University of Portland - Athletics

Athletics

UP's NCAA soccer program gained notoriety after Clive Charles, who started coaching the men's team in 1986, added the women's head coaching job in 1989, heading both teams until his death in 2003. The women's team won the NCAA Division I National Championship in 2002 and 2005, led both years by current Canadian international star Christine Sinclair. Four current US men's internationals, Conor Casey, Steve Cherundolo, Heath Pearce and Kasey Keller, also attended the University of Portland, as did longtime US women's internationals Shannon MacMillan and Tiffeny Milbrett and current women's international players Stephanie Lopez and Megan Rapinoe. After his death Charles was replaced by his assistant Bill Irwin. Home matches are played at 4,892-seat Merlo Field, part of the Clive Charles Soccer Complex on campus. The University of Portland's soccer team is one of the oldest college programs in the U.S., going back to 1910, and was played as a club sport almost continually until 1977, when it gained full varsity status.

Beyond soccer, UP also boasts one of the nation's top NCAA Division I men's cross country teams. Coached by Rob Conner, the Pilots have won 31 straight West Coast Conference Championships, one of the longest active conference championship streaks in the NCAA. On the national level, UP has finished in the top ten at the NCAA Championships four times. In 2008, the Pilots placed 7th in the nation, matching their placing from 2001, also the highest finish ever for the team. Individually, Portland has had such standouts as Uli Steidl, John Moore, Michael Kilburg, and most notably, David Kinsella. In 2008, the same year as the 7th place team finish, Kinsella ended up 4th at the NCAA nationals, marking the highest individual finish ever for a UP runner at a national championship.

Other intercollegiate sports at UP include basketball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, tennis, and golf. (In November 2010, the school announced it would add women's crew effective with the 2011-12 academic year, while dropping both men's and women's golf.) While none of these teams have the standing of the soccer program, the men's cross country program has won 31 conference titles in a row and has come into its own nationally over the past few years. In November 2005, the University of Portland stood at 25th in Sports Illustrated's College All Sport rankings. UP's previously sponsored football program was disbanded in 1950 due to lack of funding.

Students participate in club level sports such as men's and women's lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, crew, and water polo, as well as a variety of intramural sports.