The San Jose State Spartans are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent San José State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Mountain West Conference at the NCAA Division I level, with football competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Quick Facts University, Conference ...
San Jose State Spartans
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UniversitySan Jose State University
ConferenceMountain West Conference (primary)
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (women's water polo)
WCC (men's water polo)
Southland (beach volleyball)
WAC (men's soccer)
NCAADivision I / FBS
Athletic directorJeff Konya
LocationSan Jose, California
Varsity teams22
Football stadiumCEFCU Stadium
Basketball arenaProvident Credit Union Event Center
Baseball stadiumExcite Ballpark
Softball stadiumSpartan Softball Stadium
Soccer stadiumSpartan Soccer Complex
Other venuesBud Winter Field
Pasatiempo Golf Club
SJSU Tennis Complex
Spartan Complex
Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center
Spartan Beach
MascotSammy the Spartan
NicknameSpartans
Fight songSpartan Fight Song[1]
ColorsGold, white, and blue[2]
     
Websitewww.sjsuspartans.com
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Team NCAA championships
10
Individual and relay NCAA champions
50
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San Jose State is a member of the Mountain West Conference

San Jose State is one of 20 Division I members in the state of California, seven of which are FBS members. The other FBS members are fellow Mountain West conference mates Fresno State and San Diego State, plus Pac-12 Conference members University of California, Stanford, UCLA and USC. SJSU has participated in athletics since it first fielded a baseball team in 1890.

San José State sports teams have won NCAA national titles in track and field, cross country, golf, boxing, fencing and tennis.[3] As of 2023, SJSU has won 10 NCAA national Division 1 team championships and produced 50 NCAA national Division 1 individual champions.[4] SJSU also has achieved an international reputation for its judo program, winning 52 National Collegiate Judo Association (NCJA) men's team championship titles and 26 NCJA women's team championship titles between 1962 and 2024.[5][6][7][8]

SJSU alumni have won 20 Olympic medals (including seven gold medals) dating back to the first gold medal won by Willie Steele in track and field in the 1948 Olympics.[9] Alumni also have won medals in swimming, judo, water polo and boxing.

The track team coached by "Bud" Winter earned San Jose State the nickname "Speed City", and produced Olympic medalists and social activists Lee Evans, Tommie Smith and John Carlos. Smith and Carlos are perhaps best remembered for giving the raised fist salute from the medalists' podium during the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

San José State University sponsors teams in eight men's and twelve women's NCAA sanctioned sports. Jeff Konya has served as the director of athletics since June 12, 2021.[10]

Nickname and mascot history

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Sammy Spartan at the 2012 Military Bowl

SJSU's mascot changed many times before the school finally adopted the Spartans as the official mascot and nickname in 1922. Mascots and nicknames prior to 1922 included the Daniels, the Teachers, the Pedagogues, the Normals and the Normalites. The school's current mascot is Sammy the Spartan, or Sammy Spartan for short.

After 1887, the school's official name was the State Normal School at San Jose. The school's athletics teams initially played under the "Normal" identity, but they gradually shifted to the "State Normal School" identity, as evidenced by images of SNS football and basketball squads from this era. In official publications, the school was referred to as the "California State Normal School, San Jose."


Sports sponsored

More information Men's sports, Women's sports ...
Men's sports Women's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballBeach volleyball
Cross countryCross country
FootballGolf
GolfGymnastics
SoccerSoccer
Track and fieldSoftball
Water poloSwimming and diving
Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
Water polo
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor
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All varsity teams representing San José State University compete in the Mountain West Conference except beach volleyball (Southland Conference), women's water polo (Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), men's soccer (Western Athletic Conference), and men's water polo (Golden Coast Conference).

Baseball

The Spartan baseball team made NCAA tournament appearances in 1955, 1971, 2000, 2002 and 2023. In 2000, the team advanced to the College World Series.[11]

From 1997 to 2013, the SJSU baseball team competed in the Western Athletic Conference, earning three WAC pennants in 1997, 2000 and 2009.[11] In 2023, the SJSU baseball team won both the Mountain West Conference regular-season title and tournament championship title.

