1940s

1946

Triple Cities College of Syracuse (TCC) is established in Endicott with Glenn G. Bartle as its Dean.

Bob Redman is named Director of Athletics.

Men’s tennis, men’s basketball and men’s track & field are the first intercollegiate sports to be offered by Triple Cities College. Men’s tennis plays its home matches at the nearby Village of Endicott courts. Men’s basketball plays its games primarily at Union-Endicott High School, while the track and field team utilizes the Endicott-Johnson facility located next to U-E High School.

The teams are called Colonials, owning their names to Colonial Hall, the primary building on the Endicott campus.

1947

Men’s golf is added as an intercollegiate sport at TCC. They play their home matches at En-Joie Golf Course.

Gene Welborn is named Director of Athletics.

1948

In what has since become a Binghamton Athletics tradition, the first awards banquet is held at Endicott’s Hotel Frederick on May 31. The featured speaker was Syracuse University Athletics Director Lew Andreas.

Baseball is added as an intercollegiate sport at TCC. They play their home games both at Johnson Field in Johnson City, as well as at the IBM Country Club field.

1950s

1950

TCC is incorporated into the State University of New York system as Harpur College, after Robert Harpur, a teacher, politician, and pioneer who settled in the Binghamton, New York area.

All student-athletes wear “H” on their uniforms, and the school adopts Harpo, a donkey, as the mascot.

Men’s cross country is added as an intercollegiate sport at Harpur College.

1951

Harpur College graduates its first class.

Patrick Carolan is named Director of Athletics.

1954

Harpur College adds 29 acres to its campus in Vestal.

Glenn G. Bartle is appointed president of Harpur College.

1955

David Henderson is named Director of Athletics.

1958

The $2.4 million East Gymnasium and field complex are dedicated, and become the home for athletic contests. The first major event is a four-team men’s basketball tournament December 5-6 with Wooster, Hamilton and Hobart.

1959

Men’s swimming and diving is added as an intercollegiate sport at Harpur College.

1960s

1960

Men’s soccer is added as an intercollegiate sport at Harpur College.

1961

Harpur College’s move to the Vestal campus is complete.

Tau Alpha Upsilon fraternity is founded at Harpur College.

1965

Harpur College is designated “the State University of New York at Binghamton”, while the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences remains “Harpur College”.

G. Bruce Dearing becomes the institution’s second president.

1967

School of Advanced Technology, the precursor to the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science (1983), is established.

1969

Harpur College joins both the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).

School of Nursing, the precursor to the Decker School of Nursing (1989), is established.

The West Gymnasium is opened and becomes the home of the men’s basketball team until 2004.

Men’s Fencing and wrestling are added as intercollegiate sports at SUNY-Binghamton.

Swimming and diving is the first women’s program at SUNY-Binghamton to be offered as an intercollegiate sport.

1970s

1970

The School of Management is founded.

Baseball player Glen Abbott leads the nation in stolen bases per game and becomes the school’s first All-American in any sport.

1971

Women’s volleyball becomes an intercollegiate sport at SUNY-Binghamton.

1972

C. Peter Magrath becomes the institution’s third president.

Harpur College joins the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).

Women’s tennis becomes an intercollegiate sport at SUNY-Binghamton.

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 is enacted as part of a federal law. This landmark legislation states “no person in the United States, shall on the basis of gender, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance.”

Men’s soccer stuns nationally No. 2 ranked Hartwick, 2-1, snapping the host’s 58-game home unbeaten streak. Binghamton went on to capture the ECAC Championship, the school’s first postseason title.

1973

Women’s basketball becomes an intercollegiate sport at SUNY-Binghamton.

The men’s soccer team becomes the institution’s first program to earn a bid to a NCAA Division III Championship.

1974

SUNY-Binghamton begins competing in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC).

Women’s fencing is added as an intercollegiate sport at SUNY-Binghamton.

Men’s soccer goes unbeaten in conference play to win its first SUNYAC title. The team then hosts Brockport in an NCAA first-round game. In hosting the first national tournament held on campus, the 16^th ranked Colonials lose 3-2 in four overtimes in front of an estimated 3,000 fans at the West Gym Field.

1975

Clifford D. Clark becomes the institution’s fourth president.

The men’s soccer team earns a bid to its third consecutive NCAA Division III Championship, and advances to the quarterfinals.

The men’s cross country team makes its first appearance at the NCAA Division III Championship.

The volleyball team goes 23-6-1, captures the New York State AIAW championship and advances to the Eastern AIAW tournament for the first time.

Wrestler Tim Borshoff becomes the school’s first NCAA finalist when he places second at the 126 weight class.

1976

Men’s and women’s fencing are discontinued as intercollegiate sports at SUNY-Binghamton.

1977

Wrestler Steve Cavayero becomes the first Binghamton student-athlete to win a national title. He wins the 142 weight class at the NCAA Division III Championship, hosted by Binghamton at the West Gym.

Women’s cross country is added as an intercollegiate sport at SUNY-Binghamton.

