Robert Morris University Director of Athletics Craig Coleman, M.D., unveiled a new athletics logo for use by the program’s 23 Division I intercollegiate teams this morning at a press conference on RMU’s Moon Township campus. The primary mark, the head of a Colonial atop the Robert Morris Colonials wordmark, replaces the current dome atop “RMU” used by the department since 2002. The department of athletics will incorporate the new logo immediately and gradually phase out use of its old logo.

“With 23 intercollegiate athletic teams, Robert Morris University has the largest NCAA Division I program in the Pittsburgh area,” Coleman said. “The growth of our department, with six new sports added since 2003, is the biggest reason why we are making this change at this time. The new logo is something our student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff and alumni can rally around and feel proud of.”

Along with a new logo, Robert Morris is in the developmental stages of designing a new mascot, which will make its debut at RMU's 2006 football home opener against Duquesne Saturday, Sept. 9. Also in the works is an overhaul of the Robert Morris department of athletics website, which will move to www.rmucolonials.com and will launch this fall.

The new Robert Morris logo was created by Rickabaugh Graphics of Columbus, Ohio. As well as creating a new primary mark for use by the department, Rickabaugh Graphics came up with sport-specific logos, secondary marks that include just the words Robert Morris and RMU, as well as a stand alone Colonial head and the design of a new mascot costume.

“The development of a new logo shows just how far the athletic department, and this University, has come,” head football coach Joe Walton said. “I think I speak on behalf of all our coaches that the new logo is something we can all rally around.”

“It’s exciting to have the representation of a Colonial in our new logo,” said senior volleyball player Lisa Jaszka, a member of the focus group to help pick a new Robert Morris logo. “It’s fierce and intimidating, and it’s great for all the student-athletes, especially the seniors, to have a logo that we can be proud of.”

The new Robert Morris athletics primary logo is available to view at www.rmu.edu/athletics.