Washburn competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.
Basketball Men's Washburn claims one national championship. Washburn won five straight games to claim the 1925 AAU National Championship, becoming the fourth school to claim an AAU title (joining Utah (1916), N.Y.U. (1920), and Butler (1924). They defeated St. Phillips Athletic Club, 34–11, in the final. In 1987, the Washburn men's basketball team defeated West Virginia State 79–77 to win the
NAIA national championship at
Kemper Arena in
Kansas City.
Women's Coached by
Ron McHenry from 2000 to 2022, the Ichabods posted a record of 35–2, setting a school record for wins and capturing the
NCAA Women's Division II Basketball National Championship by defeating
Seattle Pacific University 70–53.
Football Washburn began playing
Football in 1891 with a record of 1 win and 4 losses. In 1907, under
Garfield Weede the team completed a perfect season of 8 wins and 0 losses to be declared champions of the
Kansas Conference, forerunner to the
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The program has won 8 conference championships in its history. The current head coach is
Craig Schurig, who has held the position since the start of the 2002 season and led his team to a victory in the
Mineral Water Bowl in 2004. Former coaches at Washburn include
John H. Outland,
Garfield Weede,
Bert Kennedy,
Dick Godlove,
Ellis Rainsberger,
Harold "Bud" Elliott,
Tony DeMeo. == Notable alumni ==