The Benedictine Ravens are the athletic teams that represent Benedictine College, located in Atchison, Kansas, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) since the 1991–92 academic year. The Ravens previously competed as an NAIA Independent from 1962–63 to 1990–91; in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIC) from 1937–38 to 1961–62; as an Independent from January 1929 (during the 1928–29 school year) to 1936–37; and in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) from 1902–03 to 1927–28.
The men's college was known as St. Benedict's College (alongside sister institution Mount St. Scholastica College) until a merger in 1971 created co-ed Benedictine College.
Benedictine won NAIA titles in men's basketball (1954, 1967) and women's lacrosse (2022). The Ravens played in the first NAIA basketball tournament in 1937 and the first football playoffs in 1958.
Varsity teams Benedictine competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, lacrosse, soccer, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, dance and spirit squad.
NAIA basketball champions The Ravens won the NAIA Tournament in Kansas City in 1954 and 1967, both under NAIA Hall of Fame coach Ralph Nolan.
The two champions took decidedly different routes to the title. The 1954 Ravens were regarded as underdogs throughout their run. The field included two-time defending champion Southwest Missouri State and East Texas State, the third-place finisher in 1953.
The 1967 Ravens came to Kansas City as the top seed.
In 1954, St. Benedict's College defeated Western Illinois 62–56 in the title game.
In 1967, the Ravens entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed. St. Benedict's won its second title with a 71–65 victory over Oklahoma Baptist.
The 1967 Ravens are one of six teams to finish the season No. 1 in the coaches poll, enter the tournament as the top seed and win the title.
In 2020, The Kansas City Star named Darryl Jones, a star of the 1967 team, and Nolan to the all-time NAIA Tournament team.
Benedictine has made 12 appearances in the NAIA Tournament, most recently in 2021.
The Ravens qualified for the NAIA in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 under coach Ryan Moody.
St. Benedict's played in the first NAIA Tournament in 1937 as one of eight teams in the field in Kansas City. The Ravens also qualified in 1953, 1958, 1965 and 1970. The 1965 Ravens advanced to the final eight of the 32-team field.
St. Benedict's also won Central Intercollegiate Conference titles in 1953, 1954 and 1958.
In 2014, Benedictine made its first appearance since 1970 and won its opening game over Westminster (70–65).
+ 1954 NAIA championsMunicipal Auditorium - Kansas City, Mo. St. Benedict's 68, East Carolina 61 St. Benedict's 74, St. Ambrose 50 St. Benedict's 62, Pasadena 61 St. Benedict's 63, Arkansas Tech 59 (semifinal) St. Benedict's 62, Western Illinois 56 (final)
+ 1967 NAIA champions Municipal Auditorium - Kansas City, Mo. St. Benedict's 80, Linfield 75 St. Benedict's 67, Southern State 56 St. Benedict's 88, St. Mary's 73 St. Benedict's 73, Morris Harvey 70 (semifinal) St. Benedict's 71, Oklahoma Baptist 65 (final)
+ Men's basketball postseason appearances Season Tournament Coach 1937 NAIA (0–1) Mullins 1949 National Catholic Invitational Tournament (2–2) Walsh 1953 NAIA (1–1) Nolan 1954 NAIA champions (5–0) Nolan 1958 NAIA (0–1) Nolan 1965 NAIA quarterfinals (2–1) Nolan 1967 NAIA champions (5–0) Nolan 1970 NAIA (0–1) Nolan 2014 NAIA (1–1) Moody 2015 NAIA (0–1) Moody 2017 NAIA (0–1) Moody 2019 NAIA (1–1) Moody 2021 NAIA (1–1) Moody
