San Diego State Aztecs
The San Diego State Aztecs are the athletic teams that represent San Diego State University (SDSU). San Diego State currently sponsors six men's and thirteen women's sports at the varsity level.
| San Diego State Aztecs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | San Diego State University |
| Conference | Mountain West Conference |
| NCAA | Division I/FBS |
| Athletic director | John David Wicker |
| Location | San Diego, California |
| Varsity teams | 18 (6 men's, 12 women's) |
| Football stadium | Dignity Health Sports Park Aztec Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Viejas Arena |
| Baseball stadium | Tony Gwynn Stadium |
| Softball stadium | SDSU Softball Stadium |
| Soccer stadium | SDSU Sports Deck |
| Other arenas | Aztec Aquaplex Aztec Lacrosse Field Aztec Tennis Center Mission Bay Aquatic Center Peterson Gymnasium |
| Mascot | Aztec Warrior |
| Nickname | Aztecs |
| Fight song | SDSU Fight Song |
| Colors | Scarlet and Black[1] |
| Website | www |
 | |
The Aztecs compete in NCAA Division I (FBS for football). Its primary conference is the Mountain West Conference. The women's water polo team participates in the Golden Coast Conference after leaving the Big West Conference in July 2013.[2] The men's soccer team participates as an associate member of the Pac-12 Conference. The women's rowing team is a member of the American Athletic Conference (The American), following moves from the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) to Conference USA (C-USA) in 2013[3] and from C-USA to The American in 2014.[4] San Diego State's football team had intended to move to the Big East Conference beginning in 2013 with the remainder of its current Mountain West sports moving to the Big West, but on January 17 it was reported that all of San Diego State's athletic teams would be readmitted to the Mountain West.[5]
News reports (especially on local radio) often mention "Montezuma Mesa" or "news from the mesa" when discussing San Diego State-related sports events. The San Diego State campus is known as "Montezuma Mesa", as the university is situated on a mesa overlooking Mission Valley and is located at the intersection of Montezuma Road and College Avenue in the city of San Diego.
Sports sponsored
All varsity teams representing San Diego State participate in the Mountain West Conference for conference play excluding lacrosse in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, men's soccer in the Pac-12 Conference, rowing in the American Athletic Conference, and water polo in the Golden Coast Conference.
Men's varsity sports
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Cross country |
| Football | Golf |
| Golf | Lacrosse |
| Soccer | Rowing* |
| Tennis | Soccer |
| Softball | |
| Swimming & diving | |
| Tennis | |
| Track & field† | |
| Volleyball | |
| Water Polo | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor. * – Discontinuing after the 2020-21 academic year. | |
Baseball
- Head Coach: Mark Martinez
- Stadium: Tony Gwynn Stadium
- Conference regular season championships: 5 (1986 • 1988 • 1990 • 2002 • 2004)[6]
- Conference tournament championships: 8 (1990 • 1991 • 2000 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2017 • 2018)[7]
- NCAA Division I Baseball Championship appearances: 14 (1979 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1986 • 1990 • 1991 • 2009 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2017 • 2018)[8]
| Year | Tournament Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 2-2 | Lost in the Mideast Regional finals to Pepperdine. |
| 1981 | 0-2 | Eliminated by Oral Roberts in the Midwest Regional. |
| 1982 | 0-2 | Eliminated by Houston in the West II Regional. |
| 1983 | 1-2 | Eliminated by UC Santa Barbara in the West I Regional Semifinals. |
| 1984 | 3-2 | Lost in the West I Regional finals to Cal State Fullerton. |
| 1986 | 0-2 | Eliminated by Texas-Pan American in the Central Regional. |
| 1990 | 3-2 | Lost in the West I Regional finals to Stanford. |
| 1991 | 0-2 | Eliminated by Portland in the West II Regional. |
| 2009 | 1-2 | Eliminated by UC Irvine in the Irvine Regional. |
| 2013 | 0-2 | Eliminated by San Diego in the Los Angeles Regional. |
| 2014 | 0-2 | Eliminated by Louisiana in the Lafayette Regional. |
| 2015 | 1-2 | Eliminated by USC in the Charlottesville Regional. |
| 2017 | 1-2 | Eliminated by Long Beach State in the Long Beach Regional. |
| 2018 | 0-2 | Eliminated by Northwestern State in the Corvallis Regional. |
- See: San Diego State baseball and College baseball
Basketball
- Head Coach: Brian Dutcher
- Arena: Viejas Arena
- Conference regular season championships: 21 (1923 • 1925 • 1932 • 1934 • 1937 • 1939 • 1941 • 1942 • 1954 • 1957 • 1958 • 1967 • 1968 • 1977 • 1978 • 2006 • 2011 • 2012 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016)[6]
- Conference tournament championships: 7 (1976 • 1985 • 2002 • 2006 • 2010 • 2011 • 2018)[9]
- NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament appearances: 12 (1975 • 1976 • 1985 • 2002 • 2006 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2018)[10]
