Central Arkansas Bears Logo PNG
The University of Central Arkansas athletic department uses the Central Arkansas Bears logo, featuring an enraged bear. It honors the region’s long-standing nickname, “The Bear State.” The emblem boosts athletes’ fighting spirit while intimidating opponents.
The University of Central Arkansas athletic program dates back to the early 1900s, when the school operated as Arkansas State Normal School. By 1908, a football team had formed, and over time, teams took names such as the Normalities, the Pea Pickers, and the Teachers. In 1920, the nickname “Bears” was adopted, tied to Arkansas’s reputation as a “bear state,” and the university introduced a live mascot, Big Boy.
Football became the core of campus sports. Estes Stadium, which opened in 1939, was named after coach Dan Estes and remains the home field. The program found conference success in the late 1930s and 1950s in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference.
From 1979 to 1992, Central Arkansas dominated NAIA Division I, winning or sharing 13 conference titles. Under Harold Horton, the team claimed national titles in 1984 and 1985 after tying championship games with Carson-Newman and Wisconsin-La Crosse. In 1991, coach Mike Isom secured a third title with a win over Pittsburg State.
A key rivalry developed with Arkansas Tech University, often deciding conference standings. In basketball, Scottie Pippen emerged in the 1980s, later joining the Seattle SuperSonics and the Chicago Bulls, winning six NBA titles. UCA retired his No. 33 in 2010.
The program moved to NCAA Division II in 1993, joining the Gulf South Conference, and won its title in 2005 under Clint Conque. By 2006–2007, UCA advanced to Division I FCS and entered the Southland Conference. The team won a conference title in 2008, with further wins in 2012 and 2017, along with playoff appearances in 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017.
Meaning and History
The Central Arkansas Bears’ sports logo features the mascot. The aggressive bear, showing its sharp teeth and claws, draws attention. It intimidates opponents and boosts the players’ fighting spirit. From 1996 to 2008, the animal was depicted in full stature. The diagonal drawing was intersected by the letters “UCA,” the acronym for the University of Central Arkansas. Thus, the artists tried to show that the mascot protects the home university.
What are the Central Arkansas Bears?
The Central Arkansas Bears are a group of 18 sports teams made up of students at the University of Central Arkansas. They compete in NCAA Division I and belong to the Western Athletic Conference and the ASUN Conference.
1993 – 2009
2009 – 2017
2017 – today
In 2009, the logo composition changed. The logo’s background features a bear with widely spaced paws. In the front are the inscriptions “UCA” and “Bears.” The outer edges of the “U” and “A” in the first word feature serifs. The design uses traditional university shades. The combination of purple and gray was approved in 1908, when President Doyn tasked Ide Waldron and W.O. Wilson with developing an official color scheme. That day, Waldron wore a purple scarf, and Wilson wore a gray sweater, so they chose this combination.
