UMass Minutemen The UMass Minutemen are the athletic teams that represent the University of Massachusetts Amherst in NCAA Division I sports competition . The nickname is also applied to club teams that do not participate within the NCAA structure . Strictly speaking , the Minutemen nickname applies to men ' s teams and athletes only ; women ' s teams and athletes are known as Minutewomen . The Minutemen and Minutewomen primarily compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference . The Minutemen ice hockey team competes in Hockey East , while the Minutemen lacrosse team has been a member of the Colonial Athletic Association conference since 2010 . The football team confirmed a move to the Football Bowl Subdivision ' s Mid - American Conference in April 2011 and will become a full member in 2013 . UMass is one of only 15 universities in the nation that plays Division I FBS football and Division I men ' s ice hockey . Baseball . Initiated in 1877 , the baseball team was Yankee Conference champions in 1952 , 1957 , 1966 , 1967 , 1969 , 1971 , 1973 , 1978 , 1979 and 1980 , and Atlantic 10 champions in 1980 , 1994 , 1995 and 1996 . They reached the NCAA tournament in 1954 , 1955 , 1956 , 1966 , 1967 , 1969 , 1971 , 1973 , 1978 , 1995 , and 1996 , and the College World Series in 1954 and 1969 . The team , since the termination of many men ' s teams ( including football and baseball ) in 1996 at Boston University , has become the fourth team ( in addition to the traditional Boston College , Harvard , and Northeastern ) in the baseball version of the Beanpot tournament held at Fenway Park . The baseball team plays its home games at Earl Lorden Field . UMass has had 17 players later reach the major leagues . The best known are starting pitcher Mike Flanagan , relief pitcher Jeff Reardon , shortstop Gary DiSarcina , and relief pitcher Ron Villone . Basketball . Men ' s . UMass ( Massachusetts Agricultural College ) played its first varsity basketball game in 1900 . Today , the Minutemen are members of the Atlantic 10 basketball conference , of which it was regular season co - Champion in 2007 . This marked the first time it won or shared the league title since the last of its five consecutive Atlantic 10 championships in 1996 . During the 1990s , the men ' s basketball team was known as one of the finest in the nation , holding the number one ranking in national polls for extended periods . Under the leadership of then - head coach John Calipari and players such as 1996 National Player of the Year Marcus Camby , Harper Williams and Lou Roe , the Minutemen participated in the NCAA Tournament each year between 1992 and 1998 , and reached the Final Four in 1996 . However , a subsequent NCAA investigation found that Camby illegally accepted a total of $ 28 , 000 from sports agents that were attempting to lure him into the NBA Draft after his Sophomore season , and the school was forced to vacate its Final Four appearance as well as return their 1996 NCAA Final Four trophy . Camby eventually repaid the school the $ 151 , 000 in lost Final Four revenue that came as a result of the NCAA ' s ruling . While a Final Four banner still hangs from the rafters of the Mullins Center in defiance of the NCAA ' s ruling , the appearance is marked with an asterisk in official record books , even though it was noted that there was absolutely no institutional wrongdoing . First played in 1905 and held annually since 1995 ( until Boston College ended the annual game in 2012 ) , UMass ' basketball rivalry with Boston College is called the " Commonwealth Classic . " Notable UMass basketball alumni include Camby , Basketball Hall of Fame r Julius Erving , Louisville head coach Rick Pitino , and Boston College head coach Al Skinner . The current coach of the Minutemen is Derek Kellogg . Camby , Roe , Williams , Stephane Lasme and Gary Forbes were each named Atlantic 10 player of the year . Derek Kellogg was also a point guard for the Umass Minutemen from 1992 to 1995 . He played under John Calipari and was an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers before becoming a head coach at his alma mater . With the football team joining the Mid - American Conference the men ' s and women ' s basketball teams will play four non conference games ( two home and two away ) each year against MAC teams as long as the football team is a member of the MAC . Women ' s . The women ' s basketball program began in 1968 . They have reached the Women ' s NIT in 1995 and the NCAA Tournament in 1996 and 1998 . Former players Tamara and Alisha Tatham competed for Team Canada in the 2012 Summer Olympics . Field hockey . The field hockey program ' s first season was in 1975 , when it quickly rose in national prominence . From 1977 to 1980 , the field hockey team qualified for the AIAW national tournament , which was a precursor to the NCAA . The team has qualified for the NCAA tournament 23 times , reaching the Final Four four times ( 1983 , 1987 , 1992 ) and the Finals in 1981 . They have been Atlantic 10 champions 13 times . Minutewomen who have competed for Team USA in the Olympics include Judy Strong in 1980 and 1984 , Patty Shea in 1988 and 1996 , Megan Donnelly in 1998 , and Pam Bustin in 1996 . Pam Hixon was the Head Coach of Team USA in 1996 . Hilary Rose competed on the British team in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games . Current UMass assistant coach Shannon Taylor competed for Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics . Football . The UMass football team competed at the NCAA Division I FCS ( formerly I - AA ) level until 2012 , and won one national title in that subdivision in 1998 . The Minutemen were national finalists in 1978 and 2006 . It joined the FBS ( formerly I - A ) in 2012 . UMass has competed in four football conferences over its history , the Yankee Conference , the Atlantic 10 , and the Colonial Athletic Association , which are basically three incarnations of the same conference , and now the FBS Mid - American Conference . UMass has captured a total of 22 conference championships , the most recent one being a share of the CAA title in 2007 . The 2006 season was the final season under which the football team competed in the Atlantic 10 , as the A - 10 Football Conference disbanded after the season with all current teams moving to the CAA . They defeated Montana , 19 – 17 , to advance to the championship game ( first since 1998 ) . UMass fell to Appalachian State in the national championship game by a score of 28 – 17 and finished the season with a record of 13 – 2 . Historically , the program has competed in three major bowl games , compiling a record of 1 – 2 . In 1964 , UMass played in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando , Florida , losing to East Carolina , 14 – 13 . They then played in the 1972 Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City , New Jersey and defeated UC Davis , 35 – 14 , in a game played inside the Atlantic City Convention Center . Also , the 1979 Division I - AA title game was then known as the Pioneer Bowl and was played in Wichita Falls , Texas . The Minutemen fell to Florida A & M in that game by a score of 35 – 28 . UMass football has sent several players to the NFL . Some of their most successful players there include quarterback Greg Landry , running back Marcel Shipp , and tight end Milt Morin . Class of 2010 members that went on to the NFL include offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse and wide receiver Victor Cruz . Cruz and safety James Ihedigbo , also a UMass product , competed in Super Bowl XLVI . On November 30 , 2010 , the " Boston Herald " reported that the Mid - American Conference was exploring the possibility of adding the Minutemen for football . This would upgrade UMass from the FCS to the FBS . This report was later confirmed by an article in " The Plain Dealer " ( Cleveland , Ohio ) , going on to report UMass will become a member of the MAC in 2012 , and bowl - eligible beginning in 2013 . In April 2011 , UMass confirmed that it was moving to the FBS and play in the MAC beginning with the 2012 season . The team also announced it would play its home schedule at Gillette Stadium during renovations at McGuirk Stadium , and be bowl - eligible in 2013 . The 2011 team remained in the CAA Conference of the FCS . The school cited the changing landscape of the FCS , especially in the Colonial Athletic Association , with Hofstra and Northeastern dropping their football programs in 2009 , Rhode Island considering a move to the lower - profile Northeast Conference , Georgia State and Old Dominion joining the CAA , and Villanova considering a move to the Football Bowl Subdivision ' s Big East Conference . Ice hockey . UMass ice hockey has a long history dating back to 1908 . The team competed in the Eastern College Athletic Conference at the Division II level through 1979 , when the program was ceased due to the absence of an on - campus facility that could support ice hockey . Ice hockey returned in 1993 with the opening of the Mullins Center , and the team began competition in 1994 at the Division I level in the Hockey East Conference . The year 1993 is considered the beginning of the " modern era " of UMass Hockey . The program has shown steady improvement since it resumed competition , with breakthrough years occurring in 2003 and 2004 , when the team reached the Hockey East Tournament semifinals and finals , respectively . UMass Men ' s Ice Hockey appeared in their first NCAA Men ' s Ice Hockey Tournament ( 16 Teams ) in the 2006 - 07 season and won their first NCAA Tournament game against Clarkson ( 1 - 0 OT ) before losing to Maine ( 3 - 1 ) in the Regional Final . The UMass hockey team is nicknamed " The Mass Attack . " They are currently coached by John Micheletto . UMass alumni who have played / are playing professional hockey include Jonathan Quick , Thomas Pock , Greg Mauldin , Justin Braun , and Casey Wellman , among others . Quick also won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics as a member of Team USA and the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason MVP with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2012 NHL playoffs . Lacrosse . Men ' s . The men ' s lacrosse team reached the NCAA Championship Game in 2006 , where they lost to the # 1 ranked and undefeated Virginia Cavaliers . UMass , unseeded in the tournament , had to defeat three seeded teams ( Cornell , Hofstra , Maryland ) to make it to the championship game in Philadelphia . It was the first time any team had ever defeated the # 4 , # 3 , ad # 2 seeded teams on its way to facing # 1 Virginia in the championship . On February 13 , 2008 , members of the men ' s lacrosse team were involved in an off campus brawl which led to the suspension of eight players and the arrests of three . The players in question beat three college - aged males with lacrosse