Wingate History
1896 – Wingate University founded
1958 – Wingate Football participated in the Pine Bowl
1964 – Wingate Baseball makes its first of three appearances in the NJCAA World Series
1970 & 1971 – Won back-to-back NJCAA Men’s Tennis national titles
1977 – Became a 4-Year College
1988 – Wingate Women’s Basketball advances to the NAIA Final Four (33-2 overall record)
1989 – Joined NCAA Division II (Football, M&W Basketball, M. Soccer, W. Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, M & W Tennis, M. Golf)
1989 – Joined the South Atlantic Conference
1990 – First Academic All-America® honoree in school history (Ann Hancock, WBB)
1991 – Added Women’s Soccer
1993 – Added Men’s & Women’s Cross Country
1995 – Transitioned from Wingate College to Wingate University
1995 – First NCAA Region title in women’s basketball history
1996 – Added Women’s Swimming
1997 – Added Men’s Lacrosse
1998 – Added Women’s Golf
2000 – MTEN standout Patrick Bartlett is first-ever 3-time Academic All-America® selection
2001 – First NCAA Tournament appearance in men’s lacrosse history
2002 – Academic All-America® of the Year (Jenna Calomeris)
2005 – Added Men’s Swimming
2006 - Academic All-America® of the Year (Rebecca Brezovec)
2006 – First player drafted in NFL draft (David Jones – 5th round)
2007 – First NCAA Region title in men’s basketball history
2007 – First NCAA Individual Swimming Champion (Gus Chagas, 200 Free)
2007 – First SAC Athletic Excellence Award in school history
2008 – MBB All-American Sean Barnette becomes all-time leading scorer in SAC history
2010 – First SAC title and NCAA play-off appearance in football history
2010 – First NCAA Region title in volleyball program history
2011 – Added Men’s & Women’s Track & Field
2012 – National Coach of the Year (Kirk Sanocki, MSWIM)
2012 – First NCAA Region title in men’s soccer history
2012 – MSWIM Marko Blazevski carries the flag for Macedonia at the Olympics
2012 – Fifth straight SAC Athletic Excellence Award
2013 – Added Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field
2013 – First NCAA Region title in women’s soccer history
2013 – National Coach of the Year (Shelton Collier, VB)
2014 – Added Women’s Lacrosse
2014 – WSOC All-American Jade Montgomery is first-ever 3-time SAC Athlete of the Year
2015 – Wingate finishes 6th in Learfield Sports Directors' Cup
2016 – Women’s Swimming finishes 2nd at NCAA Championships
2016 – National Coach of the Year (Kirk Sanocki, WSWIM)
2016 – First NCAA Team National Championship (Men’s Soccer)
2016 – National Player of the Year (Alex Nelson, MSOC)
2016 – National Coach of the Year (Gary Hamill, MSOC)
2016 – Tenth straight SAC Athletic Excellence Award
2019 – First NCAA Individual Track & Field Champion (Isaiah Kyle, High Jump)
2019 – National Coach of the Year (Michael Cabana, WTEN)
2020 – Announces addition of Women's Triathlon as 23rd intercollegiate sports (starts in 2021)
2021 – Announces addition of Field Hockey as 24th intercollegiate sport (starts in 2022)
2021 – Second NCAA Team National Championship (Baseball)
2021 – National Coach of the Year (Jeff Gregory, Baseball)
2021 – Steve Poston announces his retirement after 20 years as Director of Athletics
2021 – First Triathlon individual national champion (Finja Schierl)
2022 – Kelley Kish takes over as Director of Athletics
2022 – Wingate wins 14th straight SAC Excellence Cup (first since 2019 due to Covid)
2022 – National Players of the Year (Men's Lacrosse: Willie Grieco | Attack, Danny Riley | Midfield)
2022 – Acrobatics and Tumbling announced as University's 25th sport
2022 – Men's Cross Country finishes 2nd in the nation
2023 – Joe Reich named Interim Director of Athletics
2023 – Wingate wins 15th straight SAC Excellence Cup
2023 – Highest-ever finish in LEARFIELD Sports Directors' Cup (fifth)
2023 - Second NFL Draft pick in school history (Ethan Evans - LA Rams)
2023 – Third NCAA Team National Championship (Men's Cross Country)
2023 – National Coach of the Year (Pol Domenech, MXC)
2023 – Joe Reich named Director of Athletics; Rashaan Jordan promoted to head football coach
2024 – Wingate adds Beach Volleyball as 26th sport
2024 - Wingate finishes 1-2-3 at Steeplechase NCAA Champions (Titouan Le Grix national champ)
2024 - Willie Grieco is National Midfielder of the Year for third straight year
2024 – Highest-ever finish in LEARFIELD Sports Directors' Cup (fourth)
2024 – Women's Triathlon wins Division II USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships
2024 - Marquise Fleming earns Gene Upshaw Award as top lineman in D2 football
2025 - Wingate adds Flag Football, Rugby and Men's Beach Volleyball as 27th, 28th and 29th sports
2025 - Highest-ever finish in LEARFIELD Sports Directors' Cup (second) - third straight top-five finish
2025 - National Player of the Year (Amely Bochaton, WGOLF)
