.

Nickname

The origin of the Blue Demons nickname dates back to 1907 when the university changed its name from St. Vincent's College to its current form. At the time, the athletic teams had red uniforms with a large "D" on the front. After an announcer referred to the players as the "D-men," the moniker stuck and eventually evolved into "Demons." The "blue" was part of an attempt to distinguish the university's players from those of its now-defunct high school, DePaul Academy. The former wore red with a blue "D," while the latter adopted the reverse. The official athletic colors are scarlet and royal blue.

Sports sponsored

A member of the Big East Conference, DePaul University sponsors teams in six men's and seven women's NCAA sanctioned sports.

Men's basketball

DePaul's NCAA men's basketball team is well known for its basketball program, which gained prominence under Ray Meyer who led DePaul to two NCAA Division I basketball Final Four's in the
1942–43 season and 1978–79 season. Meyer also led the Blue Demons to the 1945 NIT championship during the 1944-45 season.
Current head basketball coach Dave Leitao has been at DePaul since 2015 following a previous stint as head coach from 2002–05.
The team currently plays their home games at Wintrust Arena adjacent to the McCormick Place convention center.

Women's basketball

DePaul's NCAA women's basketball team has reached the Sweet 16 multiple times in the program's history. Head Coach Doug Bruno has been the women's basketball coach since 1988.
The team currently plays their home games at Wintrust Arena adjacent to the McCormick Place convention center and select games at McGrath-Phillips Arena.

Men's soccer

The DePaul Blue Demons men's soccer team represents DePaul University in the Big East Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Softball

The DePaul women's softball team has participated in the Women's College World Series four times since 1999. The team finished the 2006–07 season ranked sixth in the final USA Today/NFCA Poll. NFCA Hall of Fame head coach Eugene Lenti has been coach at DePaul since 1990 following a previous stint from 1979–1987.

Women's volleyball

The DePaul Blue Demons women's volleyball team competes in NCAA Division I volleyball and is part of the Big East Conference.

Former varsity sports

Football

DePaul University fielded a varsity football team until 1939. It played its home games at Wrigley Field and Soldier Field.

Club sports

DePaul offers a number of other intercollegiate club athletic teams under its Department of Campus Recreation.

Football

DePaul fielded a football club team in the National Club Football Association until 2015.

Men's Ice Hockey

DePaul University has an ice hockey club team called the DePaul University Hockey Club that competes in the Northern Collegiate Hockey League in the Central Region of the ACHA. The team plays a 25-30 game schedule against regional opponents. Home games are played at Johnny's Ice House West. In 2009 the team made the ACHA Division II National Championship Tournament for the first time in the team's history.

Men's Lacrosse

DePaul University fields Men's Lacrosse at the non-varsity club level in the Great Lakes Lacrosse League in the Chicago Division. DePaul Men's Lacrosse divisional rivals include: Bradley University, University of Chicago, Lake Forest College, Loyola University Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Western Illinois University and Wheaton College, as well as other GLLL opponents. The Men's Lacrosse Club play their home games at Diversey Harbor and Montrose Beach.
DePaul reached the national stage in 2013 when they reached their first ever MCLA Tournament appearance only to be ousted in the 1st round by the 2012 and 2013 MCLA Division II Champion, St. Thomas Tommies 11-3.
Conference Championships
National Tournament Appearances
YearWinsLossesConference Playoffs National Rank
2013931stFirst Round22
2012552nd----
2011263rd----
2010465th----
2009643rd----
2008453rd----

Men's Roller Hockey

DePaul's roller hockey club competes in the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League, a league within the NCRHA. The team was first started in 2005 and played steadily in the NCRHA for seven consecutive seasons before dropping out of the league for a few years. The team has recently been reactivated and rejoined the NCRHA in 2014. The current team plays in Division III of the MCRHL.

Rowing

DePaul has had a crew team for the last four years and gained formal recognition in 2013.

Men's Rugby

DePaul University currently competes as a non-varsity club in USA Rugby's DII collegiate rugby division. As one of the top collegiate teams in the city of Chicago, DePaul competes in the Great Midwest Rugby Conference formerly known as the WIIL Conference in the Southern division. As famed collegiate rugby writer Alex Goff states,
WIIL conference is one of the toughest divisions in DII rugby." DePaul Rugby was the inaugural champion of the THG Chicago Cup. Men's Rugby play their home matches at Diversey Harbor.

Tennis

DePaul University Club Tennis competes regionally in the Midwest League of the USTA's national Tennis on Campus program. They practice and host their home matches at Midtown Athletic Club Chicago, the largest indoor tennis facility in the country. In recent years, the club has taken a lead role in helping to develop the Chicago Tennis on Campus community of schools. In February 2013, they were named USTA Midwest Club of the Year.

Men's volleyball

DePaul University's Men's Volleyball Club competes at the division 1AA level, hosts and travels to several tournaments per year, competing against clubs from across the nation. The Blue Demons practice and play their home matches at the Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center. In 2011, the Blue Demons finished 3rd at the NCVF National Championships in Houston, TX, their best finish in club history.

Water Polo

DePaul Water Polo is a coed water polo club that competes in the ACWPL and competes against other clubs/schools from across the country. The team was founded in 2013 and currently practices at the Northeastern Illinois University Physical Education Complex.

Athletic facilities

Current facilities

Mascot

DePaul's mascot is DIBS which stands for Demon In a Blue Suit. DIBS is present at every Blue Demons basketball game and makes frequent appearances at DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus and charity appearances around the Chicago metropolitan area. While the Blue Demon nickname has been around for many years, the Blue Demon mascot took the game floor for the first time in 1968 with a papier-mache head and old warm-up suit. Through the years, the Blue Demon has taken on many forms in its evolution and was dubbed DIBS in 1999.