Under head coach and SJSU alumnus Sam Piraro (1987–2012), the SJSU baseball team reached the 30-win mark 17 times (including five 40+ wins seasons) and appeared in the national rankings 47 times.[11]

As of 2023, the SJSU baseball team has produced over 25 All-Americans including seven first-team selections.[11]

Over 100 Spartans have been taken in the Major League Baseball draft since 1965.[11]

Basketball

The SJSU men's basketball team has garnered 10 conference championship titles beginning with a California Coast Conference championship victory in 1925. The Spartans' most recent conference championship victory occurred in 1996 when SJSU defeated Utah State in overtime to win the Big West championship tournament.[12]

The SJSU men's basketball team has made three NCAA tournament appearances (1951, 1980 and 1996). SJSU was defeated in the first round all three times.[12] The SJSU men's basketball team has made one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance (1981), but was defeated in the first round.[12] The SJSU men's basketball team has made two College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament appearances (2011 and 2023).[12][13]

As of 2023, twelve former SJSU men's basketball players have been drafted into the NBA.[12][14]

San Jose State began fielding a varsity women's basketball team in 1974.

Cross country

In 1962, the San José State University cross country team became the first racially integrated team to win the NCAA national championship.[15]

The San Jose State men's cross country team has appeared in the NCAA tournament six times, finishing first in 1962 and 1963. The team has compiled an unofficial record of 84–19 (.816).[16]

The San Jose State women's cross country team has never made the NCAA tournament.[17]

More information Year, Ranking ...
Year Ranking Points Notes
1961No. 282Defeated Houston, Kansas, Iowa, Western Michigan, Southern Illinois,
Penn State, Michigan State, Air Force, Army, Texas A&M,
Central Michigan, Ohio, Miami (OH), Bowling Green, and Buffalo
Lost to Oregon State
1962No. 158Defeated Villanova, Western Michigan, Houston, Michigan State, Ohio,
Colorado, Oregon State, Idaho, Kansas, Notre Dame,
Penn State, Iowa, and Texas A&M
1963No. 153Defeated Oregon, Notre Dame, Kansas, Michigan State, Houston,
Ohio, Miami (OH), Villanova, Western Michigan, Wisconsin,
Brown, Bowling Green, Providence, Syracuse, Drake,
William & Mary, Rutgers, Oklahoma City, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech
1965No. 11277Defeated BYU, Furman, Colorado, Michigan State, Army,
Providence, and Houston
Lost to Western Michigan, Northwestern, Tennessee, Georgetown, Oklahoma State,
Kansas, Kansas State, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Wyoming
1966No. 3183Defeated Iowa, Washington State, Colorado, Oregon State, Southern Illinois,
Western Michigan, Houston, New Mexico, Michigan State. Colorado State,
Abilene Christian, Ohio, Kansas, Oklahoma State, William & Mary,
Miami (OH), Providence, Notre Dame, Drake, Iowa State,
Tennessee, and Arkansas
Lost to Villanova and Kansas State
1967No. 7152Defeated Drake, BYU, Utah, Houston, Tennessee,
Kansas, and Wyoming
Lost to Villanova, Air Force, Colorado, Western Michigan, Indiana, and Missouri
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Football

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The Spartans football team poses with the trophy at the 2012 Military Bowl

San Jose State first fielded a football team in 1893 and has won 17 conference championships dating back to 1932.[18][19] During the 1930s and 1940s, the Spartan football program was considered a powerhouse, winning eight conference championships over an 18-year span. The 1932 team finished 7–0–2 and the 1939 team finished 13–0, marking the only undefeated seasons in school history.

More recent success includes an 11–2 finish in 2012 when SJSU achieved its first-ever BCS ranking and first national ranking since 1990. SJSU was ranked No. 21 in both the 2012 post-season Associated Press Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll.

The football team had another successful season in 2020 when it cracked the AP Poll top-25 for the first time since 2012 and appeared in the College Football Playoff ranking at No. 24. The team also won its first conference championship title since 1991. The Spartans finished the 2020 season 7–1 and ranked No. 24 in the final AP poll.

