Paine College, a private historically Black Methodist institution in Augusta, Georgia, fields its athletic teams under the Lions nickname. The college’s official colors are royal purple and white, selected by students in 1900.[1] The athletic program has undergone significant changes in recent years, including a major visual rebranding in 2017 and a conference transition in 2021.
Design and History
In August 2017, the Paine College athletic department unveiled a comprehensive rebranding initiative affecting all ten of its varsity sports. The new primary logo features a lion head and claws with the “Paine College Lions” wordmark beneath it. A secondary logo pairs the lion head and claws with a “P” overlaying a “C” to represent the college’s initials.[2]
The rebranding process began in January 2017 and included input from administration, coaches, student-athletes, and alumni. Watertown, Wisconsin-based Designs by Hahn, a firm specializing in sports identity, developed and designed the new logos. The marks were introduced on practice gear and uniforms that fall, with a redesigned website and online fan shop following in October.[2]
At the time of the rebrand, Paine competed in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) at the NCAA Division II level, fielding men’s teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and track & field, plus women’s teams in basketball, cross country, softball, track & field, and volleyball.[3]
Paine’s football history has been discontinuous. The program was revived in 2014 after a roughly 50-year hiatus, with the team finishing 2-8 in its first season back. In January 2015, the Board of Trustees voted to suspend the program for two years, citing the financial strain it placed on the college’s operating budget.[4]
In March 2021, Paine College announced that its athletics program would join the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), effective July 1, 2021, after leaving the NCAA and SIAC. The Lions began competing as an NCCAA Division I South Region member, sponsoring men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball, with men’s and women’s golf added in fall 2022.[5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The lion mascot reflects the college’s nickname, the Lions, and the 2017 primary mark depicts a lion head with claws alongside the college wordmark. The secondary logo incorporates the “PC” monogram with the same lion imagery.[2] The college’s official colors remain royal purple and white, which have been associated with Paine since 1900.[1]
FAQ
What conference do the Paine Lions compete in?
Paine College joined the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) as a Division I South Region member beginning July 1, 2021, after previously competing in the NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).[5]
Does Paine College have a football team?
No. Paine’s football program was suspended in January 2015 after one season back, following a 2-8 record in 2014. The program had been revived after roughly 50 years away.[4]
Who designed the current Paine Lions logo?
The 2017 athletic rebrand, including the primary lion head and claws logo and the secondary “PC” mark, was designed by Designs by Hahn, a sports identity firm based in Watertown, Wisconsin.[2]
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