Dear USF Community,
We are excited to announce that the University of San Francisco Dons will introduce a new mascot for athletic events, games, and campus activities, beginning in spring 2027.
USF’s Jesuit roots provide the inspiration for the new mascot, and we imagine many of you will not be surprised by the choice: A wolf, which figures prominently in the story of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Wolves are an important part of USF’s story, too. At the center of the Hilltop, a large bronze sculpture of Ignatius’ legendary wolves, Los Lobos de Loyola, stands in front of Gleeson Library and is a popular location for student photos. It is also the central spot for the Night Howl, an official New Student Orientation activity every August. (This year’s Night Howl is pictured above.)
With new leadership at USF and in Dons Athletics, we believe the time is right to revitalize our image and embrace a new mascot, one that is known for its intelligence, endurance, and ability to work cooperatively in its pack. At the same time, we will proudly remain the University of San Francisco Dons.
The USF Dons, with a wolf as a mascot, honors the university’s Jesuit heritage, and the nickname, the Dons, is an expression of the university's history, culture, and mission since 1932. “Ignatius was a Spanish nobleman or ‘Don’ before he pursued religious life,” said Kevin F. Burke, S.J., USF’s vice president of mission and Ignatian imagination, who is overseeing the transition. “His family, known for their hospitality, provided food for others and even for the wild wolves in their Spanish territory. The Loyola coat of arms includes two wolves (lobos) standing on their hind legs and resting their paws on either side of a hanging cooking pot over a fire (olla).”
We will share more information soon about our new mascot, the wolf. Thank you for your support of USF and go Dons!
Kindly,
Salvador D. Aceves ’83, EdD ’95
President