For over 50 years, Purple Raider/Lancer Athletics has evolved into one of the premier Interuniversity athletic programs in Canada.
Our rich tradition here at the University of Windsor can be attributed to all of our dedicated student-athletes, coaches, administrators and friends who have helped to make the program what it is today.
Fifty-four years ago, Assumption College joined the Ontario-Quebec Athletic Association (OQAA) under the leadership of Father Hussey as Moderator of Athletics and Dr. Frank DeMarco as Intercollegiate and Intramural Director.
It was an exciting time, and athletics at Assumption College were beginning to thrive. Under theleadership of those two men, Assumption's athletics programs blossomed and as a result our intercollegiate teams were born at a rate of nearly one per year.
Women's sports arrived on campus under the leadership of Sis Thomson. As we moved through the 50's, sports teams such as golf, tennis, track and even 10-pin bowling became the foundation of an athletics program that was both successful and respected throughout the province.
The 1960's, 70's, 80's and 90's saw Lancer Athletics truly develop into a national powerhouse.
The Lancers added sports such as hockey, swimming, curling, fencing, archery, and badminton, just to name a few.
Our teams captured either Provincial and/or National Championships in basketball, curling, fencing, football, golf, hockey, volleyball and track and field. Countless Lancer student-athletes were also awarded conference all-star and All-Canadian honours.
Today, as we embark on another exciting year in Canadian University sport, Lancer Athletics continues to prosper.
The University of Windsor Lancers have won an astounding 97 Provincial and National Championships, ranking fifth among 18 schools in the Province.
Recently, the Lancer Women's Volleyball team captured the OUA Provincial Championship in 2006, while the Lancer Men's Basketball and Lancer Women's Basketball teams captured OUA titles in 2007 and 2009 respectively.
The Lancer Track and Field team continues to be the dominant program in Canada as they are coming over the first ever home sweep of the CIS Track and Field National Championships. Head Coach Dennis Fairall has now led the Lancers to 20 CIS National titles and ranks as one of the greatest coaches in CIS history.
We are extremely proud of all of our past and present student-athletes. These are young people who excel in both the classroom and on the playing field.
As we move forward, our current programs will continue to build upon our proud past, and we look forward to an even brighter future.