The San Jose State Spartans football team served unexpectedly with the Honolulu Police Department during World War II. The team had just arrived in Honolulu to play the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the Shrine Bowl, but was stranded on the islands after the Pearl Harbor attack.[20]

SJSU earned more Big West Conference football championship titles than any other team in the history of the Big West conference.[18]

The SJSU football team has made 12 bowl appearances. Its most recent bowl appearance occurred in 2022 when the Spartans faced Eastern Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

SJSU, the University of Dayton, Eastern Illinois University and the University of Arkansas are the only schools known to have produced two alumni who would go on to serve as head coaches of Super Bowl-winning teams.[18]

SJSU has produced over 70 All-America team members, including five first-team selections.[18]

As of July 2023, 143 San Jose State players have gone on to play in the NFL,[21] and eight former Spartans are actively playing in the NFL.[22][23] The 143 players include 125 draftees, six NFL Pro Bowl selections, six first-round draft picks, two MVP award winners, and one NFL Rookie of the Year.[21][22][18]

San Jose State has appeared in 13 bowl games and has an overall bowl record of 7–6.[18]

Golf

Men

The SJSU men's golf team has garnered one NCAA championship title (1948) and has produced two NCAA individual champions, Bob Harris in 1948 and Terry Small in 1964.[24] The team has also won 10 conference championships dating back to 1968.

Conference Championships

The SJSU men's golf team has garnered 12 Western Intercollegiate tournament team championships and 12 individual Western Intercollegiate championships, thus earning its place as the winningest team in tournament history.[24] The team has also produced 33 All-America team members (including four 1st-team members) and seven different PGA Tour winners.[24]

Notable SJSU alumni include Arron Oberholser and Ken Venturi.

NCAA Men's Golf Championship Results[27]

More information Year, Finish ...
Year Finish Score
19474th617
19481st579
19495th603
195021st626
19556th597
195615th621
19578th614
195917th609
196311th600
19644th600
19657th596
19662nd586
19679th599
196811th1,184
19729th1,200
19734th1,170
19749th1,194
197613th1,197
197713th1,241
19788th1,181
197914th1,234
198020th914
198120th894
198213th1,176
198326th910
19846th1,162
198524th916
198712th1,199
199221st587
199426th595
199610th1,220
199719th590
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Women

The SJSU women's golf team has garnered three NCAA championship titles (1987, 1989, 1992), 18 conference championships, and 37 All-America honors. The team has also produced one AIAW individual champion (Patty Sheehan in 1980) and one NCAA individual champion (Pat Hurst in 1989). The team's most recent conference championship victory came in 2022, when the Spartans won the Mountain West Conference tournament.[28]

In 2022, the SJSU women's golf team won the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional title and finished 7th overall in the 2022 NCAA national tournament. SJSU golfer Natasha Andrea Oon finished 2nd overall on the D1 national tournament leaderboard. The 2022 women's golf team also finished No. 3 in the final NCAA national rankings.

Notable alumnae include Danielle Ammaccapane, Dana Dormann, Pat Hurst and Juli Inkster.

NCAA Women's Golf Championship Results[29]

More information Year, Finish ...
Year Finish Score
198213th1,269
198417th1,303
19858th1,260
19868th1,215
19871st1,187
19886th1,187
19891st1,208
19904th1,225
19912nd1,197
19921st1,171
19933rd1,190
19943rd1,220
19952nd1,181
19962nd1,240
19972nd1,180
199917th946
200015th1,225
200117th1,227
201023rd1,218
201319th1,209
201919th938
20227th1,181
202316th882
2024TBDTBD
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In June 2017, the first phase of the Spartan Golf Complex was completed, which includes a 400-yard driving range, hitting positions for 80 golfers, as well as chipping and putting areas. Phase 2 of the facility is currently in the planning stages and is expected to include a clubhouse, locker rooms, meeting rooms and coaches' offices.[30]

Indoor track and field

The San Jose State men's indoor track and field team appeared in the NCAA Division I national tournament six times, finishing as high as 3rd in 1969.[31] In 2024, San Jose State women's indoor track and field sent two individuals to compete in three events.[31]

More information Year, Gender ...
Year Gender Ranking Points
1969MenNo. 31912
1977MenNo. 214
1983MenNo. 1510
1984MenNo. 199
1985MenNo. 914
1987MenNo. 1310
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Soccer

The SJSU men's soccer team went an undefeated 18–0–1 during the 2000 regular season, finishing with a 20–1–1 overall record. The Spartans concluded the regular season as the No. 1-ranked team in the country. The Spartans men's soccer team has made a total of 14 NCAA championship appearances dating back to 1963, and has an overall NCAA D1 tournament record of 7–14.[32][33] The Spartans' most recent NCAA championship appearance occurred in 2003.

The men's soccer team earned two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) championship titles in 2000 and 2003, and two SJSU players have been taken in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft since 1998.

