Loyola University has unveiled a new logo to represent Wolf Pack athletics this year and into the future.

The logo is the sixth version to represent Loyola athletics since the Wolf Pack was launched as the university’s mascot in 1924. It is replacing the logo that has been used at Loyola since 1997.

According to Michael Giorlando, director of athletics and wellness and head men’s basketball coach, a committee of 12 to 14 people worked together to develop the new design. The committee included representatives from the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Institutional Advancement, the web team and student-athletes.

Giorlando said that he feels the new logo is a great representative of the Wolf Pack as the university enters its second century.

“The new logo has a dynamic, bold, contemporary look that is a perfect fit for our institution as we move into the next centennial,” he said via email.

Loyola Director of Publications Allee Parker said that Loyola was considering five companies to design the logo. Out of the five companies, the design company Phoenix Design Works was selected to create Loyola’s logo. Parker said she feels the school chose to work with the design company because of its fit with Loyola.

“They seemed to be perfect for what exactly the team wanted,” Parker said.

Parker said that Loyola coaches had been trying to update the logo before the past year, as it had poor design in font size. She said that she thinks the newfound enthusiasm for the logo will improve marketing for Loyola athletics.

“I think it’s going to help branding because the athletics department is buying in. They love it,” she said.

Amy Skiles, coordinator at Phoenix Design Works, worked with Parker and the athletics department over the last year. She said that the university wanted a bold and different logo that would distinguish itself from other similarly named universities.

“They wanted it to not look like any other Loyolas,” Skiles said.

Parker said that the university sharing a name with so many other schools presents a challenge in branding.

“Loyola branding is kind of a challenge because you have four other universities and many high schools,” Parker said.

New rules will have the university presenting itself as a distinct Loyola. According to Parker, the new logo brings a uniform style guide for all athletic jerseys. The jerseys will have to say Wolf Pack or New Orleans.

Parker said she hopes the logo will represent the school’s athletics for multiple decades.

“I hope this logo will be around for the next 20 to 30 years. I think it’s dynamic enough to do that,” Parker said.

Skiles said that she hopes their design is a contribution to the revival of New Orleans.

“It’s our little piece to help New Orleans with its great comeback,” Skiles said.

Karl Gommel can be reached at [email protected]

Students lift their hands in hopes of catching T-shirts. The shirts featured the new Wolf Pack logo. (ZACH BRIEN/ Staff Photographer)

Students wait in line for frozen treats during the event. The ice cream truck was one of the ways the university celebrated the new logo. (ZACH BRIEN/ Staff Photographer)