Kansas City Roos

The Kansas City Roos, known before July 1, 2019 as the UMKC Kangaroos and also sometimes called the Kansas City Kangaroos,[4] are the intercollegiate teams representing the University of Missouri–Kansas City that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The Roo's formerly competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) but, as of July 1, 2020 the Kansas City Roos became members of the Summit League in all 14 varsity sports.[5]

Kansas City Roos
UniversityUniversity of Missouri–Kansas City
ConferenceSummit League
NCAADivision I
Athletic directorBrandon Martin
LocationKansas City, Missouri
Varsity teams16
Basketball arenaSwinney Recreation Center (men and women)
Softball stadiumUrban Youth Academy Softball Complex[1]
Soccer stadiumDurwood Soccer Stadium
Other arenasPlaza Tennis Center[2]
Hy-vee Arena (Track & field)
MascotKasey Kangaroo
NicknameKangaroos or Roos
ColorsBlue and Gold[3]
         
Websitekcroos.com

Nickname

The name was chosen in the 1930s for the school's debate team, following the acquisition of two baby kangaroos by the Kansas City Zoo.[6]

Sports sponsored

As a member of the Summit League the University of Missouri–Kansas City sponsors seven men's and nine women's teams in NCAA sanctioned sports.[7]

Men's sports Women's sports
BasketballBasketball
Cross countryCross country
GolfGolf
SoccerSoccer
TennisSoftball
Track and fieldTennis
Track and field
Volleyball
† = Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.

Name note

The school has long branded itself for athletic purposes as "UMKC", but in June 2019, shortly before it announced its return to the Summit League, it unveiled a new logo and branding strategy emphasizing "Kansas City",[8] and officially unveiled its full rebranding as the Kansas City Roos on July 1 of that year.[4]

While its current conference, the WAC, has used "UMKC", its previous conference, The Summit League, persisted in using "Kansas City". As part of the 2019 rebranding, the program is now known as Kansas City Athletics. Teams will be known as the Kansas City Roos, with "Roos" having long been used as a short form for the historic nickname of Kangaroos.[4]

The national media had been inconsistent in usage prior to the 2019 rebranding.

References

  1. Missouri 3&2
  2. "Plaza Tennis Center - UMKC Athletics". Umkckangaroos.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  3. Kansas City Athletics Visual Identity Guide (PDF). July 1, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  4. "UMKC Athletics Completes New Brand Identity" (Press release). Kansas City Athletics. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  5. "Kansas City Athletics Back in Summit League". University of Missouri-Kansas City. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  6. "Evolution of the kangaroo". Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  7. "UMKC Roos". University of Missouri-Kansas City. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  8. "UMKC Athletics Launches New Brand Identity" (Press release). UMKC Kangaroos. June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
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