William & Mary, the second-oldest university in the United States, boasts a rich athletic history since the founding of its athletic program in 1893. The College has more conference championships than any other school in the Coastal Athletic Association. As of the end of the 2010-11 academic year, the Tribe had won 101 conference championships.
William & Mary has secured two team national championships in men's tennis, along with AIAW championships in women's golf, NAIA championships in women's gymnastics, thirteen USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships, and various individual national championships.
Team Nicknames and Colors
Since the founding of its athletic program in 1893 the school's athletes have worn different colors and nicknames.
- From 1893 to 1909 William & Mary football players were known simply as the Orange and White; this reflected the official school colors at that time.
- From 1910 to 1916 the team colors changed, and the new nickname, "The Orange and Black", reflected this.
- From 1916 to the mid-1980s William & Mary athletic teams were known as the Indians.
- Since 1978 the school's teams have been known simply as the Tribe.
During the 2006-07 school year then-College President Gene Nichol removed two tribal feathers from the William & Mary athletic logo to bring the program into compliance with newly passed NCAA regulations.
Football
The football team has won eight conference championships. While a member of the Southern Conference, W&M were champions or co-champions in 1942, 1947, 1966, and 1970. After joining the Yankee Conference, the Tribe won the Mid-Atlantic Division in 1993 and won the conference championship in 1996. After the Yankee Conference's 1997 merger with the A-10 Conference, the Tribe were co-champions in 2001 and 2004.
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In 2008, the Tribe played Richmond, at home, on the very last game of the season. While Richmond was assured of a berth in the playoffs, having played and won an extra game due to a 12-game schedule that year (Tribe only played 11 games), the Tribe entered the game needing a win to secure a playoff spot. William & Mary trailed by 14 points going into the 4th quarter but made a huge comeback (largely due to Derek Cox) to send the game into overtime. The Tribe lost in overtime after Richmond blocked a field goal attempt during the Tribe's possession, then kicked a successful field goal during its possession. By failing to beat the Spiders William & Mary missed the playoffs.
In 2009, the Tribe played the Virginia Cavaliers (UVa), in a season opening match-up for both schools in Charlottesville for the first time since 1986. The Tribe upset Virginia 26-14. It was the second Tribe win over Virginia in as many tries and mirrored several other recent wins by CAA (FCS) programs over those in the ACC (FBS), including three by Richmond over Duke (2006, 2009, 2011).
Maine vs William & Mary Football Highlights | CAA Football
Basketball
Traditionally, the Tribe has not been a storied basketball program, though they have achieved sporadic success. They have reached the postseason three times, all in the National Invitation Tournament. They first made the NIT in 1983 after winning the regular season conference title. They then returned to the NIT in 2010 after beating both Wake Forest University and the University of Maryland on the road during the regular season.
The Tribe have appeared in the championship game of a conference tournament nine times but have lost them all. While in the Southern Conference, they lost the tournament final in 1958, 1961, 1965, and 1975, and while in the ECAC South (precursor to the Coastal Athletic Association) they lost the 1983 final to James Madison, 38-41. They next competed in the CAA tournament final in 2008, losing 59-68 to George Mason.
The Tribe women's basketball team has generally not been a successful program. They first reached a conference tournament final appearance in the 1993 CAA final, which they lost to perennial power Old Dominion by a score of 51-65.
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After going 11-18 overall and 8-10 in conference play, the 2024-25 team was seeded ninth in the 2025 CAA women's basketball tournament, but ultimately upset top-seed North Carolina A&T and fourth-seeded Drexel to reach their first CAA final in 32 years. The Tribe then defeated third-seeded Campbell 66-63 on March 16 for the first ever CAA basketball tournament championship in school history, thereby qualifying for their first NCAA tournament, and marking the first NCAA tournament appearance in school history for either of the men's or women's basketball teams.
Cross Country and Track & Field
The College of William & Mary's most dominant sports are its men's and women's cross country and track & field teams. The cross country teams previously hosted their home meets on the grounds of the Eastern State Hospital. Home track meets are held at Zable Stadium.
