Loyola College and Sir George Williams University merged in 1974 to create Concordia University. At the time of the merger, both institutions had thriving Athletics Department and were involved in Varsity and Intramural Sports.

Following the recommendations of a committee to evaluate the Student Services area, the Board of Governors, at its meeting of June 12, 1975, merged the two departments into a single unit. Edmund F. Enos, former Director of Loyola Athletics, became Director of the newly formed Concordia department. The director of the Sir George Williams Department of Physical Education, George Short, became assistant athletic director.

In September 1975, a contest was organized to name the Concordia teams. A committee, composed of students from both campuses, narrowed the list of 150 submissions. After meeting with athletics administrators, the name Stingers was selected. On November 13, 1975, the Board of Governors approved the name.

In 1976-1977, the Department of Physical Education and Athletics appeared as one entity in the Undergraduate Calendar for the first time. The Department changed its name to Department of Fitness, Recreation and Athletics in the late 1980s and again in the early 1990s to Department of Recreation and Athletics.

Since the 1970s, the Department has published several programs bearing different names, including Sports Review, Stinger Sports, Sport Scenes, and Stinger Magazine, to name a few.