University of Idaho Intramural Sports collection, 1938-1992

Intramural athletics can be traced back to the mid-1800s. However, it hadn't gained popularity within the academic or collegiate fields in the United States until the early 1900s.

For the University of Idaho, the earliest mention of intramural (or intra-mural) sports can be found in the 1922 Gem of the Mountains yearbook. According to a statement by Thomas Kelley, the Director of Athletics at the time, the department of Physical Education wanted to "lay a great deal of stress upon intra-mural and inter-class competition" (Gem of the Mountains, 1922, page 107). Later in 1922, Robert Lee Mathews was eventually named the Director of Athletics and a Professor of Physical Education. In this position, he kept the supervisory role of intramural athletics and other inter-class sports.

Intramurals grew in popularity from this point on. It became a way for fraternities (and eventually sororities and individual students) to compete against each other in various sports. During it's earliest years at U of I, its important to note that intramural sports weren't only allocated to male students. In 1925, the U of I Women's Athletics Association wanted to further women's interest in intramural athletics. They participated in basketball, baseball, volleyball, and outdoor activities.

Under Leo Calland, Director of Athletics and Vandal Football coach (circa 1930s), interest in intramural sports at the University of Idaho grew once again. With the changes he made to the athletics program, "intramural sports have come rapidly to the fore," (Gem of the Mountains, 1930, page 154). In the 1940s, Leon G. Green was Director of Intramurals. He eventually became the university's Athletic Director. In 2019, Leon's grandson, C. Scott Green, became the University of Idaho President. To this day, intramural sports are an integral part of U of I campus life and culture.