Arkansas State Red Wolves Logo PNG
The bearded face of a red-black wolf is the mascot of the Arkansas State Red Wolves, whose logo symbolizes a commitment to its history and reflects the brand’s identity. The color and name resonate with the brand’s philosophy and the bravery and fearlessness inherent in the proud Native Americans.
Arkansas State University opened in 1909 as an agricultural and mechanical school serving the Mississippi Delta. Sports programs appeared early, and in 1911, the football team played its first games against Paragould High School. Early nicknames included Aggies and Gorillas, later replaced by Indians in the 1930s.
Football paused during World War II, then returned stronger in the 1950s under Forrest England, with four bowl appearances from 1951 to 1953. In 1953, the program moved from NJCAA to NCAA competition.
A peak came in 1970 under Benny Ellender. The team finished 11:0, won the Pecan Bowl against Central Missouri State, and was named national champion of the College Division, now Division II.
Arkansas State moved to Division I in 1975 and briefly competed at the FBS level from 1978 to 1981. In the 1980s, led by Larry Lacewell, the team reached the Division I-AA playoffs four times and played in the 1986 national championship game, losing to Georgia Southern.
In 2001, the program joined the Sun Belt Conference. The first title came in 2005 with a trip to the New Orleans Bowl. In 2008, the nickname changed to Red Wolves, and the NCAA approved a new identity.
A strong run followed in the early 2010s. In 2011, Hugh Freeze led the team to a 10:2 record and a perfect conference run before leaving for Ole Miss. Success continued under Gus Malzahn and Bryan Harsin, bringing three straight Sun Belt titles from 2011 to 2013. In 2016, Arkansas State shared the title with Appalachian State and beat UCF in the Cure Bowl.
Basketball programs developed in parallel. The men’s team reached the NCAA Tournament several times, while in March 2025, the women’s team won the Sun Belt Tournament against James Madison and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.
Meaning and History
ASU’s branding style for its university teams is relatively new, having emerged in 2008, although the sports association is over a hundred years old. Previously, it featured imagery of Native Americans, including the nickname “Indians”.
But upon closer inspection, the connection to Native Americans has not disappeared; it has simply been updated and given a modern interpretation. The red color conveys their skin tone, while the word “wolves” reflects their brave, fearless nature.
What is Arkansas State Red Wolves?
It is Arkansas State University’s sports program. Its participants compete in NCAA Division I and are part of the Sun Belt Conference (except for women’s bowling). The department is located in Jonesboro and includes 16 student teams.
The current version was introduced on March 13, 2008. Along with this, the crimson face, located on the full face, looks more like a mask than a real wolf’s head. The developers likely sought to align with the university’s previous branding style. The animal’s ears are alertly raised, the mouth is open, and the white teeth are visible.
1957 – 1983
1983 – 1993
1993 – 2008
2008 – 2015
2015 – today
