New Hampshire Wildcats Logo PNG
Teams under the Wildcat emblem defend New Hampshire’s sporting interests. The New Hampshire Wildcats logo signifies cunning, the ability to “read” an opponent’s tactics, and the characteristics of the organization’s athletes, as well as attention, concentration, strength, and ferocity.
The New Hampshire Wildcats program began in 1893 in Durham, when the school was still known as the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. Early football schedules featured local teams, while basketball did not appear until the late 19th century. For years, the team had no fixed nickname until a 1926 student vote selected “Wildcats” over “Durham Bulls”.
The mascot evolved through several stages. In 1927, a live wildcat named Maizie debuted at Homecoming, followed by other animals before the university moved to costumed figures in 1968. Later additions included Wild E. Cat and Gnarlz, reflecting a shift toward a modern game-day identity.
Participation in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) placed the program in national competition. Most teams compete in the America East Conference, while football plays in the Colonial Athletic Association and hockey in Hockey East.
Hockey became the leading sport. Under coach Charlie Holt in the 1970s, the team reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time and won a conference title in 1979. With Dick Umile, UNH claimed Hockey East titles and reached the Frozen Four in 1997 and 1999.
Football built consistency under Bill Bowes from 1972 to 1998, earning multiple playoff appearances. The rivalry with the Maine Black Bears dates to 1922, while basketball meetings between the schools have been played annually since 1904. In 1985, women’s lacrosse won a national title, and the football program later produced more than 20 NFL Draft selections.
Meaning and History
Although the sports program began in 1866, the image of a cat on the organization’s logo first appeared in 1926. Following a vote, Wildcat became the college’s official nickname. Students chose it from options like “Durham Bulls,” “Eagle,” “Husky,” and “Unicorn.” They decided a name associated with a wild cat – small and aggressive, like New Hampshire – would be more harmonious for the teams.
Eventually, the emblem depicted its head, with a two-tier inscription below. The upper line reads the university’s abbreviated name, “UNH,” and the lower line the sports team’s nickname, “Wildcat.” The first word is written in a large font, while the second is written in a smaller one. All letters are uppercase.
What is New Hampshire Wildcats?
The New Hampshire Wildcats are a sports program that participates in intercollegiate competitions on behalf of the University of New Hampshire. It includes 19 student teams from the America East Conference that compete in NCAA Division I. Some teams are members of other associations, including skiers in EISA, gymnasts in EAGL, hockey players in Hockey East, and football players in the CAA. Their primary location is Durham.
1993 – 2000
2000 – 2019
2019 – today
Font and Colors
The current version of the logo was approved in 2000. It features a wild cat’s head in profile. The animal’s ears are pressed back, mouth open, tongue curved, and eyebrows furrowed. The entire look of the beast indicates it is growling and ready to attack an enemy at any moment. The inscription is shaded, giving it a three-dimensional appearance.
The graphic and textual parts are executed in a unified blue, white, and gray palette. These colors symbolize the teams and their relation to the surrounding landmarks. The deep blue Pantone 287 represents the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and white represents the White Mountains.