The SJSU women's soccer team won the Western Athletic Conference championship title in 2000, 2009 and 2010, and won the Mountain West Conference championship title in 2015, 2018 and 2022. The women's team has an NCAA Division I tournament record of 0–4 through four appearances.[34]

NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament Results

More information Year, Round ...
Year Round Opponent Result
1963First roundSan FranciscoL 0–2
1964First round
Quarterfinals
Air Force
Saint Louis
W 5–2
L 0–5
1966First roundSan FranciscoL 1–2
1967First round
Quarterfinals
San Francisco
Saint Louis
W 4–3
L 3–4
1968Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
UCLA
Air Force
Maryland
W 3–1
W 1–0
L 3–4
1969Second round
Quarterfinals
Air Force
San Francisco
W 1–0
L 1–3
1970Second roundDenverL 1–2
1971Second roundSan FranciscoL 2–3
1972Second round
Quarterfinals
Fresno State
UCLA
W 4–0
L 1–3
1974Second roundUCLAL 2–3
1976Second round
Quarterfinals
Washington
San Francisco
W 4–1
L 0–5
1998First roundStanfordL 2–3
2000First roundIndianaL 0–4
2003First roundCaliforniaL 0–2
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NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament results

More information Year, Round ...
Year Round Opponent Result
2000First roundStanfordL 1–4
2015First roundStanfordL 0–2
2018First roundUCLAL 0–5
2022First roundStanfordL 0–6
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Softball

The SJSU Spartan softball team earned NCAA appearances in 1990, 1992, 2013, and 2017, and has an NCAA Division I tournament record of 1–8.[35]

Phases one and two of the new SJSU Spartan softball complex were completed in 2018. As of 2023, the third and final phase is under construction and will add permanent bleachers, restrooms, a concession stand and press box. The final stadium will be an enclosed facility with seating for over 700.[36][37]

NCAA Softball Tournament results

More information Year, Record ...
Year Record Win Percentage Notes
19900–2.000Eliminated by California in No. 5 Regional
19920–2.000Eliminated by California in No. 4 Regional
20130–2.000Eliminated by San Diego State in Tempe Super Regional
20171–2.333Defeated CSU Fullerton in Round 1 of Los Angeles Super Regional. Eliminated by UCLA in Round 2
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Tennis

The San Jose State women's tennis team won the Western Athletic Conference championship title in 2013, and made NCAA tournament appearances in 2013 and 2017. The team also won the Mountain West Conference championship title in 2017 and 2021.[38][39]

San José State University opened a new tennis complex in July 2018. The state-of-the-art facility includes six competition courts with lighting, sound system, spectator seating and viewing areas, and a full scoreboard. The Spartan Tennis Complex also includes a seventh court, the Mubadala Stadium Court. The complex formerly hosted the San Jose State All-Comers Championship and currently hosts the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, a WTA Tour event, over nine days every August.[40]

Volleyball

The San Jose State women's volleyball team has made 12 NCAA tournament appearances since it first became recognized as a varsity sport at SJSU in 1974. The team advanced to the NCAA tournament "final four" in 1984.[41]

The Spartan volleyball team joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1996, and is a member of the Mountain West Conference as of 2013. Seven coaches have led the volleyball team, with Dick Montgomery (1981–1989) compiling the best win-loss record.[42]

Trent Kersten replaced Jolene Shepardson as the team's head coach in February 2020. Kersten has strong ties to USA Volleyball and most recently led his team to a gold medal at the High Performance Championships in 2019. Kersten played at UCLA under John Speraw.[43]

The Spartan sand volleyball team participated in its inaugural season in 2014. Following recognition by the NCAA as a championship sport, the SJSU volleyball program will continue as both an indoor and outdoor program.

