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Kansas City Roos
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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 Roos 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]
Key Information
Sports
[edit]As a member of the Summit League the University of Missouri–Kansas City sponsors six men's and eight women's teams in NCAA-sanctioned sports.[6]
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Basketball | Basketball |
| Cross country | Cross country |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Soccer | Softball |
| Track and Field† | Tennis |
| Volleyball | |
| Track and Field† | |
| † = Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor. | |
Soccer
[edit]Men's soccer was a member of the NCAA Division I Summit League from 1994 to 2013, and won the league men's soccer championships in 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2010.[7] The team then played seven seasons in the NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference, returning to the Summit League in 2020.[7] The team set an NCAA record on October 12, 2001, with the fastest trio of goals scored in Division I soccer during the MLS era, by scoring three times in 1:46 against Valparaiso University.[8]
Conference affiliations
[edit]- 1969–70 to 1985–86 – NAIA Independent
- 1986–87 to 1993–94 – NCAA Division I Independent
- 1994–95 to 2012–13 – Summit League
- 2013–14 to 2019–20 – Western Athletic Conference
- 2020–21 to present – Summit League
Name
[edit]The nickname was chosen in the 1930s for the school's debate team, following the acquisition of two baby kangaroos by the Kansas City Zoo.[9]
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",[10] and officially unveiled its full rebranding as the Kansas City Roos on July 1 of that year.[4]
While its previous conference, the WAC, used "UMKC", its current conference, the Summit League, uses "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
[edit]- ^ "Urban Youth Academy". University of Missouri-Kansas City.
- ^ "Plaza Tennis Center - UMKC Athletics". Umkckangaroos.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- ^ Kansas City Athletics Visual Identity Guide (PDF). July 1, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ a b c "UMKC Athletics Completes New Brand Identity" (Press release). Kansas City Athletics. July 1, 2019. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ^ "Kansas City Athletics Back in Summit League". University of Missouri-Kansas City. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "UMKC Roos". University of Missouri-Kansas City. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ^ a b Haenchen, Brian. "Welcome back: University of Missouri-Kansas City Roos rejoining the Summit League". Argus Leader.
- ^ "2012 UMKC Men's Soccer Media Guide by Nik Busch". issuu.com.
- ^ "Evolution of the kangaroo". Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "UMKC Athletics Launches New Brand Identity" (Press release). UMKC Kangaroos. June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
External links
[edit]Kansas City Roos
View on GrokipediaOverview
University affiliation
The Kansas City Roos represent the athletic program of the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC), a public research university in Kansas City, Missouri.[6] UMKC traces its origins to the University of Kansas City, which was founded on October 1, 1933, as a private institution focused on liberal arts and professional education.[7] In 1963, the University of Kansas City merged with the University of Missouri System, becoming the University of Missouri–Kansas City and the fourth campus in the statewide network, thereby gaining public status and expanded resources.[7] This affiliation integrates the Roos' athletics directly with UMKC's academic mission, emphasizing the development of student-athletes within a comprehensive urban university environment.[1] The Roos have competed at the NCAA Division I level since 1987, marking UMKC's transition from NAIA membership to the highest tier of collegiate athletics.[1] The program currently fields 12 varsity teams, consisting of five men's sports—basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and track and field—and seven women's sports—basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.[6] These teams compete in the Summit League, which the Roos joined in 2020 following a period in the Western Athletic Conference.[3] UMKC's athletics program supports roughly 220 student-athletes who must adhere to NCAA academic eligibility standards to participate.[8] These requirements include completing 16 core high school courses, achieving a minimum 2.3 GPA in those core courses, and maintaining progress toward a degree, such as earning 40% of required credits by the end of the sophomore year.[9] Student-athletes receive academic support through UMKC's resources, including advising and tutoring, to ensure integration with the university's undergraduate and graduate programs while balancing athletic commitments.Athletic branding
The athletic teams of the University of Missouri–Kansas City adopted the "Kangaroos" nickname in 1936, inspired by the arrival of two baby kangaroos at the Swope Park Zoo in Kansas City, which sparked student interest in selecting a mascot that symbolized agility and spirit for the university's debate team and later athletics.[10] In June 2019, the program shortened the moniker to "Roos" as part of a comprehensive rebranding initiative aimed at strengthening ties to the Kansas City metropolitan area, emphasizing local pride and creating a more concise, marketable identity for national recognition.[11] This shift from "Kangaroos" to "Roos" was developed through collaboration with branding experts and input from over 11,000 fans and community members, reflecting the university's commitment to embodying strength, determination, and regional connection.