Editing Oregon Institute of Technology (section)

==Athletics==
The Oregon Tech (OIT) athletic teams are called the Owls and Lady Owls (sometimes known as the '''"Hustlin' Owls"'''). The institute of technology is a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA), primarily competing in the [[Cascade Collegiate Conference]] (CCC) since the 1993–94 academic year.

Oregon Tech competes in 13 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball. 

The mascot for Oregon Tech Athletics is Hootie the Owl.

===Rivalries===
Oregon Tech's traditional athletic nemesis is [[Southern Oregon University]] in [[Ashland, Oregon]]. The close proximity of the schools and alternate academic foci (science and technology at Oregon Tech, liberal arts at SOU) result in a natural rivalry between the two.

===Men's basketball===
OIT has won multiple [[NAIA Men's Basketball Championships]]. Former men's basketball coach [[Danny Miles]] completed his 1,000th win February 1, 2014, in his 43rd year of coaching at OIT. This is the fourth most of any men's college basketball coach all-time (NCAA & NAIA).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/sports/ncaabasketball/for-41-years-town-cheers-oregon-tech-coach-danny-miles.html|title=For 41 Years, Town Cheers Oregon Tech Coach Danny Miles|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 22, 2012|author=Greg Bishop|access-date=November 28, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Softball ===
OIT's softball program won the [[NAIA Softball Championship]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2011/05/oregon_tech_captures_naia_soft.html|title=Oregon Tech captures NAIA softball national title in Gulf Shores|newspaper=[[The Birmingham News]]|date=May 26, 2011|author=Daniel Boyette|access-date=November 28, 2017}}</ref>  OIT was the national runner up in the NAIA Softball Championship in 2021.  <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-02 |title=Lady Owls Fall Twice to No. 1 SOU, Settle for National Runner-up |url=https://oregontechowls.com/news/2021/6/2/womens-softball-lady-owls-fall-twice-to-no-1-sou-settle-for-national-runner-up.aspx |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Hootie the Hustlin' Owl.jpg|thumb|Oregon Tech mascot, "Hootie", waves the team flag during player intros at a home game at Danny Miles Court in Klamath Falls, OR.]]
===Mascot===

Oregon Tech's mascot, ''Hootie the Hustlin' Owl'', is a great horned owl and has been portrayed as a costumed character since 1980. He sports the jersey number 47 as an homage to the school's founding year. 

Known originally as "OIT OWL", he first hatched out of a giant papier mâché egg during a home football game. Hootie's other alias was "OWLY OOP" in the 1990s amidst the loss of the school's football team, in an attempt to further emphasize their basketball program.
The beloved owl mascot was created by executive secretary Nancy Cox, inspired by the San Diego Chicken after attending a Padres game in 1980 and proceeding previous attempts at an official school mascot such as a rally head in the 1960s named "OTIS" and a live owl.

Notable stunts include skydiving, ziplining, basketball trick shots, and various feats of acrobatics and professional dancing abilities. Performed by actress Brooke Eldridge (2021–2025), as featured on ABC Nightline News.

'''Accolades:''' 
• CCC Mascot of the Year 2014, 2018
• Mascot Training Camp Champion 2023
• Mascot Hall of Fame Awards Nominee 2023 (best video skit, most community impact)