+ NAIA district basketball playoffs Season Tournament Coach 1953 District 10 playoff series champions (SBC 2, Ottawa 1) Nolan 1954 District 10 playoff series champions (SBC 2, Kansas Wesleyan 0) Nolan 1958 District 10 playoff series champions (SBC 2, Ottawa 0) Nolan 1965 District 10 playoff series champions (SBC 2, Bethany 0) Nolan 1966 District 10 playoffs (1–1, 3rd) Nolan 1967 District 10 playoffs champions (2–0) Nolan 1968 District 10 playoffs (1–1, 2nd) Nolan 1969 District 10 playoffs (0–1) Nolan 1970 District 10 playoffs champions (2–0) Nolan 1971 District 10 playoffs (0–1)) Colwell 1972 District 10 playoffs (0–1) Colwell 1977 District 10 playoffs (1–1) Jones 1981 District 10 playoffs (1–1) Judge 1982 District 10 playoffs (0–1) Judge 1987 District 10 playoffs (0–1) Morley 1988 District 10 playoffs (0–1) Morley 1990 District 10 playoffs (0–1) Sickafoose 1991 District 10 playoffs (0–1) Sickafoose 1992 District 16 playoffs (1–1) Sickafoose 1993 District 16 playoffs (0–1) Sickafoose
Football's rise, fall and return
The story of football at Benedictine College is written by coach Larry Wilcox, who played for the Ravens and took over as coach at age 28. He coached for 42 seasons before retiring in 2020. Along the way, he played a major role in the college's financial health and enrollment, built a football stadium, offices and weight room, won 300-plus games and mentored many lives.
Wilcox and his long-time assistants are considered a key part of the Benedictine experience by many football players who have been on the team.
The Ravens own 16 NAIA playoff appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2018 and trips to the semifinals in 1992 and 2001. They made eight appearances in nine seasons between 1995 and 2003.
As St. Benedict's, the Ravens made their first appearance in 1958 as one of four NAIA playoff teams.
The 2018 Ravens went 13–2 to set a school record for season victories. They won the Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division title. In the NAIA playoffs, they defeated Cumberlands (48–41), Concordia (54–38) and Kansas Wesleyan (43–21) to advance to the NAIA title game. Top-ranked Morningside defeated Benedictine 35–28 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
More than 3,000 Benedictine fans traveled to the game. + Ravens in the final NAIA poll (since 1997) Season Rank (Record) Coach 1997 No. 10 (9–2) Wilcox 1998 No. 5 (9–2) Wilcox 2000 No. 3 (10–1) Wilcox 2001 No. 4 (12–2) Wilcox 2002 No. 12 (9–3) Wilcox 2003 No. 12 (9–3) Wilcox 2006 No. 18 (9–3) Wilcox 2011 No. 15 (9–3) Wilcox 2012 No. 22 (7–4) Wilcox 2013 No. 9 (10–2) Wilcox 2014 No. 25 (7–4) Wilcox 2015 No. 21 (7–4) Wilcox 2016 No. 23 (7–4) Wilcox 2017 No. 12 (9–3) Wilcox 2018 No. 2 (11–2) Wilcox 2019 No. 18 (8–3) Wilcox 2020 No. 16 (8–1) Wilcox/Osborn 2022 No. 6 (11–2) Osborn 2023 No. 25 (8–3) Osborn 2024 No. 3 (tie) (11–3) Osborn 2025 No. 3 (12–2) Osborn
St. Benedict's started football in 1920 and the program enjoyed several high points in its early years. The school dropped football after the 1962 season. Varsity football returned in 1973.
Wilcox came to St. Benedict's in 1969 and joined the football club upon its revival in 1970 on its way to varsity status.
Wilcox, after serving as assistant coach, took over the program in 1979 and presided over its transformation into a consistent winner and regular NAIA playoff qualifier. The Ravens play in Larry Wilcox Stadium, opened in 1998, on campus. In 1990, the Ravens moved into the Amino Center locker room, offices and weight room. Benedictine expanded the facility in 2004 and 2007.
Wilcox, a 1972 graduate, was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2017. He coached the Ravens to 14 of their 15 NAIA playoff appearances.
