St. Bonaventure Bonnies

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St. Bonaventure Bonnies
University St. Bonaventure University
Conference Atlantic 10 Conference
NCAA Division I
Athletic directorBob Beretta
Location St. Bonaventure, New York
Varsity teams19
Basketball arena Reilly Center
Baseball stadium Fred Handler Park at McGraw-Jennings Field
Soccer stadiumTom and Michelle Marra Athletics Field Complex
Lacrosse stadiumTom and Michelle Marra Athletics Field Complex
MascotReilly the Bona Wolf
NicknameBonnies
Fight song"Unfurl the Brown and White"
ColorsBrown and white [1]
   
Website gobonnies.com
Atlantic 10 Conference textless logo in St. Bonaventure brown.svg

The St. Bonaventure Bonnies (formerly the St. Bonaventure Brown Indians from 1927 to 1992 [2] ) are the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs of St. Bonaventure University, based in St. Bonaventure, New York between the two towns of Allegany and Olean. The Bonnies compete in the National Collegiate Athletics Association's Division I Atlantic 10 Conference, [3] of which it has been a member since 1979. [4] The programs' mascot is the Bona Wolf and the colors are brown and white. [5] [6]

Contents

They have collectively won 13 team conference championships, as well as numerous individual conference titles and accolades.

Sports sponsored

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Cross countryLacrosse
GolfSoccer
Lacrosse Softball
Soccer Swimming and diving
Swimming and divingTennis
TennisTrack and field†
Track and field†
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

A member of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), St. Bonaventure University sponsors teams in nine men's and eight women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The Bonnies men's lacrosse program competed as an associate member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference through the 2022 season, after which the A-10 established a men's lacrosse league. [7]

Baseball

The Bonnies were coached by Larry Sudbrook for 35 seasons. The team captured Atlantic 10 division championships in 2000 and 2002. The 2004 squad won the Atlantic 10 championship and made its first appearance in the NCAA tournament. They are currently coached by Jason Rathbun.

Men's basketball

The men's basketball program has enjoyed success on and off throughout its history, including an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1970, [8] and an NIT Championship in 1977. [9] St. Bonaventure's most recent NCAA tournament appearance was in 2021, where it lost in the first Round to LSU. Its most recent victory was in the 2018 Tournament where the Bonnies won their play-in game against UCLA. The win marked the program's first NCAA tournament win since reaching the Elite Eight in 1970. The Bonnies would drop their next game, a 77–62 loss to Florida. Currently, St. Bonaventure's head men's basketball coach is Mark Schmidt. [10] St. Bonaventure won the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament championships in 2021.

NBA Hall of Famer Bob Lanier played at St. Bonaventure, leading them to the 1970 Final Four. [8] The men's and women's basketball teams play at the 4,860-seat Reilly Center. [11] The playing surface was renamed Bob Lanier Court in a dedication ceremony on October 12, 2007. Lanier attended along with his mother, sister, and daughter. [12]

NCAA tournament appearances1961, 1968, 1970, 1978, 2000, 2012, 2018, 2021
National Invitation tournament appearances1951, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1971, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2016, 2022
NIT championships1977
Atlantic 10 championships2012, 2021
Atlantic 10 Regular season championships2016, 2021

Women's basketball

In the 2011–2012 season, the Bonnies women's basketball team had the best season in their history. They accumulated a record of 31–4 in the regular season, including a perfect 14–0 record in the Atlantic 10 conference. They were ranked as high as 16th in the national polls and earned a 5th seed in the NCAA tournament. They beat Florida Gulf Coast and Marist in the Tallahassee Regional to advance to the Sweet 16, where they lost to eventual national runner-up Notre Dame. The women's basketball team made its second NCAA tournament appearance in 2016. The program's head coach is Jim Crowley, one of the winningest coaches in Atlantic 10 history.

NCAA tournament appearances2012, 2016
Women's National Invitation tournament appearances2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
Atlantic 10 Regular season championships2012

Men's lacrosse

In 2017, St. Bonaventure announced plans to add men's lacrosse as a varsity team, beginning in the 2018–2019 academic year. [13] In the program's fourth varsity season, it captured the 2022 MAAC regular season championship. The Bonnies are coached by Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee Randy Mearns. Goalie Brett Dobson, who won back-to-back PLL Championship Game MVP honors with the Utah Archers in 2023 and 2024, was an All-American with the Bonnies.

