Between 1950 through 1964, UICC was known as University of Illinois Chicago Undergraduate Division located at Navy Pier, and competed as a junior college.
[2] Known as the Chicago Illini during their years competing at Navy Pier, with the move to their new campus, the athletic teams were inspired by the Chickasaw and renamed Chikas.
[3][A 2] UICC played its home games at multiple stadiums throughout their history with the most recent being Soldier Field.
[5] George Strnad served as head coach of the Chikas from 1964 to 1968, and played as a member of the first team at Navy Pier in 1950.
The 1966 season featured the first Chikas game played at Soldier Field where they defeated Lakeland College 20–17 on homecoming.
In their game against Wayne State, the Tartars linebacker Ron Solack sustained a double-puncture to his intestine that resulted in his death on October 25.
[36] Nemoto previously spent 12 years as an assistant coach at Circle/Navy Pier, and was considered the best lineman to ever play at the University as a student in the 1950s.