UIC Flames
Encyclopedia
The UIC Flames are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Chicago
. They are called the Flames as a reference to the Great Chicago Fire
, and their team colors are navy blue and fire engine red. Approximately 300 student athletes compete in 18 varsity sports. The Flames participate in NCAA Division I athletics as part of the Horizon League
in baseball, basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball. The Flames also compete in gymnastics in the Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League
. Jim Schmidt is the current Athletic Director and has been at the university for 25 years.
UIC Athletics began with the College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S) in the 1880s with their basketball and football teams whose team colors were red (blood) and iodoform (iodine). P&S eventually affiliated with and then became absorbed into the University of Illinois forming its College of Medicine.
In 1946 the Chicago Illini represented the two-year University of Illinois undergraduate division located on Navy Pier. In 1965 the Chicago Illini moved to Harrison and Halsted to represent the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle campus. Upon this move the team became known as the Chicas, a shortening of Chicago, this was changed "Chikas" due to taunting from other teams knocking them ("chicas" means "girls" in Spanish). This spelling was rationalized as being a reference to the Chickasaw tribe. It was dropped in the seventies.
During the late 1970s the program was simply known as “Circle.” In 1982 the University of Illinois Medical Center campus consolidated with Circle Campus to form the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC); a contest was held for students to rename the athletics teams. The winning entry was The Flames as a reference to the Great Chicago Fire
.
currently serves as the home of the Flames' basketball teams. The men's basketball team competed in the NCAA tournament
in 1998, 2002, and 2004, and appeared in the NIT
in 2003, but have not advanced past the first round in either tournament. Howard Moore
, a former assistant coach at Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball
, was signed as the men's basketball team's new head coach in 2010. He replaced Jimmy Collins
. In his first season, the Flames beat #12/14 Illinois at the United Center.
Jay Demerit played for UIC's men's soccer team and currently plays for and captains the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer
, and was a former captain of Watford
whom he played for in the English Premier League and the Coca Cola Championship. Jay also is a member of the US Men's National Team, whom he represented in the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Another Flame, Pat McMahon received an offer to play in Scotland in 2009.. Baggio Husidić
is another MLS player currently playing with the Chicago Fire.
The women's softball team won the conference championship in six of seven years between 1999 and 2005.
The men's baseball team won nine consecutive regular season championships from 2001-2009. The center-fielder for the New York Yankees, Curtis Granderson, is a UIC Alum.
UIC had a Men's Ice Hockey team before the program folded in the spring of 1996.
The men's swim team won the Horizon League Championships in 2009. Swimming & Diving 2007 alumni Blake Booher qualified for the 2008 Olympic Swimming Trials in the 50 Freestyle. 2011 alumni Steve Yemm qualified for the 2012 Olympic Swimming Trials in the 100 & 200 Butterfly.
, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago; and providing an excellent opportunity to meet people through a shared interest in athletics.
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
. They are called the Flames as a reference to the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
, and their team colors are navy blue and fire engine red. Approximately 300 student athletes compete in 18 varsity sports. The Flames participate in NCAA Division I athletics as part of the Horizon League
Horizon League
The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States....
in baseball, basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball. The Flames also compete in gymnastics in the Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League
Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League
The Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League is an NCAA Division I college athletic conference which sponsors men’s gymnastics. It is an affiliate of the Eastern College Athletic Conference .-Members:*Army Black Knights*Navy Midshipmen...
. Jim Schmidt is the current Athletic Director and has been at the university for 25 years.
History
In 1946 the Chicago Illini represented the two-year University of Illinois undergraduate division located on Navy Pier. In 1965 the Chicago Illini moved to Harrison and Halsted to represent the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle campus. Upon this move the team became known as the Chicas, a shortening of Chicago, this was changed "Chikas" due to taunting from other teams knocking them ("chicas" means "girls" in Spanish). This spelling was rationalized as being a reference to the Chickasaw tribe. It was dropped in the seventies.
During the late 1970s the program was simply known as “Circle.” In 1982 the University of Illinois Medical Center campus consolidated with Circle Campus to form the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC); a contest was held for students to rename the athletics teams. The winning entry was The Flames as a reference to the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
.
Basketball
The UIC PavilionUIC Pavilion
The UIC Pavilion is a 6,958-seat multi-purpose arena, located at 525 S. Racine Street on the West Side in Chicago, Illinois, USA, which opened in 1982. It is home to the University of Illinois at Chicago Flames basketball team and the former home of the Chicago Sky WNBA team...
currently serves as the home of the Flames' basketball teams. The men's basketball team competed in the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
in 1998, 2002, and 2004, and appeared in the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
in 2003, but have not advanced past the first round in either tournament. Howard Moore
Howard Moore
Howard Moore is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at University of Illinois at Chicago. Moore replaced Jimmy Collins as head coach of the Flames on August 23, 2010....
, a former assistant coach at Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball
Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball
The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at the Kohl Center, located on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin....
, was signed as the men's basketball team's new head coach in 2010. He replaced Jimmy Collins
Jimmy Collins (basketball)
James E. "Jimmy" Collins is a retired American basketball player and coach. He was the head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1996 to 2010. He was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, where he attended Corcoran High School. Prior to that, he was an...
. In his first season, the Flames beat #12/14 Illinois at the United Center.
Soccer
UIC's men's soccer team was ranked as high as #6 in the NCAA national polls in 2006 and made it to the second round of the 2006 National tournament, where they lost to Notre Dame. The following year, the Flames reached the "Elite Eight" in the NCAA soccer playoffs. As of 2011, they have been ranked #142 in the NCAA national rankings, out of 204 teams.Jay Demerit played for UIC's men's soccer team and currently plays for and captains the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, and was a former captain of Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
whom he played for in the English Premier League and the Coca Cola Championship. Jay also is a member of the US Men's National Team, whom he represented in the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Another Flame, Pat McMahon received an offer to play in Scotland in 2009.. Baggio Husidić
Baggio Husidić
Adis "Baggio" Hušidić is a Bosnian footballer who currently plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-Early life:...
is another MLS player currently playing with the Chicago Fire.
Other sports
UIC's Women's Tennis Team currently holds a fifteen-year Horizon League championship streak and, as of April 19, 2009, is currently on a 111 conference match winning streak dating back to 1996.The women's softball team won the conference championship in six of seven years between 1999 and 2005.
The men's baseball team won nine consecutive regular season championships from 2001-2009. The center-fielder for the New York Yankees, Curtis Granderson, is a UIC Alum.
UIC had a Men's Ice Hockey team before the program folded in the spring of 1996.
The men's swim team won the Horizon League Championships in 2009. Swimming & Diving 2007 alumni Blake Booher qualified for the 2008 Olympic Swimming Trials in the 50 Freestyle. 2011 alumni Steve Yemm qualified for the 2012 Olympic Swimming Trials in the 100 & 200 Butterfly.
UIC Fury
The Fury is the official student booster club of the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Athletics. The Fury registers over 1,000 new members each year, and to this date is the largest student organization on campus. The organization is free to join for UIC students with these goals: increasing student spirit on campus and at all Flames athletic events; creating the most exciting and intimidating atmosphere at our home, the UIC PavilionUIC Pavilion
The UIC Pavilion is a 6,958-seat multi-purpose arena, located at 525 S. Racine Street on the West Side in Chicago, Illinois, USA, which opened in 1982. It is home to the University of Illinois at Chicago Flames basketball team and the former home of the Chicago Sky WNBA team...
, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago; and providing an excellent opportunity to meet people through a shared interest in athletics.