History
The Pilots started to gain attention when Clive Charles began coaching the women's soccer team in 1989. He already had been the men's soccer coach since 1986, and he continued to coach both teams until 2003, when he died. He was then replaced by the current coach Bill Irwin. The women's soccer team won national championships in 2002 and 2005, and were led by a slew of national-level players (see Notable Alumni Athletes section).
In addition to soccer, UP consistently has one of the top cross country programs in the nation. Their men's team, coached by Rob Conner, has won 32 straight West Coast Conference championships. The men's team has finished amongst the top 10 at the NCAA championships four times in its history. In 2008, the Pilots finished 7th, which is the highest they have ever placed. They also finished 7th in 2001. Also in 2008, David Kinsella finished 4th overall, the highest any Pilot has ever placed individually at the national championships.
The Pilots have had success in other sports as well. The men's basketball team has gone to the NCAA tournament twice (1959 and 1996). Their women's basketball team has gone to the NCAA Tournament 4 times (1994-1997) and the WNIT twice (1998 and 2009). Their baseball team has also gone to the NCAA tournament five times (1957, 1958, 1979, 1989, and 1991).
UP used to have a football team as well, but it was dropped in 1950 due to a lack of funding.
Read more about this topic: Portland Pilots
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“Bias, point of view, fury—are they ... so dangerous and must they be ironed out of history, the hills flattened and the contours leveled? The professors talk ... about passion and point of view in history as a Calvinist talks about sin in the bedroom.”
—Catherine Drinker Bowen (1897–1973)
“Tell me of the height of the mountains of the moon, or of the diameter of space, and I may believe you, but of the secret history of the Almighty, and I shall pronounce thee mad.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“I assure you that in our next class we will concern ourselves solely with the history of Egypt, and not with the more lurid and non-curricular subject of living mummies.”
—Griffin Jay, and Reginald LeBorg. Prof. Norman (Frank Reicher)