Eastern Connecticut State University

Eastern unveils new athletics logo

Rebrand highlights forward momentum for Warriors

by Michael Rouleau

Willimantic, CT (02/02/2026) — Eastern Connecticut State University's campus community came out in full force on Jan. 29 to celebrate an exciting new chapter for Eastern Athletics. Hundreds of students, faculty, and staff packed the Student Center for the unveiling of Eastern's new athletics logo - and the chance to leave with fresh Warrior swag.

The rebrand comes at a dynamic moment for Eastern Athletics. The University has recently completed turf upgrades to its softball and baseball fields, and a new NCAA women's flag football program is set to join Eastern's growing roster of Division III sports.

"There's so much going on with athletics right now," said Athletic Director Lori Runksmeier, pointing to the facilities enhancements and the launch of flag football. "It's the perfect time for a rebrand."

Runksmeier said the new logo captures the energy and direction of Eastern Athletics.

"It sums up everything that's great about Eastern Athletics," she said. "It looks dynamic, looks new, and like the future. It looks like we're moving forward."

Head Coach Andy Crane also highlighted the excitement surrounding the women's flag football program and the momentum building across the department.

"To be at the forefront with all the excitement - a new logo, a new field - it's all very exciting," Crane said. "The logo looks tough, and that's what we're going to be. We're going to be tough and have a logo to back us up."

"The potential for where we can go is endless," he added, "especially with the sport of flag football, the fastest-growing sport in the NCAA."

Eastern's previous athletics logo had been in use for roughly 15 years. Ryan Quigley, director of university communications and marketing, said the initiative to refresh the brand began this past fall to align with the opening of the new turf fields this spring.

"Athletics wanted to ensure there was a strong, forward-looking mark representing the future of Eastern Athletics at the center of the playing surfaces," Quigley said.

The logo was developed with input from the campus community and designed by Varsity Brands, a subsidiary of BSN Sports, Eastern's athletics apparel provider.

President Karim Ismaili praised the rebrand as a symbol of progress.

"The future of Eastern athletics is bright," Ismaili said. "It's a reflection of momentum - a great opportunity to change things up and have a fresh look for athletics."

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.