Duquesne Dukes Logo PNG
The sports department at Duquesne University, founded in 1982, has an original and concise emblem. Restraint and conciseness characterize the modern Duquesne Dukes logo, symbolizing self-control and the pursuit of victory.
The athletic history of Duquesne began in the early 20th century, with the “Dukes” name adopted in 1911 after the university was renamed in honor of Marquis Duquesne. Basketball became official in 1914, and the first game was played against Bethany College.
A defining moment came in 1947, when the team refused to exclude Chuck Cooper after Tennessee declined to face a Black player. In 1950, Cooper became the first Black player drafted by the Boston Celtics into professional basketball.
The 1950s marked the program’s peak. Under Dudey Moore, Duquesne went 21:1 in 1951–52 and 23:2 in 1953, winning the NIT title in 1955. Dick Ricketts and Si Green were selected first overall in consecutive NBA drafts, a unique record.
Football also gained national recognition. Between 1933 and 1942, Duquesne ranked among the top programs alongside Alabama, Notre Dame, and Duke. The team played in the Orange Bowl in 1937 and had an unbeaten regular season in 1941.
After returning to Division I FCS in 1993, the team competed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, winning multiple titles, and then moved to the Northeast Conference, where it added several championships between 2011 and 2024.
Basketball later joined the Atlantic 10 Conference, building toward a return in 2024, when Duquesne won the conference tournament and secured its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1977. Rivalry with the Pittsburgh Panthers remained central to the program’s identity.
Meaning and History
The modern Duquesne Dukes logo is very restrained, although previous versions were not minimalist. The department always had vibrant emblems with color accents, complex shapes, and striking images. For instance, in 1982, a symbol with a red letter “D” and the curved word “Dukes” appeared. In 1999, the emblem was replaced with an unusual inscription, “Duquesne Dukes.”
In 2007, the teams acquired a logo featuring a man in a black top hat. This duke is referred to in the name of the sports department. For the next part, designers chose a stylized font with original design elements. However, everything changed with the 2019 redesign. Since then, a simple letter “D” in the shape of a curved polygon has been used as the emblem.
What is Duquesne Dukes?
Duquesne Dukes is the sports department of Duquesne University, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It includes 17 men’s and women’s teams that compete in NCAA Division I intercollegiate programs and are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The soccer and bowling teams are part of the Northeast Conference.
1966 – 1975
1975 – 1990
1990 – 1998
1998 – 2006
2006 – 2017
2017 – 2019
2019 – today
Duquesne Dukes Basketball
In 1955, the men’s team won the National Invitation Tournament and had previously participated in the national championship twice. Since 2017, Keith Dambrot has been the head coach of the basketball team.
Duquesne Dukes Football
The Duquesne University football team played its first season in 1891. Back then, the team was part of a sports club. Since 1993, the players have competed in the NCSA Division I FCS.