North Alabama Lions Logo PNG
The North Alabama Lions logo unites the university’s teams under a single symbol of continuity. It reflects a drive for growth and respect for tradition, with sports remaining a part of education and personal development.
LaGrange College, now known as the University of North Alabama, was founded in 1830, laying the groundwork for the institution’s longstanding athletic heritage. Official athletics began with the establishment of the first football team in 1932, adopting the name “Lions” as a symbol of resilience and courage.
Growth accelerated in the late 1940s with the construction of the university’s first sports complex in 1949. The following decade saw the Lions join the Alabama Collegiate Conference, which boosted organized competition and introduced baseball to the region.
In 1974, North Alabama transitioned into NCAA Division II athletics by joining the Gulf South Conference. This move paved the way for notable achievements, including three Division II national football championships in 1980, 1995, and 1996. Additionally, basketball and volleyball gained prominence in 1994 with the opening of Flowers Hall.
The university maintained competitive momentum into the 2000s, highlighted by upgrades to Braly Municipal Stadium in 2003 and a significant victory when the women’s softball team won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2011.
A historic shift occurred in 2016, when North Alabama began its move to NCAA Division I and subsequently joined the ASUN Conference in 2018. Due to ASUN’s lack of football sponsorship, the Lions football team began competition in the Big South Conference.
From 2019 to 2022, the university prioritized facility improvements and program enhancements to meet Division I standards, ultimately transitioning its football program into the newly formed United Athletic Conference in 2022. By 2023, continued investments had further solidified the university’s standing within Division I athletics.
Meaning and History
What is North Alabama Lions?
These are the NCAA Division I ASUN teams that draw attention with their purple-gold uniforms and large audiences at Brayley Municipal Stadium and Flowers Hall. Because one of the few universities in America with live lion mascots, Leo III and Una, is present on game days, these competitions take on a special atmosphere. Magnificent African lions living in a specially equipped space next to the stadium add to the spectacle and create an unforgettable experience for fans.
1984 – 1995
A lion lying on a hill became the symbol of a new era for the University of North Alabama athletic teams. For the first time, its image united all sports under one emblem and created a shared direction for both men’s and women’s teams. The animal’s figure is shown in a calm yet strong manner. The mouth is open, the roar seems frozen in the air. Nearby, a hunter in a hat is holding a rifle and an image. The lion has turned away from him, raised its head, and seems to be making a long, low sound, like a yawn or a roar.
The inscription North Alabama is placed at the bottom of the composition. The font is sans-serif, geometric, with large, straight letters. The proportions are close to Helvetica Black, and the form is clear and structured. The letters are aligned, creating a sense of order and completeness.
The color is rendered in a single purple tone without gradients. The monochrome approach emphasizes the form, contour, and flexibility of lines, turning the image into a strict mark recognizable by its silhouette.
1995 – 2003
In 1995, the University of North Alabama introduced a new emblem. At that time, the athletic community was celebrating the football team’s success, which had won three consecutive NCAA Division II championships. Against the backdrop of these victories, a renewed symbol appeared, combining the university’s academic name and the image of the lion, its mascot.
The design is built around the abbreviation UNA. Large white letters with a purple outline and a light shadow create a sense of depth. Below them is the inscription University of North Alabama, written in a thin sans-serif font with a horizontal line. The proportion of forms creates a strict structure and visual balance between the mass of the upper part and the lightness of the lower line.
On the right is a golden lion with a purple outline. It stands upright, head turned toward the viewer, mouth half open. The gaze is focused, and the pose emphasizes strength and readiness for action. The body’s relief is defined by lines that highlight the muscles and the silhouette’s smooth curves.
The font of the abbreviation is close to Aachen Bold. The overall structure conveys a sense of unity and inner energy, reflecting the spirit of the university’s athletic teams in the late 1990s.
2003 – 2012
The university introduced a new mark that reflected a transition to a modern style and an intention to combine tradition with functionality. It replaced the previous version, which featured a detailed lion image that was difficult to reproduce in digital formats. The new symbol solved this with simplicity and precision.
The basis is a lion profile made of smooth purple lines. They form the outlines of the head, mane, and lower jaw, creating a silhouette. All elements are reduced to a few curved strokes, allowing the image to retain detail even at small scales.
Below the figure is the inscription UNA LIONS. The first part is purple, in a serif, and visually connects to the lines of the lion’s head, appearing as a continuation of its contour. The second part, LIONS, is yellow, sans serif, and slightly slanted forward.
The color combination of purple and gold unites tradition and energy. The first is linked to intellectual strength and academic depth; the second to dignity and prestige. The minimal details, clear lines, and color ratio give the mark versatility while preserving its individuality across formats.
2012 – 2018
In the spring, a renewed North Alabama Lions logo was introduced following months of work on a new visual identity for the athletic programs as part of the transition to NCAA Division I. The presentation took place at the university center and was attended by students, alumni, administrators, and members of the athletic department. The new mark marked the beginning of a new chapter in the athletic brand’s history.
The design was created by Rickabaugh Graphics, a studio known for NCAA program projects, including Ohio State and Xavier. The agency gave the UNA symbol a modern tone reflecting the university’s scale and ambition.
At the top is a large, arched UNA inscription in a geometric sans-serif font. White letters with inner golden highlights stand out against a purple arc background. The shape is slightly curved, creating a feeling of elasticity and strength.
The lower part contains a circular medallion with the lion’s silhouette. The animal’s head is shown in profile, mouth open, gaze directed forward. The main lines form a smooth rhythm, uniting the image into a cohesive whole. The golden color emphasizes monumentality and is associated with pride and leadership.
The purple background is outlined in yellow, creating depth and visual density. The contrast between white, gold, and purple defines the elements and strengthens the mark’s symbolic power.
2018 – 2022
When the University of North Alabama entered NCAA Division I, the athletic teams’ symbols were updated to reflect a new scale and ambition. On July 18, 2018, the renewed North Alabama Lions logo was introduced, retaining the structure of the previous version while adopting a new color palette.
The recognizable composition with a large UNA inscription arched above the stylized lion’s head remained. The white letters received shadow detailing with golden highlights, creating a sense of depth and emphasizing volume.
The main change of the 2018 version was in color. The warm yellow tone was replaced with the official gold, Pantone 7550, which harmonizes with the purple, Pantone 268. Their combination appears balanced and elegant.
The purple background adds richness to the composition, while gold enhances the focus on the lion’s silhouette.
The emblem became a symbol of the university’s new status, marking its transition to the top level of competition and opening a new chapter in the history of the North Alabama Lions.
2022 – today
The symbol of the new generation of Lions is based on precision of form and clarity of line. At the center of the composition is an oval filled with Pantone 268 purple. Inside it is a white silhouette of a lion in profile. Its contours are reduced to several smooth curves, emphasizing the flow of the mane and the direction of the gaze. The open mouth and the silhouette convey inner strength. The entire composition is built on balance and proportion.
Above the oval is the inscription NORTH ALABAMA. The letters are arranged in two lines, forming a cohesive visual block with deliberate geometry. The typeface is strict, with short strokes and sharp angles. It contains only structure and precision. The font was created for the brand and supports the overall restrained appearance.
The contrast of the white lion and purple background creates a sense of strength and clarity. The first color draws focus, the second conveys academic foundation and tradition.
The project was again created by Rickabaugh Graphics, which had designed the previous version. The team preserved continuity while changing the rhythm and proportions, making the composition more compact and precise to meet modern NCAA Division I standards.
The North Alabama Lions logo carries the energy of previous Lions versions. It is expressed in the visual language of the 21st century, characterized by simplicity and structure.