A History of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks Logo
The Lehigh Mountain Hawks, representing Lehigh University's athletic program, have a rich history dating back to the university's founding in 1865. Comprising 23 men's and women's teams, the Mountain Hawks compete in NCAA Division I. Their athletic identity has evolved over time, with changes to both the mascot and the logo reflecting the university's history and the surrounding environment. The Lehigh Mountain Hawks logo embodies the team mascot and introduces viewers to the university’s history and the natural beauty surrounding the institution. The symbol portrays the teams as intelligent, energetic, and fearless. On the field, the players seem to soar, astonishing their opponents.
The Early Years: From Engineers to Mountain Hawks
Initially, the athletes competed under the names "Engineers" or "Brown and White." The history of Lehigh University’s athletic teams began in 1884 with the establishment of the first football team. For a long time, the university’s team was called the “Engineers,” emphasizing its engineering roots. This stemmed from Lehigh's origins as a technical school for engineers, reflecting the industrial heritage of the Lehigh Valley. The university is located in the industrial area of Lehigh Valley, where the Lehigh Valley Railroad operates, facilitating coal transportation. The historical association with the railroad is linked to the university’s founder, Asa Packer, the principal investor in the railroad company and the initiator of the institution’s creation, originally conceived as a technical school for engineers.
The "L Train" Logo (1989-1996)
In the 1980s and until 1995, the team used a logo of a train locomotive with an "L" on the front. The Lehigh Mountain Hawks logo from the end of the 1980s was executed in a monochromatic black-on-white color palette, with the old-style train, decorated by a white “L” medallion, crossing the improvised tunnel, made of the capital letter “L”, set in a classy and bold serif font, with the white body outlined and shadowed in black. This logo reflected the region’s historical heritage and the university’s connection to the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
The team’s first symbol reflects the region’s historical heritage. The logo features a train emerging from the letter “L,” which is tied to this era. The logo reflects motion, energy, and a drive for development. It conveys progress, aspiration for new achievements, and continuous forward movement. The badge only stayed active for about six years.
The Mountain Hawk Emerges (1996-2003)
In November 1995, the school introduced the Mountain Hawk as a mascot, replacing the "L train", which stemmed from a student-based movement to come up with a suitable mascot; the Mountain Hawk was officially voted in as the new mascot by the Lehigh Student Senate soon after. In 1995, students created a new university mascot: the Mountain Hawk. During the same period, the team adopted a new nickname. In 1996, the emblem, which was introduced, sports a hawk with its wings open wide. Across the wings, the arched lettering “Lehigh” in white can be seen. On the background, there is a mountain. The emblem depicts a hawk flying against a mountain backdrop, reflecting aspirations for renewal and a modern image. The university is located in the valley of Bethlehem, near the Pocono Mountains, which are featured in the logo’s composition.
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The image shows the hawk spreads its wings, lifting the names of the university and the valley - Lehigh. Its figure represents speed, agility, and strength. The logo is rendered in a white and brown color scheme, aligning it with other symbols of Bethlehem. This color combination became the basis for another team nickname.
However, the changes sparked controversy: Many students disapproved of the updates, leading the university’s official guides to reference three historical nicknames. Controversy arose the following year, when the school's nickname was changed to the Mountain Hawks. The university lists all three nicknames, Engineers, Brown & White, and Mountain Hawks, in its media guides.
The Modern Logo (2004-Present)
The logo received its current design in 2003. On the 2004 Lehigh Mountain Hawks logo, only the bird’s head and the letter “L” have remained. It is built around a large letter “L,” over which the head of a hawk named Clutch is placed. The head is facing to the right. The hawk is aggressive; its sharp beak is open, giving it a combative spirit and a winner’s character.
The logo’s color scheme includes earth tones, such as brown and beige, emphasizing historical traditions and the university’s connection to local nature. A distinctive feature of the symbol is the emerald-green color of the hawk’s eyes, accentuating expressiveness and adding individuality to the entire composition. The design of the logo is simple yet expressive, combining the initial symbol of the university with the image of the team’s living mascot.
The Mountain Hawks Today
The Lehigh Mountain Hawks are the athletic teams representing Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Hawks participate in NCAA Division I competition as a member of the Patriot League.
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Lehigh is especially known for its football rivalry with Lafayette College, the most frequently-played matchup in college football history. Known as The Rivalry, as of 2023 both teams have met 159 times. Lehigh has very successful programs in both baseball (men) and softball (women), having won both Patriot League titles in 2015 and advancing to the NCAA playoffs. Lehigh is also competitive in men's and women's basketball. Both teams play in Stabler Arena. The men's and women's teams both won the Patriot League championship in 2010.
The Mountain Hawks men's basketball team is best known for its first-round game in the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament as a #15 seed on March 16, 2012 against the #2 seed Duke Blue Devils. The varsity football team competes at the Division I FCS level. Lehigh is a highly respected FCS program with a rich tradition.
Lehigh's lacrosse team competes in the nine-team Patriot League. The Mountain Hawks have a strong tradition in lacrosse, but have only appeared twice (2012, 2013) in the present NCAA championships since its formation in 1971.
Lehigh men's and women's soccer are NCAA Division I programs that compete in the Patriot League. Both teams are highly competitive. Both teams play on Ulrich Field, located in Ulrich Sports Complex on Goodman Campus at Lehigh University.
Lehigh's wrestling team competes in the EIWA and has a strong tradition in the sport dating back to 1910. Over its history, Lehigh has won 34 EIWA team championships and 203 Lehigh wrestlers have won EIWA individual championships.
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Lehigh's marching band is known as the "Marching 97". The number "97" represents the number of people who are in the marching band. The band has performed at Carnegie Hall, Drown Hall, and at the New York World's Fair, as well as at Yankee Stadium in 2014 for the 150th meeting of the Lehigh-Lafayette game.
Trademarks and Licensing
Lehigh University enjoys a rich history dating back to 1865, and since has gained world-renowned recognition as an institution of higher education. This tradition has lead to the development of a loyal alumni, student and supporter base worldwide. A trademark may be a word, symbol, design, or a combination of a word and design, a catchphrase, or even a unique sound, which identifies and distinguishes the goods or services of one party from those of another. Lehigh has several “protected” trademarks that have been federally registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. As part of the requirements of a licensing program, Lehigh requires any company desiring to produce products with the protected marks to obtain a license.
Lehigh University has partnered with CLC to assist in the management of the Trademarks and Licensing program. CLC is responsible for the daily administrative activities generated by the program, such as processing license applications, coordinating artwork approvals, collection of royalty payments, and enforcement of trademark infractions. Please note: approving artwork is the responsibility of Lehigh's Trademark & Licensing office.
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