Athletics Invigorate University Culture

Athletics invigorate University culture

SPORTS HAVE BEEN into Loyola’s culture for decades.

But Director of Athletics Steve Watson says it’s now more relevant than ever, three years into Loyola University Chicago’s Atlantic 10 conference membership.

“It’s not just basketball,” Watson says. “It’s the crowds you see at soccer and volleyball games. You hear students across campus talking about the cross-country team winning back-to-back A-10 championships, and women’s volleyball going to the NCAA Tournament.

“You see so many people wearing their maroon-and-gold scarves, and the script Loyola logo is everywhere. Not only students, but also the entire University and our alumni community supports and follows the Ramblers.”

Athletics at Loyola play a key role in the student experience, aligning with the Jesuit values of holistic education, while also serving as a source of pride and identity for the school.

Loyola’s athletes also excel on the field and in the classroom. The student-athlete graduation rate is an impressive 94 percent, above the national Division 1 average of 91 percent.