The Indianapolis Greyhounds are the athletic teams of the University of Indianapolis (UIndy), an NCAA Division II program competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The university was known as Indiana Central from its founding in 1902 until adopting its current name in 1986, and the Greyhound nickname for athletic teams dates from 1926.[1]
Design and History
The current “flying I” athletic department logo dates from 2007, when it was adopted as the helmet logo for Greyhound football. It has since been adopted as the general UIndy athletics logo.[1] The university’s official trademark list identifies the Flying “I” as a protected mark, alongside the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds word mark, UIndy, Hounds, and ACE (the costumed mascot).[2]
The original school colors, cardinal and grey, predated the athletic program and eventually gave way to crimson and grey.[1] In 2011, Greyhound football adopted black rather than crimson as the primary dark jersey color, and most other UIndy teams soon followed suit. Black helmets followed in 2024, replacing the silver helmets used previously.[3]
A separate trademark filing from 2021 describes a mark consisting of a greyhound dog jumping to the right over the word “GREYHOUNDS” in bold, above the words “UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS” with “INDIANAPOLIS” in bold.[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
Students chose the Greyhound as the athletics mascot in 1926, selecting the breed for its “fighting prowess and leaping ability,” according to a university culture presentation.[5] The university’s brand guidelines describe the institution’s identity as one of a community building momentum together, with language that is welcoming, genuine, and purposeful.[6]
Typography and Design
The university’s brand guidelines specify Clarke as the lead typeface for headlines and sub-headlines, described as a condensed sans-serif that feels bold, durable, and honest, with subtle rounded tips and corners. Proxima Nova Alt serves as the body copy typeface, a modern sans-serif based on geometric proportions.[6]
The primary UIndy color palette is built around PMS 201 (crimson, with hex value #B20A38), PMS Cool Gray 6, PMS Cool Gray 9, and PMS Black. These colors are described as the foundation of the brand that should always lead the design.[6]
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
