About VWU Athletics

The athletic department of Virginia Wesleyan University operates within the guidelines established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).

VWU, which sponsors 24 intercollegiate sports, has held Division III membership in the NCAA since the 1974-75 season. The NCAA administers 28 national championship sports for its 430 DIII member institutions. Each championship is run by a committee of coaches and administrators from NCAA member schools who are experts in their sport. More than 195,000 men and women student-athletes compete annually in these events, designed to determine national champions.

All rules, policies, procedures, directions, and goals of the NCAA are determined by the colleges and universities working and voting together in a common body.

VWU has been a member of the ODAC since 1989 and competes with Averett University, Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Ferrum College, Guilford College, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, the University of Lynchburg, Randolph-Macon College, Randolph College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Sweet Briar College, and Washington & Lee University. 

Sports sponsored by VWU include men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's track and field, baseball, softball, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, esports, and cheer.

The University currently has a large club level Esports program that competes within the NACE (National Association of Collegiate Esports) organization. Both Esports and Athletics compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference along with over 150 other colleges and universities.

The Virginia Wesleyan Athletic Department started in 1968-69 by Athletic Director Donald M. Forsyth, with a Men's Basketball team that was coached by Howard Mast in its inaugural season. In 1969, the school added a Men's Soccer team that was coached by Donald M. Forsyth, and later in 1974 the school added Baseball with Steve Stocks as the coach. 

History of the Marlin: Virginia Wesleyan College’s very first Board of Trustees adopted the marlin as the school's mascot in 1963. In 2003, the mascot character of “Bob Marlin” was created thanks to a class project assigned by longtime Sport and Recreation Professions professor Doug Kennedy. During the project, the class unanimously agreed that the mascot should be named after the perennial student favorite, Bob Marley. "Bob Marlin" has evolved throughout the years, but his fighting spirit inspires Virginia Wesleyan opponents in all sports to "Fear the Fish."

                                        

VWU Department of Athletics

Mailing Address:
5817 Wesleyan Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Shipping Address:
Attn: Name/Department
5817 Wesleyan Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23455