The logo of the Centenary Gentlemen, the athletic department of Centenary College of Louisiana, highlights the high social status and culture of its members. The choice of a concise, stylish symbol, a large white letter C, corresponds to this. The brand’s color palette has been applied.
The Centenary College of Louisiana athletic program took shape after the move from Jackson to Shreveport in 1908–1909, when early teams were recorded in catalogs and the Maroon and White publication. Founded in 1825, the college maintained a balance between academics and sports from the start.
Football defined the 1920s–1930s, with wins over LSU, Baylor, Rice, SMU, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame. Basketball earned conference recognition by winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association title in 1931 under Robert Maxwell. Football was discontinued in December 1941 due to financial pressure and did not return until 2024, following a failed attempt in 1947.
Basketball moved to NCAA Division I in 1960. In 1972, Robert Parish joined the program and later entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. NCAA sanctions under “rule 1.6” resulted in a six-year probation, removing the team from postseason play and official records. Parish remained, and under Larry Little, the team went 87–21, finishing No. 19 in the 1975–76 AP ranking.
Centenary joined the Trans America Athletic Conference in 1978 and won its 1980 tournament against Northeast Louisiana, but was not eligible for the NCAA Tournament. Finals losses to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock in 1986, 1989, and 1990 followed. Over more than 50 years in Division I, the program never reached the NCAA Tournament.
Among alumni, golfer Hal Sutton became a PGA Tour figure and 2004 Ryder Cup captain. In 2011, Centenary moved to NCAA Division III and joined the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. In 2018, the NCAA restored Robert Parish’s records after 42 years.
Meaning and History
The athletic department’s emblem aligns with the titles “Gentlemen” and “Ladies,” reflecting the students’ high social status and culture. Centenary College of Louisiana departed from the tradition of using animal mascots and chose a simple yet stylish sign featuring a large white letter “C” in the center. The letter appears concise: an open oval with a black outline. It is positioned in the center of a bright red circle, surrounded by a wide black line. This combination of colors is considered classic and serves as the university’s official palette.
The name of the educational institution, “Centenary College,” is above. The print symbols are arranged in a semicircular arch. Below is the word Athletics. It is divided by two red rectangular triangles on both sides and directed at a 90-degree angle to the center of the logo.
What is Centenary Gentlemen?
Centenary Gentlemen is the athletic department of Centenary College in Louisiana, comprising 20 men’s and women’s teams. Students participate in NCAA Division III intercollegiate competitions and are part of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The department is based in Shreveport.


