Tar Heels Alternate Logo
The North Carolina Tar Heels have one of the most iconic logos in college sports. Their logo has been synonymous with excellence and tradition for over a century. But many people don’t know that the team has had an alternate logo almost as long as they’ve had their primary one. This secondary logo was created to represent the school's basketball program specifically, and it is just as beloved by fans today as it was when introduced back in 1922.
The North Carolina Tar Heels' original alternate logo featured a cartoonish ram wearing a blue cap with white lettering that read "NC." The ram represented strength, courage, and tenacity - all qualities associated with the university's athletic teams at that time - while being recognizable enough to be easily identified by fans across different platforms such as media outlets or merchandise products. The design remained relatively unchanged until 1989 when it underwent its first significant update to become more modernized yet still maintain its classic look & feel, which continues into 2021!
Today this alternative UNC Logo remains highly popular among students and alumni alike due to how well-known & recognized it is both on campus within the Chapel Hill area and across the entire state of North Carolina wherever you may go! It reminds us of our rich history and brings together current generations under a standard banner representing shared pride we all share for our beloved University no matter where we are geographically speaking – Go HEELS!!
2015 - Present
Interlocking letter “NC” in Carolina blue and blue trim above a wordmark “CAROLINA” in Carolina blue with blue trim and “ATHLETICS” in Carolina blue.
2015 - Present
Interlocking letter “NC” in white and blue trim above a wordmark “CAROLINA” in white with blue trim and “ATHLETICS” in white on Carolina blue background.
2015 - Present
Interlocking letter “NC” in Carolina blue and blue trim above a wordmark “CAROLINA” in Carolina blue with blue trim and “ATHLETICS” in blue on grey background.
2015 - Present
Interlocking letter “NC” in Carolina blue and white trim above a wordmark “CAROLINA” in Carolina blue with white trim and “ATHLETICS” in Carolina blue with white trim on a blue background.
2015 - Present
A Carolina blue foot with blue tar on the heel.
2015 - Present
Carolina blue interlocking letters “NC.” The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
2015 - Present
Blue interlocking letters “NC” on a grey background. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
2015 - Present
White interlocking letters “NC” on Carolina blue background. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
2015 - Present
Carolina blue interlocking letters “NC” with white trim on blue background. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
2015 - Present
White with blue trim interlocking letters “NC” on Carolina blue background. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
2015 - Present
Carolina blue interlocking letters “NC” on blue background. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
2005 - 2014
Blue and grey rams head in the middle of interlocking letters in Carolina blue with white and blue trim “NC” and wordmark “CAROLINA TAR HEELS” in blue.
1999 - 2014
Blue and grey rams head over Carolina blue with blue trim initials “UNC.”
1999 - 2014
initials “UNC” in Carolina blue with a blue trim and a grey foot with a blue tar on heel.
1999 - 2014
Carolina blue interlocking letters “NC.” The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
1999 - 2014
Carolina blue interlocking letters “NC” with white trim on blue background. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
1999 - 2014
Blue interlocking letters “NC” with white trim on Carolina blue background. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
1999 - 2014
A grey foot with blue tar on the heel.
1999 - 2014
Blue and grey rams head.
1999 - 2014
A Carolina blue foot with blue tar on the heel.
1999 - 2014
White interlocking letters “NC” with dark blue trim on Carolina blue background. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
1999 - 2014
Grey foot with tar on the heel on a blue and white oval. Wordmark “TAR HEELS” in white on a blue banner across the oval background and “UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA” in blue arched around the tar heel.
1983 - 1998
A white foot with blue tar on the heel.
1983 - 1998
White interlocking letters “NC” with Carolina blue trim. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
1983 - 1998
Carolina blue interlocking letters “NC” with blue trim. The letters “NC” represent the state of North Carolina.
1974 - 1982
Interlocking “NC” on Carolina blue outlined oval in white.
1954 - 1967
A ram’s head wearing a Carolina blue cap with “UNC” in white.