sticks and bottles at a North Pleasant Street residence . Women ' s . The women ' s lacrosse team ' s first season was in 1976 where the program quickly rose to prominence . They reached the USWLA Semifinals in 1978 , and were USWLA runner up in 1979 . The Minutewomen reached the AIAW seminfinals both in 1980 and 1981 . They were NCAA Champions in 1982 , and have been selected for the NCAA tournament in 1983 ( semifinals ) , 1984 ( semifinals ) , 2009 , 2011 and 2012 . They lost the play - in game in 2010 . They have been Atlantic 10 Champions in 2000 , 2009 , 2010 , 2011 and 2012 . Soccer . Men ' s . UMass began its men ' s soccer program in 1930 . They have reached the NCAA tournament 3 times , in 2001 , in 2008 , and in 2007 where UMass Men ' s soccer led by Captains Junior Goalkeeper Zack Simmons , Senior Defender Kenny Cook , and Junior Midfielder Mike Desantis reached NCAA Men ' s College Cup . They were defeated by the Ohio State Buckeyes , 1 - 0 . On their road to the Final Four , they first won the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Dayton , Ohio , and then went on to beat Boston University , # 1 ranked Boston College , Central Connecticut State , and Illinois at Chicago . They finished the season 17 - 8 - 1 , setting program records for wins and furthest advancement into the NCAA Tournament . They have been Atlantic 10 champions twice , in 2001 and 2007 . Women ' s . The women ' s soccer program began in 1978 . The Minutewomen have won 4 Atlantic 10 championships ( 1993 , 1994 , 1995 and 1997 ) . They have been selected to the NCAA Tournament 15 times , reaching the Women ' s College Cup 6 times ( 1983 , 1984 , 1985 , 1986 , 1987 ( finalist ) , and 1993 ) . Alumnus Briana Scurry received gold medals as a member of the 1996 and 2004 Team USA Women ' s Soccer Teams . Softball . The softball team has solidified itself as the top sports program at UMass over the last 30 plus , years . The program started in 1975 and in just four short seasons would become a national power . From 1978 to 1980 the Minutewomen softball team reached the EAIAW Tournament each year , winning it twice . In two seasons ( 1978 and 1980 ) they played in the AIAW World Series . Since the 1980 season the team has been led by legendary head coach , Elaine Sortino . Since its conversion from the AIAW to the NCAA UMass has played in 21 NCAA Tournaments , and has made 3 trips to the College World Series ( 1992 , 1997 , and 1998 ) . They have had players named as All - Americans on 32 different occasions . The team has also dominated the Atlantic 10 , winning 23 conference championships . Of the notable softball alumni one of the school ' s most famous is pitcher Danielle Henderson who pitched in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney , Australia and led the United States to a gold medal . Henderson also won the 1999 Honda Sports Award , given annually to the top Collegiate Softball player in the country . In her tenure as coach of the UMass Softball team Sortino has won over 1 , 000 games . In her career , UMass has posted 21 30 - win seasons , seven 40 - win campaign and one 50 - win season . Sortino has never had a losing season at the helm of the UMass softball program . Since 2000 the Softball team has played its home games at the state of the art 1 , 000 seat UMass Softball Complex . Swimming and diving . Men ' s . The mens swimming and diving teams first season was in 1935 . They have been Atlantic 10 Conference champions 14 times ( 1996 , 1997 , 1998 , 2001 , 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2005 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009 , 2010 , 2011 and 2012 ) . Women ' s . The women ' s team began their program in 1976 . They have been Atlantic 10 Champions in 2001 . Diver Angelique Rodríguez competed on the Puerto Rican Olympic teams in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics . Although UMass did not have a women ' s swim team at the time , Dorothy Donnelly practiced with the men ' s team in the late 1930s and early 1940s . She competed on the US swimming team in the 1940 Summer Olympics . Other sports . The women ' s rowing program has been highly successful . The team has been 13 time A - 10 champions , and some team members have been selected to the U . S . National Team , including Sara Jones who competed in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics . The team won 4th place in the 1998 NCAA Championships . UMass alumnus Julia Richter won the silver medal at the 2012 London Summer Olympics for Team Germany as a member of that country ' s women ' s four . Head coach Jim Dietz coached the 1988 , 1992 and 2000 Olympic teams and was a member of the 1972 , 1976 , and 1980 Olympic teams . The women ' s tennis team were A - 10 champions in 2001 , and New England Champions in 1996 . Before being eliminated after the 2002 academic year , UMass had highly successful varsity programs in men ' s water polo ( 4th place national finish in 1995 , with 6 appearances in NCAA tournaments ) , women ' s water polo , men ' s and women ' s gymnastics , men ' s tennis and women ' s volleyball . Before being eliminated in varsity sports after the 2009 season , the 2008 Minutemen skiing took home the United States Collegiate Skiing and Snowboard Association National Championship ( The first time in 23 years an Eastern Coast team has won ) . Many of the eliminated varsity sports programs continue at the club sports level .