The men's cross country team qualified for fourteen straight NCAA Division I championships (1997-2010), and 26 total NCAA championship appearances. Alumnus Brian Hyde represented the United States in the 1996 Olympics. The women's cross country squad has made nine NCAA championship appearances.
Men's Soccer
The Tribe men's soccer team has produced two First Team All-Americans and fourteen NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently in 2010. They have won eight conference tournaments since the program's inception in 1965. The most famous alumnus from this program is TV pundit Jon Stewart. He played from 1981 to 1983 and scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over UConn in the 1983 ECAC tournament championship to give William & Mary their second ever conference tournament championship crown.
The majority of the Tribe's success in men's soccer was overseen by Al Albert during an illustrious 33-year career as head coach. In 2004, Albert passed the coaching reins to his capable protege, Chris Norris.
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Women's Soccer
When counting all-time women's soccer NCAA Tournament appearances, just behind national powerhouses North Carolina (with 30) and UConn (with 28) are the William & Mary Tribe (24). As of the end of 2011, they were on an NCAA-record 30-year consecutive winning seasons streak (tied with North Carolina), dating back to 1982, capturing ten conference tournament crowns in that span.
Field Hockey
The field hockey team plays at Busch Field[17] on campus. The team has two CAA championships (2018 and 2023).
Men's Gymnastics
The men's team has been very successful across the years. While never winning a team national title, the team has achieved two individual championships: Scott McCall on the rings in 1996 and Ramon Jackson on the parallel bars in 2004.
The team has appeared at eight NCAA championship events: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2021, and 2025. Tribe men's gymnastics has also won thirteen USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009) and produced five CGCA National Academic Team Champions.
Women's Gymnastics
The women's team has never qualified for the national championship meet or won an individual event. Nonetheless, the women's team has still won six ECAC gymnastics championships: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2014 & 2015.
Golf
The men's and golf team host their home tournaments at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club and the women's golf team host their home tournaments at Kingsmill Resort. Neither the men nor women have ever qualified as a team for the NCAA golf championships. However, the women's team won an AIAW championship in 1981.
Women's Lacrosse
The women's lacrosse team plays at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field. They have qualified for seven NCAA tournaments and have a combined record of 0-7.
Swimming and Diving
Diver Shawn McLane was named an All-American in 1985 (1- and 3-meter) and 1986 (3-meter).
The women's team has been represented at the NCAA Championship meet on five occasions. Erin Sheehey competed at the meet in 1984 and Katie Radloff qualified and competed all four years of her college career from 2007 to 2010, finishing as high as 20th in the nation in the 100 yard freestyle.
Tennis
The men's and women's tennis teams play at the Millie West Tennis Facility and the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center. The men's team won two NCAA championships in 1947 (10-4 vs. Rice) and 1948 (6-5 vs. San Francisco); they were led by coach Sharvey G. Umbeck to both titles. They were runners up in 1946 against USC. Individually, players have won two individual events: Gardner Larned won the singles title in 1947 and the pair of Fred Kovaleski and Bernard Bartzen won the doubles title in 1948. Since then, Tribe men's tennis has made four national championship appearances (with a record of 0-3): 1999, 2005, 2007, and 2015.
The women's team, while never winning an NCAA title, has also been prolific. The team has made 26 appearances in the NCAA championships with a combined record of 21-26: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Volleyball
The women's indoor volleyball team competes at Kaplan Arena.
Notable Alumni
Notable graduates from the athletic programs include Jon Stewart, Adin Brown, Sean McDermott, Mike Leach, Buster Ramsey, Darren Sharper, Mike Tomlin, Bill Chambers, J. D.
"Tribe Fight Song"
The "Tribe Fight Song" is the official fight song of The College of William & Mary, located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Throughout the College's history there have been three official fight songs. The original fight song, titled "Victory", was written in 1929 by Oscar E. Wilkinson. Two years later, a new fight song titled "Fight, Fight, Fight for the Indians"[b] was published in the William & Mary student handbook. Many years later, a third edition was written which is still used today. A second, lesser known song was composed by Rolfe Kennard in the 1930s.