Ulster Elks

Ulster Elks is an Irish basketball team based in Jordanstown, Northern Ireland. The team competes in the National League Division 1 and plays its home games at the Ulster University Sports Centre. They have previously had stints in the Irish SuperLeague and the Basketball Northern Ireland Wingfoot Premier League. The team is a division of Ulster Elks Basketball Club and is directly associated with Ulster University.

Ulster Elks
LeaguesNational League Division 1
Founded2005
HistoryUniversity of Ulster
2005–2008
Ulster Elks
2008–present
ArenaUlster University Sports Centre
LocationJordanstown, Northern Ireland
Team colorsBlue & white
Head coachPaul McKee

History

The University of Ulster at Jordanstown Men's Basketball Club was founded in 1984. Previously, Ulster Polytechnic occupied the Jordanstown site and had a very strong tradition in men's collegiate basketball. UUJ experienced the greatest success out of the four UU campuses at collegiate level in men's and women's basketball, with six Men's Irish intervarsity championships won during the 1990s and early 2000s.[1]

In 2005, UU appointed Andrew O'Hare as full-time Basketball Development Officer. This led to the development of a UU Basketball Management Board, a range of junior partner clubs, a satellite development programme, residential and day camps, intramural basketball, basketball scholarships and the transition of UU into Basketball Ireland national competitions.[1] Between 2005 and 2007, the University of Ulster competed in the National League Division 1.

In 2007, the team entered the Irish SuperLeague for the first time.[2] The team was renamed Ulster Elks for the 2008–09 season.[3][4] In January 2011, Elks made their first appearance in a National Cup semi-final.[5]

Following the 2010–11 season, Elks withdrew from the SuperLeague and joined the Basketball Northern Ireland Premier League for the 2011–12 season. For the 2012–13 season, the Patrick O'Neill-coached Elks returned to the National League Division 1, but also competed in the Ulster Premier League and Division 1 of the Universities league.[6] They went on to win the 2013 National League D1 Northern Conference championship.[7]

Elks continued on in the Northern Ireland Premier League between 2013 and 2016 before re-entering the National League Division 1 for the 2016–17 season.[8][9] They continued on in the National League Division 1 for the 2017–18 season.[10]

References
  1. Interview with UU Men's SuperLeague team head coach Deirdre Brennan
  2. Limerick stun Ballina as Superleague begins
  3. Ulster Elks Basketball Going Solo
  4. Brennan is ready for lift-off with Elks in Super League
  5. Ulster Elks looking to reach their first final
  6. Currently your Ulster elks Men's Basketball team play in three competitions...
  7. Ulster Elks National League D1 Northern Conference champions 2013!
  8. ULSTER ELKS ENTER NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 2016/2017
  9. Expanded basketball league is unveiled
  10. FIXTURES ANNOUNCED FOR BASKETBALL IRELAND NATIONAL LEAGUE SEASON
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