La Salle Explorers Logo PNG
The La Salle logo connects the teams with renowned historical figures who left their mark on history and were known for their active and curious natures. The emblem conveys the exploratory and tireless spirit of the athletic team, which is focused on professional growth and achieving new athletic heights.
La Salle Explorers: Brand overview
The basketball history of the La Salle Explorers began in 1931 when La Salle University in Philadelphia created a men’s team, naming it after the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle. Initially, the team competed independently, without conference affiliation. In the early 1950s, coach Ken Loeffler led the Explorers to the top, and in 1954 the team won the NCAA national title, defeating Bradley in the final with a score of 92–76.
The Explorers reached the NCAA final again the following year, losing to San Francisco. In 1983, the team joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), winning the conference championship and consistently appearing in the NCAA tournament. From 1988 to 1990, Lionel Simmons displayed outstanding performance, receiving the National College Basketball Player of the Year award.
In 1995, the team moved to the Atlantic 10 Conference, where they compete today. In 2013, the Explorers reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in 21 years, defeating Boise State and Kansas State. In 2018, Ashley Howard, a former assistant coach at Villanova, became the head coach. The Explorers have played over 2,500 games, won eight conference championships, and made twelve NCAA tournament appearances.
Meaning and History
What is La Salle Explorers?
This team competes in NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic 10 conference. It is blue and gold and has the Explorer mascot. The team represents the university’s athletic programs, including swimming, athletics, soccer, and basketball. The historic Tom Gola Arena highlights its basketball heritage.
1973 – 1984
The new emblem features the athletic teams’ mascot, the explorer and traveler La Salle. His figure is placed on a book, symbolizing a journey into knowledge, discovery, and scientific research. This element highlights the team’s educational roots and connection to academic values.
The team and the institution are named after Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, a reformer and educator who founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, which established the college. However, during a sports match, a commentator mistakenly referred to them as the “Explorers,” assuming the name was a reference to René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, an explorer of the Great Lakes in North America. This error gave a new nickname, eventually becoming the team’s official identity. The college carries the name of an eminent preacher, while the sports teams are associated with the explorer-traveler.
The mascot’s design is rendered in a cartoonish, slightly humorous style, a common choice for similar logos of that era.
1984 – 1992
In 1984, the team abandoned its previous design, aiming to reconnect with the historical roots of its name. The new emblem was created as a large three-dimensional letter “L,” symbolizing the first letter of the name La Salle.
The design’s angle gives the viewer a perspective: the symbol is seen from the side and below, enhancing its sense of monumentality and significance. This choice was tied to La Salle’s attainment of university status, emphasizing its prominent role in educational and athletic spheres.
The yellow color is associated with joy and a friendly atmosphere, which are characteristics of the athletic club. The white outline hints at new achievements and reflects Christian ideals of purity and striving for excellence.
The emblem was the first to incorporate the university’s official colors, blue and yellow, highlighting its importance in shaping the team’s visual identity and strengthening its unity.
1992 – 1997
The emblem is designed in a romantic style, evoking an atmosphere of grandeur and history. In the background, a flowing white banner with the letter “L” is depicted. The white color symbolizes the blank page of a notebook, emphasizing a connection to learning and self-improvement. At the same time, it alludes to the Age of Exploration, recalling the “blank spaces” on maps awaiting discovery.
In the foreground, a realistic profile of René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, is presented without cartoonish elements. The figure’s gaze is directed into the distance, giving the image a sense of the past and evoking associations with a historical figure whose legacy guides future generations.
The logo represents the team, portraying its members as descendants of the legendary explorer. They take on the role of travelers and pioneers, delving into the world of sports through perseverance and ambition. Their achievements bring honor to their university and country.
1997 – 2004
The next logo once again moved away from the traveler’s image, creating a symbol that reached upward and resembled an arrow. The design reflects the athletes’ drive for achievement and determination.
The expansion of the sponsorship program included new sports, such as golf and water polo. This step highlighted the changes and opened new opportunities for students. The design was created with these transformations in mind, symbolizing the prospects available to learners. During the same period, the university joined the Atlantic 10 Conference, which influenced the development of its athletic program.
The blue letters are outlined in white and yellow, emphasizing professionalism. Honesty and friendliness complement the composition, highlighting the university’s core values.
2004 – 2020
The basketball program received the highest recognition, earning the Greatest College Basketball Program of All-Time title. During this period, the new emblem reintroduced the explorer’s image in a more stylized interpretation.
In the design, La Salle is depicted looking out from an oval porthole, holding a telescope aimed at an unseen target. This element emphasizes a forward-looking perspective and the pursuit of new horizons. At the bottom, in an arched shape, is the inscription La Salle Explorers, presented in full, including the complete name of the athletic program.
The curved form of the text highlights the athletic teams’ achievements and the unity of their members. The visual design illustrates the team’s collective spirit, always moving forward and striving for new victories. The emblem is crafted with attention to detail, giving it a sense of completeness and the impression of a commemorative symbol worthy of the program’s legacy.
2020 – today
The updated emblem returned to featuring the first letter of the name, emphasizing monumentality and simplicity in form. Inside the arc of the letter is the inscription “La Salle,” presented without the usual nickname. The changes are associated with appointing the new athletic program director, Brian Baptiste.
The letter’s design is based on a multilayered structure: an outer yellow outline, a blue base, and a yellow core. The design visually highlights the central element, conveying a sense of optimism and joy. The letter symbolizes the support provided to students who participate in teams and grow through professional training.
The layers of the emblem reflect the university’s historical depth, spanning its existence across three centuries: the 19th, 20th, and 21st. The logo conveys friendliness and openness in relationships with partners and competitors, creating a foundation for connections and mutual understanding.