Former sports

Football

St. Bonaventure fielded an American football team sporadically from 1892 to 1970. The program gained national recognition in the post-World War II era under Coach Hugh Devore, a former All-American player at Notre Dame. The Brown Indians compiled a record of 25-9-1 during his tenure, which ended after the 1949 season (http://archives.sbu.edu/football/the_history.htm).

Wrestling

The Brown Indians had a wrestling team in 1927, led by player-coach Ed George, [14] and again in 1954, coached by Mike Green. They were winless each season, going 0–2 in 1927 and 0–1 in 1954. Due to their lopsided loss to Alfred Ag Tech in 1954, they discontinued the sport. [15]

Ice Hockey

While currently a club team, St. Bonaventure had a Division III from 1982 through 1993. The Brown Indians had success as an independent recording four consecutive winning seasons before joining the ECAC West in 1986. After a 19–11 mark the program declined and finished near the bottom of the conference for six years before the program dropped from Division III to club status. [16]

Accolades

NCAA postseason appearances

SportYearsNumber of Appearances
Baseball 2004 1
Men's Basketball 1961, 1968, 1970, 1978, 2000, 2012, 2018, 2021 8
Women's Basketball 2012, 2016 2
Men's Tennis 2001, 2003 2
Total Appearances:13

Conference championships

SportConferenceChampionship yearsNumber of championships
BaseballAtlantic 1020041
Men's BasketballAtlantic 102012, 20212
Men's Swimming and DivingAtlantic 101993, 1999, 2006, 2013, 20145
Women's Swimming and DivingAtlantic 101996, 1997, 19983
Men's TennisAtlantic 102001, 20032
Total Championships:13

Conference regular-season championships

SportConference Regular seasonChampionship yearsNumber of championships
Men's BasketballAtlantic 102016, 20212
Women's BasketballAtlantic 1020121
Men's LacrosseMAAC20221
Total Championships:4

All-Americans

Men's basketball

Bonnies in the Olympics

NameYearCitySportCountryMedal
Ed Don George 1928 Amsterdam WrestlingFlag of the United States.svg  United States 4th
Lou Gregory 1932 Los Angeles TrackFlag of the United States.svg  United States DNF
Barry Mungar 1988 Seoul BasketballFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 6th
Norman Clarke 1988 Seoul BasketballFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 6th
Garvin Ferguson 1988 Seoul SwimmingFlag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 32nd, 48th
Tom Fitzgerald 1996 Atlanta HandballFlag of the United States.svg  United States 9th
Ayse Diker 2000 Sydney SwimmingFlag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 43rd
Stef Collins 2012 London BasketballFlag of England.svg  England 11th

Bonnies in the Paralympics

NameYearCitySportCountryMedal
Kevin Whalen 2004 Athens Wheelchair tennisFlag of the United States.svg  United States Round of 16

Facilities

Source: [20]

SportFacility
Baseball Fred Handler Park
Basketball Reilly Center
GolfSt. Bonaventure Golf Course/Bartlett Country Club
LacrosseTom and Michelle Marra Athletics Field Complex
SoccerTom and Michelle Marra Athletics Field Complex
SoftballJoyce Field
Swimming & DivingReilly Center Pool
TennisSt. Bonaventure Outdoor Tennis Center

Mascot and colors

St. Bonaventure's former athletics logo in use prior to 1992, depicting the school's Brown Indian mascot. St. Bonaventure Brown Indians logo.png
St. Bonaventure's former athletics logo in use prior to 1992, depicting the school's Brown Indian mascot.

