Philadelphia University - Athletics

Athletics

Philadelphia University's sports teams are known as the Rams and the Lady Rams.

Philadelphia University is known for its men's basketball program, particularly legendary coach Herb Magee, who became the winningest men's basketball coach in NCAA history on Feb. 23, 2010 and was inducted into the Class of 2011 of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Now in his 46th season, Coach Magee is celebrating 54 years at Philadelphia University as a student, player and coach. On Sunday, May 17, 2009, Coach Magee was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by President Stephen Spinelli Jr. at Philadelphia University's 125th Commencement.

Philadelphia University is also known for a strong women's basketball program under Athletic Director and Women's Basketball Coach Tom Shirley. Coach Shirley, who has been the University’s director of athletics since 1992, has won 607 games, which places him sixth on the NCAA D-II career wins list and 30th on the NCAA all-divisions career coaching wins list. On Jan. 19, 2011, Shirley eclipsed the 600-win plateau as his Lady Rams defeated Chestnut Hill College 76-60. Together Coach Herb Magee and Coach Tom Shirley combined wins are more than 1,500, making them the 3rd winningest collegiate basketball coaching team in the country, just behind University of Connecticut and University of North Carolina.

The University is also known for its baseball program, particularly for retired coach Don Flynn.

Bob File was one of the top players in the history of Philadelphia University Men's Baseball Program. His achievements include:

• Earned ABCA/Rawlings first-team All-American honors as a senior in 1998.
• Was a three-time NYCAC All-Conference selection, earning Player of the Year honors in 1998.
• Set several school hitting records as a senior in 1998, including a .542 batting average.
• Also set single season records with 90 hits, 63 runs, 68 RBI, 19 home runs, and 167 total bases in 1998.
• Is the University's all-time leader in nearly every career hitting category including runs (181), hits (296), triples (17) and home runs (37).
• Player for the Toronto Blue Jays, where he led the American League rookies in pitching appearances, with 60 in 2001, finishing with a 5-3 record with a 3.27 ERA.
• Recently signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a pitcher.

Tayron Thomas was one of the top players in the history of the Philadelphia University Men's Basketball Program. He was a consensus first-team All-America selection as a senior after leading NCAA Division II in scoring with 29.0 ppg. He concluded his four-year college basketball career with the Rams ranked first all-time in school history with 2,414 career points. He Also set a new single-season school record with 898 points during the 2005-2006 season.

Tayron Was named Basketball Times National Co-Player of the Year as well as being named National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) first-team All-America. He also Was tabbed the Daktronics Northeast Region Co-Player of the Year as well as Daktronics first-team All-America. He earned Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Player of the Year accolades as well as ECAC Division II Player of the Year honors, and was a seven-time CACC Player of the Week selection. Tayron additionally Earned All-Tournament honors at the 2005 Disney Tip-Off Classic where he set two tournament records — total points (98) and points per game (32.7).

Christian Burns was named the 2007 Daktronics Division II National Player of the Year and East MVP Honors at NABC Division II All-Star Game.

In the 2006-2007 season, Philadelphia University started a rowing program under head coach Chris O'Brien. Their inaugural season had many highlights including winning the Dad Vail Regatta in the Women's Novice Heavy Eight.

The 2008-2009 season was also strong for the men's and women's tennis teams. Both teams won the CACC (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference). On the mens side they beat the University of the Science 5-0. In the individual tournament, the rams sweep the finals in both singles and doubles as Adrian Torroella beat teammate Manoli Sgouros. The team paired up to beat teammates Seppi Hutter and Tom McAvoy in the doubles final.

In the fall of 2012, the Philadelphia University Rugby Football Club (or PURFC) celebrated its inaugural season. The rugby team is a Division III club team. The team ended its fall season with a 1-4 record. The current presidents of the team are Dan Wallace and Mike Blimmel.