Rider University Athletics Adds New Secondary Mark

LAWRENCEVILLE—Following up on its successful athletics logo redesign in 2007, the Rider University Department of Athletics has added a new secondary mark logo for the upcoming 2014-15 academic year.  This new mark is an addition to the category of secondary logo marks that currently includes the R, horseshoe and horsehead and was created by Phoenix Design Works who also conceptualized the original logo redesign seven years ago.

“The development of an additional secondary mark utilizing two of our existing logos was a way for us to enhance our brand without having to go through an extensive redesign,” said Karin Torchia, associate director of athletics for external operations/SWA. “This new secondary mark also gives our teams and vendors an opportunity to develop and introduce products and apparel with a fresh new look that hasn't been seen before by our constituents and fans.” 

When the redesign was introduced in 2007, it was just the fourth logo in the then 80-year history of Rider varsity athletics. In 1989 Rider switched from the original Roughrider riding a bronc, designed and illustrated by Coach Clair Bee, to an upright Bronc. The Bronc changed its sweater over the years from wearing an R on the chest to the words Rider or Broncs, and was incorporated with the U when Rider became a University in 1994. 

Clair Bee was an accounting professor at Rider before founding the varsity athletics program in 1928-29. Rider's first director of athletics, Bee coached football, basketball and baseball at Rider, and earned national prominence as a basketball innovator (invented the shot clock, the three-second rule) and author (wrote the famous Chip Hilton book series). Coach Bee won several national basketball titles at Long IslandUniversity and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. as well as being a charter member of the Rider Athletics Hall of Fame. 

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