+ Football postseason appearances Season Bowl/playoff Coach 1956 Mineral Water Bowl - St. Benedict's 14, Northeastern Oklahoma 13 Schottel 1958 NAIA Western Playoff (0–1) Schottel 1976 Boot Hill Bowl - BC 29, Washburn 14 Tardiff 1977 Boot Hill Bowl - Missouri Western 35, BC 30 May 1985 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 1986 Sunflower Bowl - Tarleton State 40, BC 38 Wilcox 1991 Steamboat Bowl - BC 18, Friends 13 Wilcox 1992 NAIA semifinal (2–1) Wilcox 1995 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 1996 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 1997 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 1998 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 2000 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 2001 NAIA semifinal (2–1) Wilcox 2002 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 2003 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 2011 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 2013 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 2017 NAIA playoffs (0–1) Wilcox 2018 NAIA runner-up (3–1) Wilcox2022NAIA playoffs (1–1)Osborn2024NAIA semifinal (2–1)Osborn2025NAIA semifinal (2–1)Osborn
In 2004, Wilcox donated his salary to help complete expansion of the Amino Center.
St. Benedict's played in its first bowl game in 1956 under coach Ivan Schottel. The Ravens defeated Northeastern Oklahoma State 14–13 in the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Since resuming football, the Ravens won the 1976 Boot Hill Bowl and the 1991 Steamboat Bowl. They lost in the 1977 Boot Hill Bowl and the 1986 Sunflower Bowl.
St. Benedict's won its first conference title in 1940 under coach Marty Peters. The Ravens went 4–0 in the Central Intercollegiate Conference with wins over Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State, Southwestern and Emporia State. Schottel became coach in 1953 and won or shared CIC titles in 1953, 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960.
The 1958 Ravens went 10–1 and rose to No. 5 in the NAIA rankings before losing to Northeastern Oklahoma in the NAIA Western Playoff. The Ravens won the CIC title and grabbed 10 of the 11 spots on the first-team all-conference team. Quarterback Mark Flynn was named CIC Back of the Year and George Worley was the CIC Lineman of the Year. Worley was also named NAIA Lineman of the Year.
St. Benedict's also enjoyed a notable run of success in the 1930s under coach Moon Mullins. He coached five seasons and went 37–5–1, capped by an 8–0 season in 1936.
Benedictine played as an independent after resuming football in 1973. It rekindled CIC rivalries against schools such as Washburn and Emporia State at times, and also regularly played Missouri Western. After years of lobbying (and a short run in the Tri-State Conference), Benedictine joined the Heart of America in 1992 and shared the conference title with Baker.
The Ravens went 9–0 in the Heart in 1995 to win its second title. It also won Heart titles in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2013. It claimed Heart North Division titles in 2017 and 2018.
+ Unbeaten regular seasons Season Record Coach 1925 6–0–1 Quigley 1936 8–0 Mullins 1958 10–0 (10–1 final record) Schottel 1985 10–0 (10–1 final record Wilcox 1995 9–0 (9–1 final record) Wilcox 2000 10–0 (10–1 final record) Wilcox
"A strangle hold on the honor and glory that goes with crushing Rockhurst"
For 60-plus years, the Ravens and Rockhurst College faced off in a rivalry as intense as any in small-college athletics. The Catholic colleges are separated by 56 miles and their meetings, especially in basketball, defined seasons and packed gymnasiums for decades.
Fans rode trains to Kansas City for games and students dribbled a basketball from the Atchison campus to Kansas City in a show of spirit. In the 1960s and 1970s, the meetings in Kansas City often drew crowds of 5–10,000 to Municipal Auditorium. In Atchison, the gym would be packed with 3,000 fans at 1:30 for a 3 p.m. game. "Rockhurst Weekend" became the social and party event of the school year in Atchison, regardless of the outcome of the game. It traditionally started with beer and Wheaties breakfast at The Wharf and included a rivalry t-shirt mocking the Hawks before an afternoon game.