The San Jose State women's volleyball team has an NCAA Division I tournament record of 8–12 through twelve appearances.[44]

NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament Results

More information Year, Round ...
Year Round Opponent Result
1982First round
Regional semifinals
UC Santa Barbara
Hawaii
W 3–2
L 0–3
1983First roundCal PolyL 1–3
1984First round
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Semifinals
Purdue
Oregon
Fresno State
UCLA
W 3–1
W 3–0
W 3–1
L 0–3
1985First round
Regional semifinals
Long Beach State
Cal Poly
W 3–0
L 0–3
1986First round
Regional semifinals
Cal Poly
Hawaii
W 3–1
L 2–3
1987First round
Regional semifinals
Idaho State
Pacific
W 3–0
L 0–3
1988First roundSan Diego StateL 1–3
1989First roundPacificL 0–3
1990First roundLong Beach StateL 0–3
1998First roundColoradoL 0–3
2000First roundLong Beach StateL 1–3
2001First round
Second round
Santa Clara
Stanford
W 3–2
L 0–3
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Water polo

The San Jose State men's water polo team was a national powerhouse in the 1960s and '70s. The team won a national title in 1968, one year before the sport was officially recognized by the NCAA.[45] The team would go on to finish in the top five nationally four times in the 1970s. In 1981, the school discontinued the program to comply with Title IX regulations, but the program was reinstated in 2015.[45] The team has an NCAA Division I tournament record of 5-5 through five appearances and advanced to the national championship match in 1971 and '72.[46]

National Men's Water Polo Championship Results (NCAA from 1969)

More information Year, Round ...
Year Round Opponent Result
1968First round
Semifinals
National Championship
USC
UC Irvine
Cal State Long Beach
W 10–5
W 4–3 (OT)
W 6–3
1970First round
Semifinals
Stanford
UCLA
W 9–7
L 4–7
1971First round
Semifinals
National Championship
Stanford
CSU Fullerton
UCLA
W 10–4
W 10–9
L 3–5
1972First round
Semifinals
National Championship
Loyola (IL)
USC
UCLA
W 21–6
W 19–14
L 5–10
1973First roundUSCL 5–7
2023First roundUSCL 10–18
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Club sports

In addition to its various NCAA Division I sports programs, San José State University has a very active club sports community consisting of approximately 25 sports and 50 teams.[47] Many of the club sports teams are run and organized by students, although some of the more established teams employ full-time paid coaches and enjoy strong alumni support. The list of club sports active at SJSU includes:

Men's and women's archery, men's and women's badminton, baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's bowling, men's and women's boxing, men's and women's cycling, dancesport, men's and women's dragon boat racing, esports, men's and women's fencing, men's and women's figure skating, men's and women's gymnastics, ACHA Division II and Division lll men's ice hockey, women's ice hockey, men's and women's judo, MCLA Division II men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, mountain biking, men's and women's powerlifting, men's and women's quidditch, men's roller hockey, men's and women's rugby, salsa, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming, track and field, triathlon, ultimate Frisbee, men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's water polo, and men's and women's wrestling.[47]

Hockey

Founded in 1990, the San Jose State men's ice hockey team garnered one PCHA Division ll championship (1992) and four PCHA Division l championship titles (1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997), before withdrawing from the PCHA and becoming an independent American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division ll team in 1998.[48] SJSU won one additional PCHA Division 1 title as a non-member in 2017.

In 1992, the team went undefeated, finishing the season with a 17–0 record.[48] The team finished 26-1-1 (18-0-1 at home) in 2006, and went undefeated through 42 consecutive home games from 2004 to 2007.[48]

The SJSU hockey team has qualified for the ACHA national championship tournament nine times, finishing as high as 10th in 2010.[48] In 2011, SJSU hosted the ACHA national tournament.[48] More recently, the team qualified for the Pac-8 tournament in 2019, 2020 and 2023.

The San Jose State men's ice hockey team posted 26 consecutive winning seasons from 1991 to 2017.[49][48]

Judo

The San Jose State judo program was established in 1937 to help train police cadets. In 1940, sophomore biology major Yosh Uchida was hired as the student coach. The program was disbanded during World War II, and reestablished in 1946 upon Uchida's return to the college.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Uchida and University of California, Berkeley coach Henry Stone established rules to allow their students to compete with each other, including a weight class system. Uchida and Stone persuaded the Amateur Athletic Union to sanction judo as a sport, and San Jose State hosted the first AAU national championship in 1953.

In 1962, the Spartans won the inaugural National Collegiate Judo Championship. They would continue to dominate the event to the present day, winning 52 National Collegiate Judo Association (NCJA) men's team championship titles and 26 NCJA women's team championship titles between 1962 and 2024.[50][6][51][7][52][53]

In 2005, SJSU alumnus and head coach Mike Swain announced the establishment of the Swain Scholarship, the first full athletic scholarship in judo at an American university. In 2008, the SJSU judo program was named one of six National Training Sites by USA Judo.

