The DePaul Blue Demons are the
athletic teams that represent
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private university, private Catholic higher education, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from ...
, located in
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
. The Blue Demons participate in
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest division of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athlet ...
and are a member of the
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference (stylized as BIG EAST) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference that competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA NCAA Division I, Division I in 10 men's sports and 12 women's sports. H ...
.
DePaul's Athletic Director is DeWayne Peevy. DePaul was not affiliated with any conference until it helped establish the
Great Midwest Conference in 1991.
It subsequently became a charter member of
Conference USA from 1995 until its move to the
original Big East in 2005 through 2012.
DePaul and the other six Catholic, non-FBS schools announced on December 15, 2012, their separation to eventually form a new conference that would carry the Big East name in 2013.
Nickname
The origin of the Blue Demons
nickname
A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...
dates back to 1907 when the university changed its name from St. Vincent's College to its current form. At the time, the athletic teams had
red uniforms with a large "D" on the front. After an announcer referred to the players as the "D-men," the moniker stuck and eventually evolved into "Demons." The "
blue
Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB color model, RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB color model, RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between Violet (color), violet and cyan on the optical spe ...
" was part of an attempt to distinguish the university's players from those of its now-defunct
high school
A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...
, DePaul Academy. The former wore red with a blue "D," while the latter adopted the reverse. The official athletic colors are
scarlet and
royal blue
Royal blue is a deep and vivid shade of blue. It is said to have been created by a consortium of mills in Rode, Wiltshire (in Somerset as of 1937), which won a competition to make a robe for Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III. I ...
.
Sports sponsored
A member of the
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference (stylized as BIG EAST) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference that competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA NCAA Division I, Division I in 10 men's sports and 12 women's sports. H ...
, DePaul University sponsors teams in six men's and seven women's
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
sanctioned sports.
Men's basketball
DePaul's NCAA men's basketball team is well known for its basketball program, which gained prominence under
Ray Meyer who led DePaul to two NCAA Division I basketball
Final Four's in the
1942–43 season and 1978–79 season. Meyer also led the Blue Demons to the 1945
NIT championship during the 1944–45 season.
The current head basketball coach is
Chris Holtmann, having taken the position in 2024.
The team currently plays their home games at
Wintrust Arena adjacent to the
McCormick Place convention center.
Women's basketball
DePaul's NCAA women's basketball team has reached the Sweet 16 multiple times in the program's history.
Doug Bruno was the head women's basketball coach from 1988 to 2024.
Jill Pizzotti has become the team's new head coach starting the 2025–2026 season.
The team currently plays their home games at
Wintrust Arena adjacent to the
McCormick Place convention center and select games at
McGrath-Phillips Arena.
Men's soccer
The DePaul Blue Demons men's soccer team represents
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private university, private Catholic higher education, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from ...
in the
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference (stylized as BIG EAST) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference that competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA NCAA Division I, Division I in 10 men's sports and 12 women's sports. H ...
in
Division I of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
(NCAA).
Softball
Since 2011, the head coach of
Wisconsin's softball program is former Blue Demon second-baseman
Yvette Healy. Former DePaul All-American pitcher Tracie Adix-Zins returned to Lincoln Park to lead the softball program as head coach just before the start of the 2019 season. Following her standout career in the circle for the Blue Demons she has served as an assistant coach at Wisconsin, Oklahoma State and North Carolina State.
Women's volleyball
The DePaul Blue Demons women's volleyball team competes in NCAA Division I volleyball and is part of the
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference (stylized as BIG EAST) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference that competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA NCAA Division I, Division I in 10 men's sports and 12 women's sports. H ...
.
Former varsity sports
Football
DePaul University fielded a varsity football team until 1939. It played its home games at
Wrigley Field and
Soldier Field.
Club sports
DePaul offers a number of other intercollegiate club athletic teams under its Department of Campus Recreation.
Baseball
DePaul University plays as a Division III team within the
NCBA as part of District IV.
Men's Ice Hockey
DePaul University has an ice hockey club team called the DePaul University Hockey Club that competes in the
Northern Collegiate Hockey League in the Central Region of the
ACHA. The team plays a 25–30 game schedule against regional opponents. Home games are played at
Johnny's Ice House West. In 2009 the team made the ACHA Division II National Championship Tournament for the first time in the team's history. The team has one conference championship from 2023 where they defeated
Concordia University Wisconsin.
Men's Lacrosse
DePaul University fields Men's Lacrosse at the non-varsity club level in th
Great Lakes Lacrosse Leaguein the Chicago Division. DePaul Men's Lacrosse divisional rivals include:
Bradley University,
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...
,
Lake Forest College,
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago (Loyola or LUC) is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1870 by the Society of Jesus, Loyola is one of the largest Catholic Church, ...
,
Northern Illinois University,
Northwestern University
Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...
,
Western Illinois University and
Wheaton College, as well as other GLLL opponents. The Men's Lacrosse Club play their home games at
Diversey Harbor (Chicago Park District) and
Montrose Beach (Chicago Park District).
DePaul reached the national stage in 2013 when they reached their first ever
MCLA Tournament appearance only to be ousted in the 1st round by the 2012 and 2013 MCLA Division II Champion,
St. Thomas Tommies 11–3.
Conference Championships
* 2013: 9–3 (3–1)
National Tournament Appearances
* 2013: 1st Round
Men's Roller Hockey
DePaul's roller hockey club competes in the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League, a league within the
NCRHA. The team was first started in 2005 and played steadily in the NCRHA for seven consecutive seasons before dropping out of the league for a few years. The team has recently been reactivated and rejoined the NCRHA in 2014. The current team plays in Division III of the MCRHL.