[11] The official colors of the Kansas City Roos are navy blue (PMS 301), gold (PMS 123), and white, with light blue accents in select applications; these evolved from the original blue and gold palette established during the University of Kansas City era in the 1930s, which was later refined to include deeper navy tones and black for added versatility in uniforms and merchandise by the 2000s.[12][13] Gold serves as the dominant hue to evoke energy and optimism, while navy provides a strong, professional base, aligning with the program's emphasis on competitive excellence and community representation.[12] Logo designs for the Roos have featured kangaroo motifs since the 1930s, with early versions depicting simple, stylized marsupials in blue and gold to capture the nickname's origins.[14] Through the mid-20th century and into the 2010s, logos evolved to include full-body "fighting kangaroo" figures with raised fists, often incorporating university initials like "UKC" or "UMKC" in dynamic poses to symbolize tenacity.[13] The current primary logo, introduced in 2019, presents a modern kangaroo-inspired "KC Roo" design where the animal's head and ears form the interlocking "KC" letters in navy and gold, blending historical elements with a sleek, contemporary aesthetic developed by Old Hat Creative to enhance visibility and appeal. This mascot logo, the smallest element in the branding system, measures at least one inch and is used across apparel, facilities, and digital platforms.[12] The live mascot character, KC Roo, personifies this visual identity in game-day appearances and events.[14]History
Origins and early years
The University of Kansas City (UKC), a private institution, was established in 1933, with its first classes commencing on October 2 of that year and an initial enrollment of 264 students.[10] In its early years, the university lacked formal athletic programs, instead featuring informal club sports and student activities such as debate teams and yearbook committees, which fostered a sense of school spirit amid the institution's modest beginnings.[10] The adoption of the Kangaroos nickname in 1936 marked a pivotal moment for UKC's emerging identity, driven by student initiative and local inspiration. Prompted by the arrival of baby kangaroos at the Kansas City Zoo, which generated widespread community excitement as covered in The Kansas City Star, students selected the mascot to symbolize agility and "jumping" enthusiasm, with the name "Kasey" chosen to rhyme with K.C.U., the common abbreviation for the university.[14] The debate team first embraced the kangaroo, followed by the yearbook featuring it on its cover, and in 1937, Walt Disney contributed a hand-drawn sketch of the character, solidifying its place in school lore.[10] This mascot endured through the program's evolution, including the 2019 rebranding to the Kansas City Roos while retaining the kangaroo motif.[14] Formal intercollegiate athletics at UKC began in 1969 with the introduction of varsity men's basketball as the program's first team, following the university's integration into the University of Missouri System on July 25, 1963, when it became the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC).[15][16] Prior to the 1970s expansions, sports remained sparse, with basketball as the cornerstone and few additional varsity options available.[10]Conference affiliations and transitions
The Kansas City Roos athletics program began as an independent member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) upon its launch in 1969, operating without conference affiliation through the 1985–86 academic year.[17] In a significant transition, the program shifted directly from NAIA to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I status starting in the 1986–87 season, competing as an NCAA Division I independent until joining a conference in 1994.[14][18] This move marked a bold leap, bypassing the typical intermediate step of NCAA Division II competition, and positioned the Roos for higher-level national exposure while requiring adjustments in recruiting, scheduling, and resource allocation.[18] From the 1994–95 season through the 2012–13 academic year, the Roos competed in the Mid-Continent Conference, which rebranded as the Summit League in 2007, establishing a stable regional footprint with schools primarily in the Midwest.[4] Seeking expanded competitive opportunities and media exposure, the program transitioned to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) effective July 1, 2013, for the 2013–14 season, participating in all sports except football, which the Roos do not sponsor.[19] The WAC era involved extensive travel across a geographically diverse membership, often spanning multiple time zones, which increased operational costs and logistical challenges for non-revenue sports.[20] In June 2019, the Roos announced their departure from the WAC, effective June 30, 2020, and return to the Summit League for the 2020–21 season onward, reinstating all 14 varsity sports in the conference.[21] This reversion emphasized reduced travel distances, fostering more regional rivalries and sustainable scheduling that benefits student-athlete welfare and program budgeting.[3] Upon rejoining, the Roos gained immediate eligibility for Summit League championships and postseason consideration, enabling quicker integration into conference play without a transition period.[4] These shifts have influenced competitive balance, with the Summit League's Midwest focus allowing for more consistent rivalries and attendance boosts compared to the WAC's broader footprint.| Academic Years | Affiliation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1969–1986 | NAIA Independent | Program launch and early competition without conference ties.[17] |
| 1987–1994 | NCAA Division I Independent | Direct transition from NAIA to NCAA D1.[14] |
| 1994–2013 | Summit League (formerly Mid-Continent Conference) | Initial conference membership in NCAA D1.[4] |
| 2013–2020 | Western Athletic Conference | Non-football membership; heavy travel demands.[19] |
| 2020–present (as of 2025) | Summit League | Return for all sports; immediate championship eligibility.[3][22] |
