ROCKFORD'S HOME TEAM: FIELDING STUDENT-ATHLETES FOR 175 YEARS

Rockford’s Home Team: Fielding

Athletics have been an integral part of Rockford University since its earliest days. The university’s first president, Anna Peck Sill, imparted on her pupils the importance of training the body as well as the mind. She encouraged students to exercise at a time in history when females were often discouraged from engaging in too much physical activity. In her honor, the institution’s first gymnasium, located on Old Campus and built at the end of the 19th century, was named “Sill Gym.”

Before intercollegiate athletics for men began at Rockford College in 1956 — and for women after the passing of Title IX in 1972 — students engaged in inter-class competitive sports. Field hockey was one of the first, with each class

Miss Anna Peck Sill arrives in Illinois from Oakfield, New York and opens a preparatory school for young ladies in an old courthouse building while awaiting her confirmation as Rockford Female Seminary’s first president.

Sill Gym is completed and includes state-of-the-art equipment. Students wear wool uniforms when exercising.

Land for the new East State Street campus is purchased.

1847

A charter is signed to establish Rockford Female Seminary. 1849 1886 1890 s

Sill Hall is erected and work begins on a gymnasium. 1892

Rockford Female Seminary becomes Rockford College. 1928

Student-Athletes for 175 Years

competing against the other for ultimate bragging rights. Faculty also had their own athletic teams and competed against students. In addition to field hockey, popular campus sports included basketball, crew, and swimming.

In the decades that followed, Regent athletic programs have grown and become a thriving presence on campus. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni take immense pride in the 12 intercollegiate men’s and women’s varsity teams that compete at the NCAA Division III level. Today, approximately one third of Rockford University students are athletes.

Rockford College establishes Rockford Men’s College and begins accepting male students.

Banty Bantam is introduced as mascot of Rockford Men’s College.

Construction begins on the new East State Street

campus.

1953 1955 1956 1957 1959 1960

Women’s crew team defeats the University of Wisconsin. Men’s intercollegiate athletics begin, including basketball.

Rockford Men’s College and Rockford College become one institution. Regent mascot is introduced and purple and white are selected as the college’s official colors.

Fielding Student-Athletes for 175 Years

With the passing of Title IX, women’s sports officially join the university’s intercollegiate program; volleyball and basketball are the first. The Rockford College Athletic Hall of Fame is created.

Men’s soccer team is co-champion of the Northern Illinois Intercollegiate Conference.

1964

Rockford College moves to its new campus. 1972 1976 1980 1979 1980

Chip Geiger ’76 becomes the Regent’s first NCAA Division III national champion winning the one- and three-meter diving titles.

Men’s golf team wins Chicagoland Intercollegiate Golf Conference Championship.

Fielding Student-Athletes for 175 Years

Men’s golf team wins the conference championship — the team’s 12th since 1972.

Football joins the list of Rockford College athletic programs.

Rockford College joins the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) as a charter member.

1984 1997

Reggie the Lion is introduced after the college holds a mascot contest. The winning submission was a drawing of a lion by Donna Addison ’84. 1999 2000 2003 2006

Men’s soccer team wins its 14th conference championship since 1969. Women’s volleyball team wins its second consecutive conference championship.

Fielding Student-Athletes for 175 Years

Women’s basketball team wins its third consecutive conference championship. Baseball team wins back-to-back NACC championships.

2006 2008 2008

Men’s cross country team wins the NACC championship. 2010

Baseball team wins the NACC championship.

Fielding Student-Athletes for 175 Years

Rockford College becomes Rockford University.

2013

Thanks to generous donor support of the Rock Solid & Ready Campaign, Rockford University began a $3.5 million renovation of the Seaver Physical Education Center.

Four Rockford University athletic teams compete in the South Division NACC Tournaments: men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, baseball, and softball. Men’s basketball wins the South Division title and goes on to compete in the NACC Tournament championship game.

2016 2019 2020 2021

Reggie the Regent debuts a new look.

NACC spring and fall athletic seasons postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; NACC athletics resume play in January 2021.