Notable SJSU Judoka

  • Kevin Asano, silver medalist, 1988 Olympic Games
  • Bobby Berland, silver medalist, 1984 Olympic Games
  • Marti Malloy, bronze medalist, 2012 Olympic Games; silver medalist, 2013 World Championships
  • Ben Nighthorse Campbell, gold medalist, 1963 Pan American Games
  • Gerardo Padilla, gold medalist, 1979 and 1983 Pan American Games
  • Mike Swain, bronze medalist, 1988 Olympic Games; gold medalist, 1987 World Championships (first American male to win World Championships); head coach, 1996 U.S. Olympic judo team
  • Yosh Uchida, head coach 1964 United States Olympic Judo Team
  • Joe Wanang, gold medalist, 1991 Pan American Games

Rugby

San Jose State Spartan Rugby was established in 1971 and competes in the Pacific Western Rugby Conference. The Pacific Western Rugby Conference plays at the Division 1AA level. The Spartans compete against Chico State, Fresno State, San Francisco State, Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz and University of Nevada. San Jose State competes for the USA Rugby National Championship in both 15's and in 7's.

In 2013, SJSU finished first in the conference in 7's competition.[54] In 2023, SJSU defeated the University of South Florida 17–12 in a game between runner-up teams (in rugby terms, a bowl game) from D1AA conferences in California and Florida.[55]

The SJSU women's rugby team went undefeated in 2021–2022, finishing a perfect 5–0 on the season.[56] The team won the 2022 USA Rugby's Division II rugby sevens championship, defeating St. Mary's, 22–0.

Salsa

San Jose State's salsa team, "Spartan Mambo", was established in 2010 and competes at amateur and collegiate competitions across the country. Spartan Mambo holds two championship titles from the College Salsa Congress in 2011 and 2015 as well as the 2015 and 2016 Collegiate Salsa Open.[57][58] Spartan Mambo also won the Collegiate Teams division at the 2013 World Latin Dance Cup.[59]

Table tennis

The SJSU table tennis team regularly competes in National Collegiate Table Tennis Association tournaments.[60] The San Jose State table tennis team rose to No. 4 in the national rankings and competed in the NCTTA national championship tournament in 2012.[61] The team was led by Truong Tu and reached the semifinals.

Discontinued

Wrestling

Wrestling has a history at San José State University dating back to the early 1930s, although SJSU has not sponsored a Division 1 wrestling program since the 1988 season.[62] Eddie Baza is one of three two-time All-America wrestlers in San Jose State University history and was inducted into the Spartan Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.[63]

Championships

NCAA championship appearances

San José State University sports teams have competed in NCAA national tournaments across 15 active sports (8 men's and 7 women's) over 170 times at the topmost level.[64]

Men's (110)

  • Baseball (5): 1955, 1971, 2000, 2002, 2023
  • Basketball (3): 1951, 1980, 1996
  • Cross country (6): 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967
  • Golf (32): 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997
  • Soccer (14): 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1998, 2000, 2003
  • Indoor track and field (6): 1969, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987
  • Outdoor track and field (39): 1934, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
  • Water polo (5): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 2023

Women's (60)

  • Golf (23): 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2010, 2013, 2019, 2022, 2023
  • Gymnastics (9): 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2022, 2023
  • Soccer (4): 2000, 2015, 2018, 2022
  • Softball (4): 1990, 1992, 2013, 2017
  • Swimming and diving (3): 1984, 1985, 1986
  • Tennis (3): 2013, 2017, 2021
  • Indoor track and field (2): 2023, 2024
  • Volleyball (12): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001

NCAA team championships

The San José State Spartans have earned 10 NCAA national Division 1 team championship titles.[65]

Men's (7)

Women's (3)

  • Golf (3): 1987, 1989, 1992

Results

More information NCAA Team Championships, School year ...
NCAA Team Championships
School year Sport Opponent Score
1947–48Men's golfLSU579–588
1957–58BoxingIdaho State33–21
1958–59BoxingIdaho State24–22
1959–60BoxingWisconsin43–34
1962–63Men's cross countryVillanova58–69
1963–64Men's cross countryOregon53–68
1968–69Men's outdoor track and fieldKansas48–45
1986–87Women's golfFurman1,187–1,188
1988–89Women's golfTulsa1,208–1,209
1991–92Women's golfArizona1,171–1,175
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National team championships not granted by the NCAA

