University of Regina Athletics

About the University of Regina

At the University of Regina, we believe education is about more than earning a degree. Through experiential learning, groundbreaking research, and a deep connection to our community, we empower our students to turn curiosity, knowledge, and drive into action.

Although our roots go back more than a century as Regina College, we became an independent, degree-granting university on July 1, 1974. Today's U of R, along with our federated colleges — Campion College, Luther College, and First Nations University of Canada — offers comprehensive, post-secondary education to more than 16,600 students. With over 92,000 alumni, our graduates are making a positive difference in Saskatchewan and around the globe.

Nestled within 239 acres of Wascana Park — one of North America's largest urban parks — our main and historic College Avenue campuses offer a welcoming and inspiring environment for learning, research, and collaboration. As part of our commitment to health and well-being, our campuses are 100% smoke-free, ensuring a safe and inclusive space for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

The University of Regina partners with institutions such as Saskatchewan Polytechnic, regional colleges, Gabriel Dumont Institute, and Yukon University to provide accessible education, including online learning opportunities. We are committed to making higher education more affordable through scholarships, awards, and bursaries that help offset tuition costs.


History of University of Regina Athletics

The modern era of intercollegiate athletics at the U of R dates back to 1968, when the men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball, and men’s wrestling teams participated in the Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association. After four seasons in the WCIAA, the Cougars and Cougettes became charter members of the newly formed Great Plains Athletic Conference prior to the 1972-73 season.

The U of R took a brief hiatus from intercollegiate play during the mid-1970s but quickly returned all five varsity teams to the GPAC and added a men’s hockey team which rose to national prominence almost immediately. Under the guidance of head coach Reg Higgs, the Cougars won four GPAC banners in their first six years of existence. The team had its finest finish in the CIAU in 1980, when the Cougars defeated Moncton and Guelph to advance to the national championship game.

Regina hosted its first national tournament in 1979, when the CIAU women’s basketball championship came to town. Making their first appearance in a CIAU tournament, the Cougettes were defeated in the quarterfinals by Laurentian, which would go on to win the CIAU title with a win over Victoria.

Prior to the 1983-84 season, the U of R changed the name of its women’s teams from the Cougettes to the Lady Cougars, as they would be known until the 1990s. Currently, all U of R teams – with the exception of the Rams – are known as, simply, the Cougars.

After nine seasons in the GPAC, the U of R’s men’s hockey team – along with Brandon and Manitoba – joined Canada West in 1985-86, creating a highly competitive eight-team conference.

The late 1980s saw the quality of the U of R’s athletic teams grow stronger and stronger. Led by coach Ken Murray, the men’s basketball team qualified for the 1989 CIAU Championship in Halifax, where they advanced to the semifinals before bowing out to Victoria. 1989 also saw the U of R’s first Canada West title, as the men’s wrestling team claimed the conference championship. The women’s volleyball team qualified for the 1990 CIAU Championship, while the women’s basketball team played in the national tournament in 1989, 1990, and 1991.

Guided by head coach Leo McGee, the men’s wrestling team brought home the U of R’s first national championship in 1997 and successfully repeated as CIAU champions in 1998. The Cougars won an incredible six Canada West championships in a row in the mid to late-1990s.

The late 1990s saw the addition of women's hockey, men’s and women’s track & field, women's wrestling, and men’s and women’s swimming. Through a community partnership agreement, the Regina Rams ascended from the junior ranks to the CIAU and retained their moniker while operating as a University of Regina team. The Rams had a meteoric introduction to CIS football, going all the way to the Vanier Cup game in just their second season of university ball.

By the time the early 2000s had arrived, the U of R’s women’s basketball team had established itself as a force on the CIS scene. Head coach Christine Stapleton guided the Cougars to the national championship in 2001, finishing off a spectacular season that saw the team lose just two games all year long.

The GPAC was merged into Canada West following the 2000-01 season, paving the way for women's soccer to join prior to the 2001 season along with men's and women's cross country.

The 2005-06 season heralded the opening of the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport, which was originally built to host the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina. The main gym of the CKHS seats over 2000 and is the home court for the school's basketball and volleyball teams.

Curling became an official CIS sport beginning in 2007-08, and the University of Regina's teams - run under the auspices of the school's Recreation Services department - has brought home three national championships. Chris Busby's rink won the men's CIS/CCA nationals in 2009, while Brooklyn Lemon's rink took home the women's title in 2010 and Josh Bryden's team won a second men's title in 2024.

The U of R has hosted seven national tournaments since the turn of the century, including the 2002 and 2003 CIS Women's Hockey Championship at what is now the Brandt Centre and the 2009, 2013, and 2018 CIS/U SPORTS Women's Basketball Championships and the 2014 CIS Women's Volleyball Championship on campus at the CKHS. The University of Regina also played host to the historic 2025 Vanier Cup at Mosaic Stadium, just the second time that the U SPORTS football national championship game was played in the province of Saskatchewan.

National Champions
1997 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
1998 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
2001 – Women’s Basketball (story)
2009 – Men's Curling (story)
2010 – Women's Curling (story)
2024 – Men's Curling

Conference Champions (Canada West)
1989 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
1994 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
1995 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
1996 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
1997 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
1998 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
1999 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
2000 – Rams Football (story)
2001 – Women’s Hockey (story)
2002 – Men’s Wrestling (story)
2004 – Women’s Basketball (story)
2009 – Men's Cross Country (story)
2010 – Men's Track & Field (story)
2011 – Men's Track & Field (story)
2011 – Men's Wrestling (story)
2012 – Men's Wrestling (story)
2013 – Women's Basketball (story)
2014 – Men's Track & Field (story)
2018 – Women's Basketball (story)
2022 – Women's Curling
2024 – Rams Football

Conference Champions (Great Plains)
1978 – Men’s Hockey (story)
1979 – Men’s Hockey (story)
1980 – Men’s Hockey (story)
1982 – Men’s Hockey (story)
1989 – Women's Basketball (story)
1990 – Women’s Basketball (story)
1991 – Women’s Basketball (story)
1999 – Women’s Basketball (story)
2000 – Women’s Basketball (story)
2001 – Women’s Basketball (story)