Richmond Spiders The Richmond Spiders represent the University of Richmond of Richmond , Virginia . The Spiders compete in the Division I FCS of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference for most sports . The Spider name . From 1876 through 1893 , Richmond ' s sports teams were known as the " Colts " , reportedly for their play as an " energetic group of young colts . " But in 1894 , a baseball team comprising Richmond students and city residents took on the " Spiders " name after Ragland Chesterman of the Richmond Times - Dispatch used the term to refer to pitcher Puss Ellyson ' s lanky arms and stretching kick . To this day , Richmond is the only university in the United States with the spider as its official nickname . Varsity Sports . The University of Richmond sponsors teams in seven men ' s and ten women ' s NCAA sanctioned sports : Men ' s Intercollegiate Sports Women ' s Intercollegiate Sports Women ' s Basketball . The University of Richmond Women ' s Basketball team is currently under the eighth season under Michael Shafer , who has posted a 107 - 94 coaching record , with the current 2012 - 2013 record at 12 - 11 . Men ' s Cross Country / Track & Field . The Spiders Men ' s Cross Country and Track and Field teams are coached by Steve Taylor , who has been the coach since 2001 . In 2006 , the Spiders Cross Country team finished fourth in the Atlantic Ten Cross Country Championships out of fourteen schools . At the Atlantic Ten Indoor Track and Field , the team finished 7th , and at the Outdoor championships , the team finished 10th . In 2010 , the men ' s team won the Atlantic 10 Championship as a team for the first time ever . They went on to place fourth at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet to receive an at - large bid to the NCAA National Championship . Seeded in 28th place , the Richmond Spiders placed 24th at the NCAA National Championship beating , among others , top - ranked Notre Dame , Texas , Louisville , Penn State , and Georgetown . As of September 2012 , the indoor and outdoor track & field teams are set to lose their support from the university at the close of the 2012 - 2013 season . The cross country team will remain intact . Women ' s Cross Country / Track & Field . The Richmond Spiders Women ' s Cross Country and Track and Field teams are coached by Lori Taylor . In 2006 - 2007 , she guided the Spider women to a second place finish in the Cross Country , Indoor Track and Outdoor Track . In 2008 , she coached the Spider women to a conference championship in Cross Country . In 2010 the conference championship again went the Spider women , making it their second championship to date . The home of the Spiders XC / Track program is the Fred Hardy Track , on the University of Richmond ' s campus just north of the Robins Center . Field Hockey . The University of Richmond ' s women ' s field hockey team finished the 2006 season with a record of 17 - 5 and captured their fifth straight Atlantic 10 Conference championship and NCAA Division I tournament berth . The history of the program dates to 1920 , and it has been ranked as high as tenth among Division I programs in recent years . After six years with the Spiders , head coach Ange Bradley moved to Syracuse University at the conclusion of the 2006 season , and former Indiana University assistant coach Gina Lucido has taken the helm of the Spiders program . The team ' s home field is Crenshaw Field . Men ' s Golf . The University of Richmond ' s men ' s golf team finished fourth in the 2007 Atlantic 10 Conference championship tournament . The Spiders have captured three conference championships and qualified for four NCAA Regional Championships , as well as the 1999 NCAA National Championship . The current head coach of the Spiders is Adam Decker . Women ' s Golf . The University of Richmond ' s women ' s golf team competes as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association and finished fourth in the 2007 championship tournament . The program came into existence in 2002 , and since that time the Spiders have finished no lower than fourth in any of the five CAA championship tournaments in which they have competed . The current head coach of the Spiders is Maggie Will . Men ' s Lacrosse . The Richmond men ' s lacrosse team played its first full varsity season in 2014 as an associate member of the Atlantic Sun Conference ( A - Sun ) . Previously , the Spiders played at club level in the Tidewater Division of the National College Lacrosse League ( NCLL ) . In 2007 , the team recorded wins against Duke ( 7 - 3 ) , Hampden - Sydney ( 10 - 2 ) , and Georgetown ( 5 - 4 ) . The team also participated in the Beltway Bash , hosted by the University of Maryland ' s club lacrosse team . Richmond men ' s lacrosse team is coached by Glenn Carter and the team ' s current president is Dan Colosimo . The Spiders spent only the 2014 season in the A - Sun . As part of a cooperative agreement between the A - Sun and Southern Conference ( SoCon ) in lacrosse , sponsorship of men ' s lacrosse shifted from the A - Sun to the SoCon following the 2014 season . Women ' s Lacrosse . The University of Richmond ' s