1978

Wrestler Steve Cavayero wins his second consecutive national title at the 142 weight class at the NCAA Division III Championship.

1979

Softball and women’s track and field are added as intercollegiate sports at SUNY-Binghamton.

1980s

1980

The men’s soccer team wins two tournament games to advance to the NCAA Division III Championship quarterfinals.

1981

Nell Jackson is named Director of Athletics.

1982

“Colonial Bill” Paolillo serves as mascot in a tricorn hat and patriot garb. Baseball student-athlete and graphic arts major Allen Hecht designs the school’s first athletic logo, the Colonial.

1983

The women’s cross country team wins the first SUNYAC championship crown by a Binghamton women’s program, and places a program-best fifth overall while competing at the team’s first NCAA Division III Championship.

1984

Wrestling becomes the first Binghamton team to be ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Wrestler Tom Pillari wins the national title at the 167 weight class at the NCAA Division III Championship.

With a program-best five All-Americans, the wrestling team has the highest finish of any Binghamton men’s Division III team, placing third overall at the NCAA Championship.

Wrestling coach Steve Erber is named NCAA Division III Coach of the Year.
John Moreau, a four-sport student-athlete at Binghamton, represents the USA during the 1984 Summer Olympics. He finishes 10^th in the Men’s Team Épée.

1985

Women’s soccer is added as an intercollegiate sport at SUNY-Binghamton.

1986

TAU celebrates its 25^th Anniversary in Binghamton with over 100 brothers and alumni in attendance.

1987

Men’s Ice hockey is added as an intercollegiate sport at SUNY-Binghamton.

1988

Curt Coutts is named Interim Director of Athletics.

Wrestler Mark Gumble wins the national title at the 150 weight class at the NCAA Division III Championship.

1989

After a 15 year hiatus, the men’s golf team is reinstated at SUNY-Binghamton.

Joel Thirer is named Director of Athletics.

The women’s basketball team would move from the East Gym to the West Gym at the start of the 1989-90 season.

1990s

1991

Lois B. DeFleur becomes the institution’s fifth president.

The women’s soccer team competes in the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time in program history.

Women’s swimming and diving team becomes the first women’s team in school history to post an undefeated season (11-0).

1992

SUNY-Binghamton officially changes the institution’s name to “Binghamton University.”

Ice hockey is discontinued as an intercollegiate sport at Binghamton.

Golfing brothers Chris and Jake Sladish become All-Americans, and lead the Colonials to a seventh-place finish in the team’s first appearance at the NCAA Division III Championship.

Student Association President Kris Ahrend takes to prancing around at games in a chicken suit. This leads to the formation of a University-wide committee to consider revising the Colonials logo.

Chris Coleman, a Binghamton track student-athlete, represents the USA in bobsledding during the 1992 Winter Olympics. He finishes 9^th in the Men’s Four.

1993

Golf is ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation, and places a program-best fourth at the NCAA Division III Championship.

1994

Men’s soccer advances to the NCAA Division III tournament for the ninth and final time.

Chris Coleman, a Binghamton track athlete, represents the USA in bobsledding during the 1994 Winter Olympics. He finishes 15^th in the Men’s Four.

Men’s basketball coach Dick Baldwin is the subject of a four-page feature in Sports Illustrated as the nation’s winningest college basketball coach.

1995

The women’s basketball team makes it’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship.

The softball team concludes its season with a school-record 37-win campaign, a SUNYAC title and its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship.

The men’s tennis team completes its season with an appearance at the NCAA Division III Championship, a No. 10 ranking and three All-America selections.

The volleyball team competes in the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time in program history.

1996

Women’s soccer wins 16 consecutive games, is ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation, and hosts an NCAA second round game at the West Gym Field, falling 1-0 in overtime to Ithaca.

Track and field student-athlete, Monique Hacker wins her first national title in the triple jump at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. She then wins her second national title in the same event at the Outdoor Championships that spring.

Track and field coach Mike Thompson is named NCAA Division III Women’s Indoor Track Coach of the Year, after the team finishes sixth at the Championship meet.

In March, Binghamton University announces that it will elevate its athletics program to the NCAA Division II level in the fall of 1998.

With six NCAA tournament teams and seven nationally top-20 ranked teams, Binghamton places 12^th in the NACDA Division III Director’s Cup for all-sport achievement.

1997

The women’s basketball team wins its first-ever SUNYAC Tournament and earns its third straight trip to the NCAA Division III Championship, hosting a first round game in the West Gym where they lost to Ithaca 73-66.

The women’s tennis team wins its 10th consecutive SUNYAC championship. During its Division III era, the program captured 12 SUNYAC titles.

Women’s track and field student-athlete, Monique Hacker wins her third national title in the triple jump at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships.

1998

Women’s track and field student-athlete, Monique Hacker wins her fourth national title in the triple jump at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships.

For the first time in program history, the men’s and women’s track and field teams finish in the top-10 at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships; the men’s team places eighth and the women’s team places third.

