| DePaul Blue Demons | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | DePaul University |
| Conference | Big East Conference |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletic director | DeWayne Peevy |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois |
| Varsity teams | 15 (7 men’s and 8 women’s) |
| Basketball arena | Wintrust Arena |
| Softball stadium | Cacciatore Stadium |
| Soccer stadium | Wish Field |
| Other venues | Lakeshore Sport and Fitness Lane Stadium McGrath-Phillips Arena Johnny's Ice House West Ruffled Feathers Golf Club |
| Mascot | DIBS |
| Nickname | Blue Demons |
| Fight song | "Blue Demons Fight Song" |
| Colors | Royal blue and scarlet[1] |
| Website | depaulbluedemons |
 | |
TheDePaul Blue Demons are theathletic teams that representDePaul University, located inChicago,Illinois. The Blue Demons participate inNCAA Division I and are a member of theBig East Conference.[2][3]
DePaul's Athletic Director is DeWayne Peevy. DePaul was not affiliated with any conference until it helped establish theGreat Midwest Conference in 1991.[4] It subsequently became a charter member ofConference USA from 1995 until its move to theoriginal Big East in 2005 through 2012.[2] 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.[5]
The origin of the Blue Demonsnickname 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 hadred 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" was part of an attempt to distinguish the university's players from those of its now-defuncthigh school, DePaul Academy. The former wore red with a blue "D," while the latter adopted the reverse.[6] The official athletic colors arescarlet androyal blue.[4]
A member of theBig East Conference, DePaul University sponsors teams in six men's and seven women'sNCAA sanctioned sports.[7]
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Basketball | Basketball |
| Cross country | Cross country |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Soccer | Softball |
| Tennis | Tennis |
| Track & field† | Track & field† |
| Volleyball | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor. | |
DePaul's NCAA men's basketball team is well known for its basketball program, which gained prominence underRay Meyer who led DePaul to two NCAA Division I basketballFinal Four's in the 1942–43 season and 1978–79 season. Meyer also led the Blue Demons to the 1945NIT championship during the 1944–45 season. The current head basketball coach isChris Holtmann, having taken the position in 2024.
The team currently plays their home games atWintrust Arena adjacent to theMcCormick Place convention center.[8]
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.[9]Jill Pizzotti has become the team's new head coach starting the 2025–2026 season.
The team currently plays their home games atWintrust Arena adjacent to theMcCormick Place convention center and select games atMcGrath-Phillips Arena.
The DePaul Blue Demons men's soccer team representsDePaul University in theBig East Conference inDivision I of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).[10]
Liz Bouck-Jagielski has been the team's head coach since the start of the 2025 season, replacing former DePaul All-American pitcherTracie Adix-Zins after six seasons.
The DePaul Blue Demons women's volleyball team competes in NCAA Division I volleyball and is part of theBig East Conference.
The university hosted an intercollegiatefootball team from 1898-1938.
DePaul offers a number of other intercollegiate club athletic teams under its Department of Campus Recreation.
DePaul University has an ice hockey club team called the DePaul University Hockey Club that competes in the Division IINorthern Collegiate Hockey League in the Central Region of theACHA. The team plays a 25–30 game schedule against regional opponents. Home games are played atJohnny's Ice House West in theNear West Side..[11] 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 defeatedConcordia University Wisconsin in the final.[12]
DePaul University plays as a Division III team within theNCBA as part of District IV.[13]
DePaul University fields Men's Lacrosse at the non-varsity club level in theGreat Lakes Lacrosse League in the Chicago Division.[14] DePaul Men's Lacrosse divisional rivals include:Bradley University,University of Chicago,Lake Forest College,Loyola University Chicago,Northern Illinois University,Northwestern University,Western Illinois University andWheaton College, as well as other GLLL opponents. The Men's Lacrosse Club play their home games atDiversey Harbor (Chicago Park District) andMontrose Beach (Chicago Park District).
DePaul reached the national stage in 2013 when they reached their first everMCLA 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
| National Tournament Appearances
|
| Year | Wins | Losses | Conf. GRLC | Play. MCLA | Nat. rank. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 9 | 3 | 1st | First Round | 22 |
| 2012 | 5 | 5 | 2nd | -- | -- |
| 2011 | 2 | 6 | 3rd | -- | -- |
| 2010 | 4 | 6 | 5th | -- | -- |
| 2009 | 6 | 4 | 3rd | -- | -- |
| 2008 | 4 | 5 | 3rd | -- | -- |
DePaul's roller hockey club competes in the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League, a league within theNCRHA. 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 was then reactivated and rejoined the NCRHA in 2014. The current team plays in Division III of the MCRHL.
Gaining formal recognition in 2013, theDePaul Crew Club hosts both men’s and women’s varsity and novice teams.[15]
DePaul University currently competes as a non-varsity club inUSA 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 atDiversey Harbor (Chicago Park District).
DePaul University's club team is recognized as a DII team byNational Collegiate Rugby in the Great Waters Women's Collegiate Rugby Conference. As of 2023, the team is officially recognized as DePaul Women's Rugby.
DePaul University ClubTennis competes regionally in the Midwest League of theUSTA's national Tennis on Campus program. They practice and host their home matches atMidtown Athletic Club Chicago, the largest indoor tennis facility in the country inLogan Square. In recent years, the club has taken a lead role in helping to develop theChicago Tennis on Campus community of schools. In February 2013, they were named USTA Midwest Club of the Year.[16]
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 theRay 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.
DePaulWater Polo is a coed water polo club that was founded in 2013. Practices are currently held at the Gill Park Recreation Center in theLakeview neighborhood of Chicago.
The DePaul Ultimate Club (DUC) is a DI member ofUSA Ultimate.[17]
Brianna Ryce - played soccer internationally for Trinidad and Tobago[23][24]
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.[31]