Rowing
DePaul has had a crew team for the last four years and gained formal recognition in 2013.
Men's Rugby
DePaul University currently competes as a non-varsity club in
USA Rugby's DII collegiate rugby division. As one of the top collegiate teams in the city of Chicago, DePaul competes in the Great Midwest Rugby Conference formerly known as the WIIL Conference in the Southern division. As famed collegiate rugby writer Alex Goff states,
WIIL conference is one of the toughest divisions in DII rugby." DePaul Rugby was the inaugural champion of the THG Chicago Cup. Men's Rugby play their home matches at
Diversey Harbor (Chicago Park District).
Women's Rugby
DePaul University's club team is recognized as a DII team by
National Collegiate Rugby in the Great Waters Women's Collegiate Rugby Conference. As of 2023, the team is officially recognized as DePaul Womxn's Rugby.
Tennis
DePaul University Club
Tennis
Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...
competes regionally in the Midwest League of the
USTA's national Tennis on Campus program. They practice and host their home matches at
Midtown Athletic Club Chicago, the largest indoor tennis facility in the country. In recent years, the club has taken a lead role in helping to develop the
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
Tennis on Campus community of schools. In February 2013, they were named USTA Midwest Club of the Year.
Men's Volleyball
DePaul University's Men's Volleyball Club competes at the division 1AA level, hosts and travels to several tournaments per year, competing against clubs from across the nation. The Blue Demons practice and play their home matches at the
Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center. In 2011, the Blue Demons finished 3rd at the NCVF National Championships in Houston, TX, their best finish in club history.
Water Polo
DePaul
Water Polo
Water polo is a competitive sport, competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the water polo ball, ball into the oppo ...
is a coed water polo club that was founded in 2013. Practices are currently held at Gill Park in the
Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago.
Men's Ultimate Frisbee
The DePaul Ultimate Club (DUC) is a DI member of
College Ultimate.
Notable players
*
George Mikan - Former
NBL,
BAA, and
NBA player. Winner of seven NBL, BAA, and
NBA championships. Transformed basketball due to his height, strength, and skill. Led the Blue Demons Basketball team to the 1945
NIT title. Named the
Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year in 1944 and 1945.
*
Mark Aguirre - Former NBA player. First overall pick of the
1981 NBA draft
The 1981 NBA draft was the 35th annual NBA draft, draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 9, 1981, before the 1981–82 NBA season, 1981–82 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the NBA ...
by the
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Divisi ...
and three-time
NBA All-Star. Lead the Blue Demons Basketball team to a final four appearance in the
1978–1979 NCAA season, and was named
Naismith College Player of the Year in 1980
*
Diana Vines - Former DePaul Women's Basketball player who played from 1985–1989. By the end of her tenure she scored 2,504 career points, which set the school scoring record for both men and women. She also holds the school record for career steals (since records began for the NCAA in 1985–1986) at 359. She was inducted into the DePaul University Hall of Fame in 2005 as well as th
Basketball Museum Of Illinoisin 2019.
*
Rod Strickland - Basketball coach and former NBA player. Received
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
honors and lead the Blue Demons Basketball team to three-straight
NCAA Tournament appearances in
1985–86,
1986-87, and
1987–88
*
Max Strus - NBA player for the
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...
Second Blue Demon Basketball player to score over 700 points in a season, along with Mark Aguirre.
*
Brianna Ryce - played soccer internationally for Trinidad and Tobago
*
Allie Quigley -
WNBA player who last played for the
Chicago Sky. With her, the Blue Demons went to four-straight NCAA Tournaments. She ranks third in the program's all-time scoring list with 2,078 career points. In 2021 she and the Chicago Sky won the team's first WNBA Championship.
*
Noelle Malkamaki - Para athlete who set the
F46 shot put record at the
2024 Summer Paralympics
The 2024 Summer Paralympics (), also known as the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games (), and branded as Paris 2024, were the 17th Summer Paralympic Games, an international Multi-sport event, multi-sport parasports event governed by the International P ...
.
Athletic facilities
Current facilities
*
Wintrust Arena: the 10,000-seat arena is the home of the Blue Demons men's and women's basketball teams.
*
Lakeshore Sport and Fitness: Home of the men's and women's tennis teams.
*
Lane Stadium: Home stadium for the men's and women's track and field teams.
*
McGrath-Phillips Arena: a 3,000-seat indoor arena located in the Sullivan Athletic Center is the home of women's volleyball team since the facility opened in 2000.
*
Ruffled Feathers Golf Club: Home golf course for the men's and women's golf teams.
*
Wish Field/Cacciatore Stadium: Wish Field, which features a
FieldTurf playing surface, is home of the Blue Demons men's and women's soccer teams in
autumn
Autumn, also known as fall (especially in US & Canada), is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Southern Hemisphe ...
. Cacciatore Stadium occupies the
south
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
end of Wish Field for Blue Demons softball in
spring, with its 1,200-seat
grandstand situated in the southwest corner.
Traditions
Mascot

DePaul's mascot is DIBS which stands for Demon In a Blue Suit. DIBS is present at every Blue Demons basketball game and makes frequent appearances at DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus and charity appearances around the Chicago metropolitan area. While the Blue Demon nickname has been around for many years, the Blue Demon mascot took the game floor for the first time in 1968 with a papier-mache head and old warm-up suit. Through the years, the Blue Demon has taken on many forms in its evolution and was dubbed DIBS in 1999. Former mascot performers; John Maniatis and Paul Fisher.
Former facilities
*
Allstate Arena — Men's basketball
*
Alumni Hall — Men's and women's basketball, Women's volleyball
*
Soldier Field — Football
*
University Auditorium — Men's basketball
*
Wrigley Field — Football
References
External links
*
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