Women’s basketball advances to NCAA Division III Championship for fourth straight year, is ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation, and hosts an NCAA second round game at the West Gym where they lost to Elmira.

The softball team concludes its season with its fourth, and final, consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

On Binghamton’s final day as a NCAA Division III athletic program, track and field student-athletes, Jewdyer Osborne wins the men’s 110 hurdles title, and Monique Hacker captures her fifth and final women’s triple jump title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

In the fall, Binghamton University teams begin play in the New England College Conference. Men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs begin competing in the Metro Conference.

1999

Wrestling joins the East Coast Wrestling Association.

Women’s soccer, women’s basketball, wrestling, golf, men’s tennis, and women’s track advance to the NCAA Division II Championships.

Men’s track and field student-athlete, Brian Hamilton wins the long jump title at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. He becomes the school’s first (and only) national champion during the program’s Division II era.

In May, Binghamton University makes the decision to reclassify to NCAA Division I. The decision sets the stage for Binghamton to compete as a full member in September 2001.

On August 27, Binghamton University unveils its new nickname and logo. Known as the Colonials since 1946, the university teams become known as the Bearcats.

2000s

2000

In June, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Events Center takes place. The state of the art facility costs $33.1 million, and will be host to the university’s Commencement in addition to becoming the home of the athletics program.

2001

Binghamton University is formally admitted into the America East Conference.

Wrestling joins the Colonial Athletic Association.

During Midnight Madness, it was announced that Binghamton’s Bearcat mascot is named “Baxter.”

2002

Men’s and women’s lacrosse are added as intercollegiate sports at Binghamton.

Binghamton wins its first America East Academic Cup for maintaining the highest grade point average among conference institutions.

2003

The men’s swimming and diving team becomes the first Binghamton program to win an America East Conference team championship.

The men’s tennis team wins its first America East Tournament, and become Binghamton’s first team to advance to the NCAA Division I Championship.

Golf wins seven tournaments, more than any Division I team in the country, and receives its first national selection to the NCAA Division I Championship as an at-large team.

Binghamton wins its second consecutive America East Academic Cup.

In their first appearance, the men’s soccer team becomes the first Bearcats team to win a NCAA Division I Championship game as it defeats No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson 1-0.

2004

The Events Center holds its first athletic contest on January 31. The men’s basketball team defeats Hartford 75-68 in front of 4,660 fans.

The women’s soccer team becomes the first Binghamton women’s team to win an America East title, beating Maine 2-0 at the West Gym Field. The team plays Penn State in their first NCAA Division I Championship game.

2005

Binghamton hosts the America East Men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time, drawing over 14,000 fans to the three-day event. Binghamton would host the event again in 2006 and 2008.

After a one year hiatus, the wrestling program is reinstated as an intercollegiate sport at Binghamton University.

The volleyball team wins its first-ever America East Tournament title and earns a bid to the NCAA Division I Championship.

2006

College of Community and Public Affairs and Graduate School of Education are formed after the reorganization of the School of Education and Human Development.

2007

Binghamton hosts the America East Women’s Basketball Tournament for the first time.

The women’s soccer team hosts Syracuse in the first game ever played at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

2008

Men’s track and field student-athlete, Rory Quiller becomes the first Binghamton athlete to win a Division I national title as he wins the pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

The golf team is admitted into the America Sky Conference.

The TAU fraternity begins an initiative to name the Bearcats Sports Complex Press Box.

2009

Before a sold-out crowd at the Events Center and a national television audience on ESPN2, the Men’s Basketball team wins its first-ever America East title with a 61-51 win over defending champion UMBC.

The men’s basketball team faces Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The game is televised nationally by CBS.

Jim Norris is named Director of Athletics.

In their first appearance at the NCAA Division I Championship, the baseball team defeats No. 30 George Mason 11-6, marking the program’s first-ever tournament win.

2010s

2010

C. Peter Magrath returns as the institution’s sixth president on an interim basis.

2011

Harvey G. Stenger, Jr. became the institution’s seventh president.

July 18, former baseball pitcher Scott Diamond becomes the first Binghamton player to appear in a Major League Game. He starts for the Minnesota Twins in a game against the Cleveland Indians.

TAU celebrates its 50^th Anniversary in Binghamton with over 250 brothers and alumni in attendance. The TAU Alumni Society Athletics Scholarship is also first awarded.
Patrick Elliott is named Director of Athletics.

2012

The wrestling team finishes 14th at the NCAA Division I Championships.

Binghamton formally opens its new baseball and softball complexes as well as its outdoor tennis facility.

2013

Binghamton announces plans to open a School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2017.

The wrestling team gains admission into the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) beginning in the 2013-14 season.

2014

The men’s tennis program is admitted into the Mid-American Conference.

The golf program is admitted into the Big Sky Conference.

TAU Alumni Society makes a philanthropic gift for to the Events Center Concourse.

2015

The softball team wins its first-ever America East title with a 9-3 win over top-seeded Stony Brook in the title game, and advances to their first NCAA Division I Championship.

Binghamton University Athletics

Historical Timeline