Men's (53)

  • Judo (52): 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024 (NCJA)[66]
  • Water polo (1): 1968

Women's (33)

  • Bowling (1): 1976 (USBC)
  • Fencing (5): 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 (NIWFA)
  • Judo (26): 1978, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 (NCJA)[67]
  • Rugby 7s (1): 2022 (USA Rugby DII)

Co-ed (3)

  • Flying (3): 1966, 1968, 1969 (NIFA)

NCAA individual championships

San Jose State has earned 50 NCAA national Division 1 individual championship titles.[65]

More information NCAA Individual Championships, Order ...
NCAA Individual Championships
Order School year Athlete(s) Sport Source
11936–37Lowell ToddMen's outdoor track and field[68]
21941–42Dick MayagawaBoxing[69]
31945–46Robert LikinsMen's outdoor track and field[68]
41946–47Bob HarrisMen's golf[70]
51946–47Robert LikinsMen's outdoor track and field[68]
61948–49Wayne FontesBoxing[69]
71949–50Mac MartinezBoxing[69]
81951–52Chuck AdkinsBoxing[69]
91951–52Bob McMullenMen's outdoor track and field[68]
101951–52Bill PriddyMen's outdoor track and field[68]
111952–53Mike GuerreroBoxing[65]
121952–53Lang StanleyMen's outdoor track and field[68]
131954–55Max VoshallBoxing[65]
141957–58T.C. ChungBoxing[69]
151957–58Archie MiltonBoxing[69]
161957–58Welvin StroudBoxing[69]
171957–58Bob TafoyaBoxing[69]
181958–59Nick AkanaBoxing[69]
191958–59Ron NicholsBoxing[69]
201958–59Ray NortonMen's outdoor track and field[68]
211958–59Whitney ReedMen's tennis[71]
221958–59Errol WilliamsMen's outdoor track and field[68]
231959–60Stu BartellBoxing[69]
241959–60Charlie ClarkMen's outdoor track and field[68]
251959–60Steve KubasBoxing[69]
261959–60Archie MiltonBoxing[69]
271959–60Dave NelsonBoxing[69]
281959–60Ron NicholsBoxing[69]
291960–61Dick GearMen's outdoor track and field[68]
301963–64Terry SmallMen's golf[70]
311963–64Danny MurphyMen's outdoor track and field[68]
321964–65Wayne Herman
Lloyd Murad
Maurice Compton
Tommie Smith
Men's outdoor track and field[68]
331965–66Craig FergusMen's outdoor track and field[68]
341966–67Tommie SmithMen's outdoor track and field[68]
351967–68Lee EvansMen's outdoor track and field[68]
361968–69Sam Davis
Kirk Clayton
Ronnie Ray Smith
John Carlos
Men's outdoor track and field[68]
371968–69John CarlosMen's indoor track and field[72]
381968–69John CarlosMen's outdoor track and field[68]
391968–69John CarlosMen's outdoor track and field[68]
401974–75Ron LiversMen's outdoor track and field[68]
411975–76Dedy CooperMen's outdoor track and field[68]
421976–77Ron LiversMen's outdoor track and field[68]
431977–78Ron LiversMen's outdoor track and field[68]
441979–80Curt RansfordMen's outdoor track and field[68]
451981–82Joy EllingsonWomen's fencing[69]
461981–82Peter SchifrinMen's fencing[69]
471982–83Felix BöhniMen's indoor track and field[72]
481982–83Felix BöhniMen's outdoor track and field[68]
491986–87Fred SchumacherMen's indoor track and field[72]
501988–89Pat HurstWomen's golf[73]
Close

Patty Sheehan won the AIAW individual women's golf championship in 1980. Additionally, at the NCAA Division II level, San Jose State has garnered two individual NCAA titles.[65]

Rivals

Fresno State

San Jose State's biggest rival is California State University, Fresno, due in large part to the two schools' geographic proximity and long history of competing in the same conferences.[74] Fresno State is San Jose State's most-played opponent in the Mountain West Conference for college football and college basketball. Fresno State and San Jose State first started playing each other as members of the California Coast Conference in the 1920s.[75][76]

Stanford

San Jose State also has a natural athletics rivalry with the Stanford Cardinal of Stanford University, due in large part to the two school's geographic proximity.[77] The approximate physical distance between the two universities is 23 miles. Additionally, San Jose State and Stanford are each known for having a large alumni workforce presence in Silicon Valley.[78] The two schools first played each other in football in 1900.

