La Salle Explorers
La Salle University's 23 varsity sports teams, known as the Explorers, compete in the NCAA's Division I and are a member of the Atlantic Ten Conference. The name derives from a famous mistake made by a local Philadelphia sportswriter. The writer thought the university was named after the French explorer Sieur de La Salle, when in fact it is named after St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle. However, the nickname caught on, and has remained ever since.
La Salle's teams have won two national championships: The 1954 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the 1980 AIAW Field Hockey Championship. The school also won the 1952 National Invitation Tournament before the tournament became considered "second rate". La Salle's major historic rival has been the Hawks of the Saint Joseph's University, especially in men's basketball. Not only are both schools situated in Philadelphia, but they are also both Catholic, private institutions.
Despite La Salle's small undergraduate enrollment, the university has had quite a bit of success with its mens basketball program.
The men's and women's basketball teams are also part of the Big 5.
Professional Sports Alumni
For prestigious athletic alumni, see Noted Alumni. La Salle has graduated 22 professional basketball players (in the NBA or ABA), and four professional baseball players (in MLB).
- Johnny Beall- MLB
- Michael Brooks - NBA
- Joe Bryant - NBA, Father of Kobe Bryant and current head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA
- Rasual Butler - Active basketball player for the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
- Larry Cannon - ABA
- Frank DiMichele - MLB
- Ken Durrett - NBA
- Bobby Fields - ABA
- Tom Filer - MLB
- Larry Foust - NBA
- Jack George - NBA
- Norm Grekin - NBA
- Lefty Hoerst - MLB
- Ralph Lewis - NBA
- Jackie Moore - NBA
- Doug Overton - NBA, Director of Player Development for the Philadelphia 76ers
- Jim Phelan - NBA
- Tom Piotrowski - NBA
- Lionel Simmons - NBA
- Steven Smith - An undrafted free agent currently in the NBA Summer League with the 76ers
- George Sutor - NBA
- Fatty Taylor - ABA, NBA
- Bernie Williams - NBA, ABA
- Randy Woods - NBA
Olympians
La Salle has had 17 Olympians, who have won a total of six medals (four gold, and two bronze) in 11 Olympic Games. Note: The La Salle Olympians who qualified for Moscow 1980 did not compete because of the U.S. boycott.
- Charles Kieffer --Crew -- GOLD MEDAL , pair with coxswain, Los Angeles 1932
- Joe Verdeur -- Swimming -- GOLD MEDAL, in 200 meter breaststroke, London 1948
- John McIntyre -- Crew -- coxswain in paired oars, London 1948
- Ira Davis -- Track and Field, Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, and Tokyo 1964
- Al Cantello -- Track and Field, Rome 1960
- Hugh Foley -- Crew -- GOLD MEDAL in eight-man crew, Tokyo 1964
- Stan Cwiklinski -- Crew -- GOLD MEDAL in eight-man crew, Tokyo 1964
- William Belden -- Crew, Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980
- Edwin Borja -- Swimming, Montreal 1976
- Edgar Borja -- Swimming, Moscow 1980
- Michael Brooks -- Basketball (Captain), Moscow 1980
- Diane Moyer -- Field Hockey, Moscow 1980 and BRONZE MEDAL Los Angeles 1984
- Kathy McGahey -- Field Hockey -- BRONZE MEDAL Los Angeles 1984
- Eric Buhain -- Swimming, Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992
- Diane Bracalente -- Field Hockey, Seoul 1988
- Frank Lescas -- Swimming, Barcelona 1992
- Derek Brown -- Team Handball, Atlanta 1996