The school's current mascot is the Bona Wolf, the third mascot in school history. [5] The wolf is a reference to the Wolf of Gubbio, a story from the life of St. Francis. The school's colors, brown and white, reflect the colors of Franciscan friar robes. The university is closely affiliated with this religious order. [21]

From 1927 to 1992, St. Bonaventure's mascot was the Brown Indian. The school's athletics logo during this period featured a stylized letter "B" with a war bonnet hanging over the left side. As part of an ongoing debate over Native American mascots, however, this was changed to the Bona Fanatic. [22] This new mascot was poorly received, so much so that costume wearers were assaulted by St. Bonaventure fans. After only a few years (1996–1998) in existence, the Fanatic was dropped in favor of the current Bona Wolf. [23]

Fight song

The school fight song is "Unfurl the Brown and White." [24] The song was written by St. Bonaventure graduates L.G. O'Brien 1925 and C.R. Kean 1924. [24]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball</span> College basketball team that represents St. Bonaventure University

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The St. Bonaventure Bonnies baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York, United States. The team is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays its home games at Fred Handler Park in St. Bonaventure, New York. The Bonnies are coached by Jason Rathbun.

Earl V. Belcher Jr. is a retired American basketball player who is best known for his collegiate career at St. Bonaventure University between 1977–78 and 1980–81. While playing for the Bonnies, Belcher scored 2,077 points, averaged 20 points per game for his career, and was twice named the Eastern 8 Men's Basketball Player of the Year.

The St. Bonaventure University football program, commonly known as the Brown and White until 1931 and thereafter as the Brown Indians throughout the rest of the team's existence, was the intercollegiate American football team for St. Bonaventure University located in St. Bonaventure, New York. The team competed in independent. The school's first football team was fielded in 1895. St. Bonaventure participated in football from 1895 to 1951, compiling an all-time record of 161–157–26. The football program was discontinued at the conclusion of the 1951 season.

The St. Bonaventure Bonnies softball team represents St. Bonaventure University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). The Bonnies are currently led by head coach Mike Threehouse. The team plays its home games at Joyce Field located on the university's campus.

The St. Bonaventure Bonnies women's basketball team is the women's basketball team that represents St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, New York. The team currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Bonnies' head coach is Jim Crowley, who returned for a second stint with the team in March 2023.

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The 2015–16 St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball team represented St. Bonaventure University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bonnies, led by ninth year head coach Mark Schmidt, played their home games at the Reilly Center and were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 22–9, 14–4 in A-10 play to finish in a three-way tie for the regular season championship. They lost in the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament to Davidson. While the two other teams who tied with Saint Bonaventure for the A-10 title received at-large bids to the NCAA tournament, the Bonnies were one of the "First Four Out" and instead received a top seed in the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Wagner.

Formerly known as the Lightower Conference Classic, the Roc City Hoops Classic is an annual collegiate men's basketball event. The event formerly featured a game played between two Atlantic 10 Conference NCAA Division-I member schools at Blue Cross Arena.

The 2015–16 St. Bonaventure Bonnies women's basketball team represented the St. Bonaventure University during the 2015–16 college basketball season. The Bonnies were coached by head coach Jim Crowley, in his sixteenth and final year in that position; Crowley left to take over the Providence Friars women's basketball team on May 10, 2016. The Bonnies are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference and play their home games at the Reilly Center. They finished the season 24–8, 12–4 in A-10 play to finish in fourth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 women's tournament to VCU. They received an at large bid of the NCAA women's tournament where they defeated Oklahoma State in the first round before falling to Oregon State in the second round.

The 2016–17 St. Bonaventure Bonnies women's basketball team represented the St. Bonaventure University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bonnies, led by first year head coach Jesse Fleming, played their home games at Reilly Center and are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 9–21, 4–12 in A-10 play to finish in a tie for eleventh place. They lost in the first round of the A-10 women's tournament to La Salle.

The 2017–18 St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball team represented St. Bonaventure University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bonnies, led by 11th-year head coach Mark Schmidt, played their home games at the Reilly Center in Olean, New York as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 26–8, 14–4 in A-10 play to finish in second place. They defeated Richmond in the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament before losing in the semifinals to Davidson. They received one of the last four at-large bids to the NCAA tournament where they defeated UCLA in the First Four before losing in the first round to Florida.

The 2017–18 St. Bonaventure Bonnies women's basketball team represented the St. Bonaventure University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bonnies, led by second year head coach Jesse Fleming, played their home games at Reilly Center and were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 8–22, 3–13 in A-10 play to finish in a tie for eleventh place. They lost in the first round of the A-10 women's tournament to George Mason.

