Hofstra Pride Logo PNG
Athletes from Hofstra University are easily recognized by their mascots, adopted in the early 1980s. A lion and a lioness crown the Hofstra Pride logo, symbolizing pride, unity, and the team’s close bond.
Athletics at Hofstra University began in the 1930s, following the school’s 1935 opening. Football appeared in 1937, while lacrosse and basketball developed in parallel. From 1950 to 1974, both were led by Howdy Myers, who recorded 141 football wins and 216 lacrosse wins and was later inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1973.
Basketball in the 1950s and 1960s produced key players. William Thieben averaged 26.9 points from 1953 to 1956 and won the Haggerty Award. In 1976–77, Rich Laurel averaged 30.3 points per game and was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers. Those same seasons brought Hofstra’s first two NCAA Division I Tournament appearances. In 1977, wrestler Nick Gallo won an NCAA title at 126 pounds.
In 1994, Jay Wright arrived from Villanova. Early seasons were difficult, but the program improved with the arrival of guard Speedy Claxton. In 1999, Hofstra returned to the NCAA Tournament after a 22-year absence. Titles in the America East Conference followed in 2000 and 2001 before Wright left for Villanova.
In 2001, Hofstra joined the Colonial Athletic Association and adopted the Pride nickname. In 2006, lacrosse won 17 straight games, while soccer and volleyball took conference titles. Wrestler Chris Weidman earned All-American honors in 2006 and 2007.
In December 2009, the university ended football after 72 years due to costs and falling attendance. Funding shifted to a medical school. In 2026, men’s basketball, led by Claxton as coach, won the Colonial Athletic Association and returned to the NCAA Tournament.
Meaning and History
The sports emblems of Hofstra University demonstrate the evolution of styles. The 1988-2001 version looks like a seal in a white circle with a blue outline and the inscription “Hofstra Pride.” In the center is the coat of arms of the Netherlands, represented by heraldic lions, a shield, a crown, and the Latin motto “Je maintiendrai.”
From 2001 to 2004, the same round logo was used, but with different motifs. The team names were preserved, and the symbolic coat of arms was replaced with actual lions and lionesses. They peek out from a dark blue ring with gold lines along the edges. In 2005, a modern interpretation of the logo appeared. Now, the lions are drawn abstractly. Their profiles overlap, forming a cohesive silhouette. The words “Hofstra Pride” are written in blue on a trapezoid.
What is Hofstra Pride?
Hofstra Pride comprises 21 student teams participating in the intercollegiate program on behalf of Hofstra University. Located in Hempstead, New York, they are part of the Colonial Athletic Association and compete in NCAA Division I. The most successful teams in this athletic department are baseball, wrestling, and basketball.
1988 – 2001
2002 – 2004
2005 – today
Hofstra Pride Basketball
The basketball team first participated in a conference championship and the NCAA tournament in the late 1970s, reaching the round of 32. After a brief hiatus, the team returned. The most successful period in Hofstra University’s basketball history came in 2000-2001, when the men’s team won the America East men’s basketball tournament.