Athletics

Mission Statement

The Department of Athletics is committed to a sustained culture of excellence in academics, athletics and personal development. We embrace Jesuit values and the principle of magis, striving for more, as we empower student-athletes to lead a life of purpose.

Core Tenets

We are committed to being an integral component of and participant in the Holy Cross community. We are empowered by these shared beliefs that advance our College and its athletics program.

  • Integrity - We uphold the highest ethical standards and are accountable for our actions. We are guided by Jesuit principles and our work promotes the College's mission.
  • Community - Holy Cross is a living history of men and women for and with others. Teamwork and collaboration are essential to advancing our mission.
  • Urgency - We are not content with the status quo and will boldly pursue our goals. Our future depends on our present actions.
  • Excellence - We strive to achieve the highest standards in academics and athletics and to provide an exceptional student-athlete experience.

Intercollegiate Sports

Sponsoring a comprehensive athletic program at the NCAA Division I level, the College has 27 varsity athletics teams. Intercollegiate sports for men are:

  • baseball
  • basketball
  • cross country
  • football
  • golf
  • ice hockey
  • lacrosse
  • rowing
  • soccer
  • swimming & diving
  • tennis
  • indoor and outdoor track & field

Crusader women compete in:

  • basketball
  • cross country
  • field hockey
  • golf
  • ice hockey
  • lacrosse
  • rowing
  • soccer
  • softball
  • swimming & diving
  • tennis
  • indoor and outdoor track & field
  • volleyball

A charter member of the Patriot League, Holy Cross competes with American, Army, Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Lafayette, Lehigh, Loyola (Md.) and Navy in conference play.

In non-league competition, the Crusaders face numerous top Division I programs, including many opponents from the Ivy League, Big East, American Athletic Conference and America East Conference. The men’s ice hockey team is a member of the Atlantic Hockey Association, while the women’s ice hockey squad competes in the Hockey East Association.

Facilities

The College’s athletics fields are superbly maintained by its award-winning grounds staff. The football stadium seating 23,500, the lighted baseball stadium seating 3,000, eight tennis courts, and a softball field are located on lower campus. On upper campus, the lighted Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium seats 1,320, and Kuzniewski Field serving lacrosse and football seats 1,000. Also located on upper campus is a lighted artificial-turf field serving field hockey, surrounded by an eight-lane running track.

The Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex — home to the Crusader basketball, volleyball, swimming & diving, and ice hockey teams — recently completed a renovation and expansion which serves both the championship dreams and wellness goals of the entire Holy Cross student body. In addition to the 3,536-seat basketball arena, 1,600-seat ice rink, and six-lane swimming pool with a separate diving area, the Luth Athletic Complex houses locker and shower facilities, exercise equipment, and a rowing practice tank. Other features of the Luth Athletic Complex include:

  • a 64,000-square foot indoor center (with 100 yards of turf for use by all sports)
  • an auxiliary gymnasium for basketball and volleyball
  • 3,000 square feet of space for sports medicine
  • 9,500 square feet of space for sports performance
  • additional locker rooms for varsity teams
  • offices for all programs, athletic administrators and support services

The men’s and women’s rowing teams practice and compete on nearby Lake Quinsigamond, one of the world’s finest venues for crew and scene for many years of the Eastern Sprints rowing regatta. The lake also serves as the home port for the College’s sailing club.