Facilities

Thumb
Utah @ San Jose State at CEFCU Stadium – 2009

The Provident Credit Union Event Center, Spartan Complex, and Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center (SRAC) are the principal sports facilities for athletes on the main campus. Additional athletics facilities, including CEFCU Stadium (formerly known as Spartan Stadium), administrative offices, and multiple training and practice facilities, are located on SJSU's 62-acre (25.1 ha) south campus approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) south of the main campus.

A CEFCU Stadium east-side building addition is currently under construction at a projected cost of $57.6 million.[79] Known as the Spartan Athletics Center (SAC), the 55,000 square feet (5,100 m2), multi-story facility will house a new football operations center, locker rooms, offices, meeting and training rooms and a sports medicine center. The facility will also include soccer team offices and locker rooms, as well as dining and hospitality facilities, event spaces and premium football viewing areas.[80] Along with construction of the SAC, a major renovation of the stadium's entire east side is currently underway.

The east-side stadium renovation has temporarily reduced seating capacity at CEFCU Stadium from just over 30,000 to 21,520.[81] Approximately 9,000 seats were removed from the stadium in 2019 to make way for the new building. This includes virtually all of the east-side stadium seating and some of the north end zone bleachers. The north end zone bleachers were removed to make way for construction of a new state-of-the-art video scoreboard and outdoor bar and lounge area.[82] Installation of the new video scoreboard was completed in 2021 at an approximate cost of $5.2 million.[83] SAC construction and remaining east and north-side stadium renovations are projected to be completed in August 2023.

In April 2014, a new $76 million south campus development plan was unveiled.[84] The plan was later revised and the estimated cost was increased to $150 million including the cost of the new football stadium addition. The plan calls for construction of a golf training facility, new baseball and softball stadiums, new outdoor recreation and intramural facility, new soccer and tennis facilities, three beach volleyball courts, a new multilevel parking garage, and a new track and field facility.

The new golf, soccer, and tennis facilities opened in 2017. The new softball facility opened in 2018, and the beach volleyball courts were completed in 2019. The new outdoor recreation and intramural facility and parking garage were completed in 2021. The first phase of a new baseball facility was also completed in 2021.[85] In October 2022, university officials announced they had secured $9 million in funding for a new $25 million, joint-use track and field facility to be constructed approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometres) southeast of CEFCU stadium on the site of the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.[86] In 2023, new bleachers and a press box were added to the new soccer facility.

As of spring 2023, remaining south campus projects include the third and final phase of the new softball stadium, the second phase of the new golf facility, and the second phase of the baseball facility.

The third and final phase of the softball stadium will add permanent bleachers, restrooms, a concession stand, and a press box. The stadium will be an enclosed facility with seating for over 700. The second phase of the new golf facility is expected to include a clubhouse, locker rooms, meeting rooms, and coaches' offices. The second phase of the new baseball facility will add stadium seating, restrooms, a concession stand, and a press box.

In August 2015, a $55 million renovation of the Spartan Complex was completed. Located on the main SJSU campus, the Spartan Complex houses open recreation spaces, gymnasia, an indoor aquatics center, the kinesiology department, weight rooms, locker rooms, dance and judo studios, and other classroom spaces. The primary project objectives were to upgrade the structures to make them compliant with building codes, correct ADA deficiencies, correct fire safety deficiencies, and expand and modify existing structures.

The new Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center (SRAC) was completed in 2019. At a cost of $132 million, the new facility houses a gymnasium, weight and fitness center, exercise rooms, rock climbing wall, sports club organizations, and competition and recreation pools with support spaces. The new facility is located on the main campus at the corner of 7th Street and San Carlos.[87]

Main Campus

South Campus

Off Campus

Former facilities

  • Aquatic Center — women's swimming and diving (demolished in 2017)
  • Blethen Field — baseball (demolished in 2016)
  • Bud Winter Field once known as "Speed City" — track and field (demolished in 2019)

Notable sports alumni

Thumb
SJSU Alumnus Bill Walsh and former Spartans Head Football Coach Dick Tomey
Thumb
James Jones catches a touchdown pass against Stanford in 2006 at Spartan Stadium.

Baseball

Basketball

Football

Golf

Olympic Games

Other

References

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