women ' s lacrosse team finished the 2007 season with a record of 14 - 6 and has captured three consecutive Atlantic - 10 championships and NCAA Division I tournament berths . The history of the program dates to 1957 , although it did not compete on the NCAA Division I level until 1992 . The program has been ranked as high ninth among Division I programs . The head coach of the Spiders is Stephanie Samaras Mantziaras and the assistant coach is Kelly Kasper Carter . The team ' s home field is Robins Stadium . Men ' s Soccer . The history of the program dates to 1975 , and the Spiders won or shared three conference title and advanced to three NCAA Division I championship tournaments . The head coach of the Spiders was Clint Peay and the team ' s home field was First Market Stadium . Notable Spiders that have played professionally include defender Craig Ziadie , who was selected 28th overall by D . C . United in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft , goalkeeper Shawn Alexander , who was selected in the first round of the 2002 USL A - League draft , and attacking midfielder Hristiyan Hristov , who was the only Bulgarian to play for the team in its history . The program played its final game on November 2 , 2012 , a 3 - 3 draw against crosstown rival VCU . Women ' s Soccer . The history of the program dates to 1996 , and the Spiders have won the Atlantic 10 conference title once ( 2002 ) and advanced to two NCAA Division I championship tournaments . In 2002 , the Spiders advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before falling to the University of Portland , the eventual national champion . The head coach of the Spiders is Peter Albright and the team ' s home field is First Market Stadium . Spider standout defender Jaclyn Raveia was selected by the Carolina Courage in the second round of the 2001 Women ' s United Soccer Association supplemental draft . Women ' s Swimming & Diving . The University of Richmond ' s women ' s swimming and diving team captured the 2013 Atlantic - 10 championship . They also won in 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2005 , 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009 , 2011 , 2012 dating back to UR ' s entrance into the conference . The Spiders have qualified at least one swimmer for the NCAA Division I championship meet in six of the past eight seasons . The head coach of the Spiders is Matthew Barany and the team ' s home pool is the Robins Center Natatorium . Facilities . University of Richmond Stadium has served as the home of Spider football since 1929 , located a few miles from campus . On September 16 , 2009 , it was announced by the university that the on - campus stadium ( formally First Market Stadium ) has been renamed the E . Claiborne Robins Stadium in honor of E . Claiborne Robins , Sr . and his historic philanthropy to the school . The university is currently expanding Robins Stadium ( currently home to the soccer , lacrosse , and track and field programs ) to accommodate football as well . The Robins Center arena serves as home to the men ' s and women ' s basketball programs . Other facilities at the Robins Center include the natatorium , home of the women ' s swimming and diving program , as well as offices and support facilities for most of the Spider athletic programs . Club Sports . Crew . The University of Richmond Crew was founded in 1891 . The team has come and gone several times throughout the 20th century , but is here to stay after a revival in the late 1980s . In 2012 , the team moved from its home at Robious Landing Park , to downtown Richmond at Rockett ' s Landing . The team has constructed a new boathouse , acquired new equipment , and hired a new coach . Ice Hockey . The University of Richmond ' s men ' s ice hockey team plays in the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference ( BRHC ) of the American Collegiate Hockey Association ( ACHA ) . The University of Richmond ' s hockey team won the BRHC Playoff Championship four times in a row ( 2003 – 04 , 2004 – 05 , 2005 – 06 , 2006 - 07 seasons ) . They have also gone to the ACHA National Championship tournament multiple times . The team is coached by Kevin Silver . Rugby . The University of Richmond ' s men ' s rugby union team plays in the Virginia Rugby Union Division II . In 2007 , the team finished in 2nd place , losing to eventual national champion Radford University in the VRU championship game . In each of the past three seasons the Spiders have placed high enough to advance to the first round of playoffs in the Mid - Atlantic Rugby Football Union . In 2008 , the Spiders lost to East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania . In 2006 and 2007 , they lost to Salisbury University of Maryland . In 2011 , the team finished in 2nd place , losing to Longwood University . Division opponents of the UR Men ' s team are James Madison University , the University of Mary Washington , Radford University , Virginia Commonwealth University , and Virginia Military Institute . The team is coached by Carl Schmitt , Matt Willson , and Sam Hall . The University of Richmond ' s women ' s rugby team is also gaining popularity .