The 2018–19 St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball team represented St. Bonaventure University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bonnies, led by 12th-year head coach Mark Schmidt, played their home games at the Reilly Center in Olean, New York as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 18-16, 12-6 in A-10 play for 4th place. They defeated George Mason and Rhode Island to advance to the championship game where they lost to Saint Louis.

The 2018–19 St. Bonaventure Bonnies women's basketball team represented the St. Bonaventure University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bonnies, led by third year head coach Jesse Fleming, played their home games at Reilly Center and were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 8–22, 5–11 in A-10 play to finish in a tie for twelfth place. They lost in the first round of the A-10 women's tournament to Davidson.

The 1969–70 St. Bonaventure Brown Indians men's basketball team represented St. Bonaventure University during the 1969–70 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The Brown Indians were independent and not a member of a conference. They were led by ninth year head coach Larry Weise as well as 6′ 11″ center Bob Lanier, named a consensus first-team All-American for the second consecutive season. He finished his career with averages of 27.6 points and 15.7 rebounds in 75 career games. St. Bonaventure advanced to the only Final Four in program history. Lanier suffered a knee injury in the Regional final against Villanova and did not play in the Final Four, but would be the top pick in the 1970 NBA draft and go on to a Hall of Fame career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1967–68 St. Bonaventure Brown Indians men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1967–68 St. Bonaventure Brown Indians men's basketball team represented St. Bonaventure University during the 1967–68 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The Brown Indians were independent and not a member of a conference. They were led by seventh year head coach Larry Weise as well as 6′ 11″ center Bob Lanier, named a consensus second-team All-American as a sophomore. St. Bonaventure advanced to the NCAA tournament, and finished with a 23–2 record and No. 3 in the final rankings of both major polls.

References

  1. ↑ St. Bonaventure University Brand Style Guide (PDF). May 1, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  2. ↑ Patt, David (April 4, 2008). "The St. Bonaventure Brown Indian". SBU.edu. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2012. The Brown Indian represented St. Bonaventure University athletics from Fall 1927, its earliest mention in The Laurel, to 1992.
  3. ↑ "St. Bonaventure University". NCAA. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ "About Atlantic 10". Atlantic 10. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Patt, David (February 14, 2008). "The Athletic Symbols of St. Bonaventure University". Archives.SBU.edu. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  6. ↑ "St. Bonaventure Athletic Traditions". GoBonnies.SBU.edu. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Atlantic 10 Conference Adds Men's Lacrosse as 22nd Championship Sport" (Press release). Atlantic 10 Conference !date=May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "1970 Final Four team to be honored on Jan. 16". Go Bonnies. January 11, 2010. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  9. ↑ "NIT Champions". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  10. ↑ "2010–11 Men's Basketball Roster". Go Bonnies. Archived from the original on December 18, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Reilly Center". Go Bonnies. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  12. ↑ "New Reilly Center Court To Be Named For Bob Lanier". CSTV. July 25, 2007. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  13. ↑ "St. Bonaventure To Add Men's Lacrosse As Varsity Sport". www.usalaxmagazine.com. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  14. ↑ "1926–1927 St. Bonaventure Wrestling". Armdrag. August 26, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  15. ↑ "1953–1954 St. Bonaventure Wrestling". Armdrag. August 26, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  16. ↑ "St. Bonaventure Hockey". St. Bonaventure. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  17. 1 2 3 "1960's Men's Basketball All-Americans". Hickok Sports. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  18. ↑ "1970 Men's Basketball All-Americans". Hickok Sports. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Nicholson, Watt on All-America list". The Buffalo News. March 26, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  20. ↑ "St. Bonaventure Athletic Facilities". Go Bonnies. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  21. ↑ Patt, David (April 27, 2010). "Franciscan Friars and University Colors". The Symbols of St. Bonaventure University. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  22. ↑ Patt, David (April 4, 2008). "The St. Bonaventure Brown Indian". The Symbols of St. Bonaventure University. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  23. ↑ Patt, David (March 23, 2005). "The Bona Fanatic". The Symbols of St. Bonaventure University. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  24. 1 2 "Cheers and Fight Songs". The History of St. Bonaventure University Football. September 6, 2004. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
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