The York Lions is the official name for the athletic varsity teams that represent York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of U Sports and, where applicable, in the east division. The Lions' logo features a red lion from the school's logo with the university's colours, red and white.
York's former teams were known as the York Yeomen and York Yeowomen, but changed their name to the gender-neutral Lions in 2003.
Varsity teams
Men's sports Women's sports Basketball Basketball Cross Country Cross Country Football Field hockey Ice Hockey Ice Hockey Soccer Rugby Tennis Soccer Track and field Tennis Volleyball Track and field Wrestling Volleyball Wrestling
Football
The York Lions football team has been in operation since 1968 and currently compete in the 11-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program is one of two in U Sports football to have never won a conference championship. Dexter Janke has been the team's head coach since January 22, 2024.
Men's ice hockey
The York Lions men's ice hockey team competes in the 20-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The team has won three national championships in 1985, 1988, and 1989. The program has also yielded seven Queen's Cup conference championships, most recently in 2017. The team's head coach has been Russ Herrington since 2017.
Women's ice hockey
The York Lions women's ice hockey team competes in the 13-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The team's head coach is Dan Church, who has been in that position since 2004 and is the longest-serving active head coach at York. The team was won three McCaw Cup conference championships, coming in 1983, 1987, and 1997.
Men's soccer
The York Lions men's soccer team has won six U Sports national championships and seven OUA conference championships. Since the hiring of head coach Carmine Isacco in 2007, the Lions have won six of these conference championships (2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) and five national championships (2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2025). The Lions' 2008 U Sports championship was York's first national championship in any sport in 18 years, and their first soccer championship since 1977. Playing for the Lions, in 2010 Alon Badat was named a U Sports Championship All Star, and the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Rookie of the Year, and in 2011 he was a First-Team OUA All-Star. The team currently competes in the 18-team Ontario University Athletics conference.
Women's soccer The York Lions women's soccer team currently competes in the 19-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program has had four conference championship winners, coming in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2019. Carmine Isacco has been the team's head coach since 2012.
Men's volleyball The York Lions men's volleyball team currently competes in the 13-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program has featured 13 conference championship winners, most recently in 2005. The highest that the team has finished in the national championship tournament was a second-place finish in 1974. Jordan Taylor was named the team's head coach on July 21, 2023.
Women's volleyball The York Lions women's volleyball team currently competes in the 14-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program has had a school-record 15 conference championships with the most recent occurring 2009. In the national championship tournament, the Lions have won five bronze medals, most recently in 1991. The team has been led by head coach Jennifer Neilson since 2018.
Championships
National championships As of December 2025, York Lions teams and athletes have won 39 national championships.
Men's (28) Gymnastics (15): 1971, 1973, 1975–1987 Ice hockey (3): 1985, 1988, 1989 Indoor Track & Field (3): 1983, 1984, 2014 Soccer (6): 1977, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2025 Wrestling (1): 1989
Women's (11) Field hockey (1): 2025 Gymnastics (5): 1971, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984 Indoor Track & Field (3): 1984, 1988, 1990 Tennis (2): 2015, 2016
Conference championships Men's Badminton (3): 1968, 1970, 1983 Basketball (7): 1978–1982, 1984, 1985 Cross Country (4): 1967–1970 Curling (3): 1981, 1982, 1986 Fencing (1): 1970 Golf (1): 1979 Gymnastics (19): 1972–1985, 1988–1992 Ice Hockey (7): 1970, 1985–1988, 2004, 2017 Rugby (3): 1973, 1976, 1984 Soccer (7): 1977, 2007, 2013–2015, 2017, 2018 Skiing (1): 1970 Squash (2): 1970, 1971 Swimming (2): 1968, 1969 Table Tennis (1): 1971 Tennis (11): 1968–1970, 1975, 1978, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2007, 2009 Volleyball (13): 1968–1971, 1973, 1974, 1980–1982, 1989, 1993, 1994, 2005 Water Polo (4): 1981, 1997, 1999, 2000 Wrestling (2): 1987, 1989
Women's Badminton (1): 1968 Basketball (2): 1982, 2007 Field Hockey (11): 1980, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2025 Figure Skating (2): 1984, 1990 Ice Hockey (3): 1983, 1987, 1997 Indoor Hockey (8): 1990–1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2005 Gymnastics (17): 1969–1979, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990–1992 Soccer (4): 2005, 2007, 2009, 2019 Squash (4): 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983 Synchronized Swimming (6): 1968–1970, 1986, 1988, 1989 Track & Field (2): 1988, 1990 Tennis (8): 1968, 1969, 1982, 1995, 2001–2003, 2014 Volleyball (15): 1979, 1982–1985, 1987, 1988, 1990–1995, 1997, 2009 Water Polo (5): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002
Facilities
Venue Sport(s) Ref. York Lions Stadium Football Soccer YORK LIONS STADIUM2025 football schedule2025 soccer schedule Alumni Field Field hockey Rugby Alumni Field2924 rugby schedule Tait McKenzie Centre Basketball Volleyball Wrestling 2024-25 wrestling schedule Canlan Sports Ice hockey CANLAN SPORTS Mayfair Clubs Tennis 2024 tennis scheduleMayfair Clubs Toronto Track and Field Centre Track and field 2024-25 Track & Field Schedule
Notes
International competition This is an incomplete list Kelsey Webster, Ice Hockey, 2009 Winter Universiade, Courtney Unruh, Ice Hockey, 2011 Winter Universiade, Kelsey Webster, Ice Hockey, 2011 Winter Universiade, Kiri Langford, Ice Hockey, 2011 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships – Division IV, Autumn Mills: Baseball, 2015 Pan American Games, Brittany Crew, Track and Field, 2017 Summer Universiade (Won gold with a best throw of 18.34 meters) Melissa Humana-Paredes, Volleyball, 2018 Commonwealth Games , 2019 Beach Volleyball World Championships
Awards and honours Athletes of the Year This is an incomplete list Year Female Athlete Sport Male Athlete Sport Ref.2009–10Heather Hamilton Track & Field Tyrone Halstead Track & Field2010–11 Effie Petrou Field Hockey Adrian Pena Soccer2011–12Melissa Humana-Paredes Volleyball Dontae Richards-Kwok Track & Field2012–13 Cynthia Appiah Track & Field David McKay Track & Field 2013–14 Khamica Bingham Track & Field Dontae Richards-Kwok Track & Field2014–15 Brittany Crew Track & Field Jarek Whiteman Soccer2015–16 Brittany Crew Track & Field Michael Cox Soccer2016–17 Holly Pitters Track & Field Jonathan Lao Soccer2017–18Holly Pitters Track & Field Kayden Johnson Track & FieldFootball 2018–19Brittany Crew Track & Field Pierce Lepage Track & Field2019–20 Teni Odetoyinbo Soccer Daniel Gleason Track & Field2020–21 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2021–22 Leah Jones Track & Field Dieu Merci Yuma Soccer2022–23 Jotam Chouhan Soccer Soji Olatoye Soccer2023–24 Kaitlin Brooks Track & Field Christian Zeppieri Soccer2024–25 Nia Fleming-Thompson Soccer Christian Zeppieri Soccer
References
External links