Aztec basketball alumni who became more famous outside the sport include 1930s player Art Linkletter, who went on to an illustrious entertainment career that spanned more than 70 years, and Tony Gwynn, who also played baseball at San Diego State and opted for that sport professionally, ending up in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In the 2010–2011 season, the men's team had a record of 32–2 to capture a share of the Mountain West Conference title. They won the conference tournament outright for the automatic berth to the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The only losses of the regular season were to another top 10 ranked team, BYU, who the Aztecs later beat to win the conference tournament. They earned a 2nd seed in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16. In the 2013–2014 season, the Aztecs finished 29–4, again reaching the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 round.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Round of 32 | UNLV | L 80–90 | |
| 1976 | Round of 32 | UCLA | L 64–74 | |
| 1985 | #13 | Round of 64 | #4 UNLV | L 80–85 |
| 2002 | #13 | Round of 64 | #4 Illinois | L 64–93 |
| 2006 | #11 | Round of 64 | #6 Indiana | L 83–87 |
| 2010 | #11 | Round of 64 | #6 Tennessee | L 59–62 |
| 2011 | #2 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #15 Northern Colorado #7 Temple #3 Connecticut | W 68–59 W 71–64 2OT L 67–74 |
| 2012 | #6 | Round of 64 | #11 NC State | L 65–79 |
| 2013 | #7 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | #10 Oklahoma #15 Florida Gulf Coast | W 70–55 L 71–81 |
| 2014 | #4 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen | #13 New Mexico State #12 North Dakota State #1 Arizona | W 73–69 OT W 63–44 L 64–70 |
| 2015 | #8 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | #9 St. John's #1 Duke | W 76–64 L 49–68 |
| 2018 | #11 | Round of 64 | #6 Houston | L 65–67 |
Football
- Head Coach: Brady Hoke
- Stadium (interim): Dignity Health Sports Park
- Stadium (future): Aztec Stadium
- Conference championships: 19 (1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1936 • 1937 • 1950 • 1951 • 1962 • 1966 • 1967 • 1969 • 1970 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1986 • 2012 • 2015 • 2016)
- NCAA postseason bowl game appearances: 18 (1948 Harbor Bowl • 1952 Pineapple Bowl • 1966 Camellia Bowl • 1967 Camellia Bowl • 1969 Pasadena Bowl • 1986 Holiday Bowl • 1991 Freedom Bowl • 1998 Las Vegas Bowl • 2010 Poinsettia Bowl • 2011 New Orleans Bowl • 2012 Poinsettia Bowl • 2013 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl • 2014 Poinsettia Bowl • 2015 Hawaii Bowl • 2016 Las Vegas Bowl • 2017 Armed Forces Bowl • 2018 Frisco Bowl • 2019 New Mexico Bowl)[11]
San Diego State University's football team is part of the highest level of American collegiate football, the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I (which was formerly known as Division I-A). SDSU is 9–9 all time in post-season bowl games. They first went to a bowl game in 1948 and first won a major-college bowl game in 1969.[12] Until the 2010 season, the Aztec football team had not won a bowl game in the past 37 years. In 2019, the Aztecs reached their 10th straight bowl game.
The football team plays temporarily at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Prior to that, the team played at SDCCU Stadium and before that in the on-campus Aztec Bowl (now the location of Viejas Arena).
The team is scheduled to move into a newly constructed stadium, Aztec Stadium, in the current parking lot of SDCCU Stadium in time for the 2022 season.[13]
Golf
- Head Coach: Ryan Donovan
- Mountain West Conference championships: 3 (2011 • 2012 • 2015)[14]
- NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships appearances: 23 (1960 • 1962 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1970 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1999 • 2003 • 2005 • 2008 • 2011 • 2012 • 2015 • 2016)[15]
The Aztecs men's golf team has more NCAA postseason appearances than any other San Diego State athletic team. Notable alumni include 2015 graduate and PGA Tour golfer Xander Schauffele. In 2017, Schauffele received the 2017 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award.[16]
| Year | Finish | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10th | 606 |
| 1960 | 14th | 625 |
| 1962 | 15th | 637 |
| 1965 | 24th | 620 |
| 1966 | 6th | 604 |
| 1967 | 23rd | 613 |
| 1970 | 16th | 1,230 |
| 1971 | 20th | 585 |
| 1972 | 16th | 603 |
| 1974 | 17th | 606 |
| 1975 | 19th | 606 |
| 1976 | 18th | 1,205 |
| 1977 | 15th | 1,248 |
| 1978 | 12th | 1,190 |
| 1979 | 26th | 943 |
| 1980 | 22nd | 917 |
| 1981 | 21st | 895 |
| 1982 | 14th | 1,178 |
| 1983 | 23rd | 909 |
| 1984 | 24th | 889 |
| 1999 | 29th | 628 |
| 2003 | 30th | 965 |
| 2005 | 23rd | 893 |
| 2008 | 14th | 1,222 |
| 2011 | 16th | 898 |
| 2012 | 5th | 871 |
| 2015 | 15th | 1,193 |
| 2017 | 25th | 872 |
Soccer
- Head Coach: Ryan Hopkins
- Home field: SDSU Sports Deck
- NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship appearances: 8 (1969 • 1982 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 2005 • 2006 • 2016)[17]
The San Diego State men's soccer team competes in the Pac-12 Conference. In 1987, the Aztecs reached the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship Final, losing in the game by a score of 0–2 to Clemson. The team has an overall NCAA Division Tournament record of 5–8 through eight appearances.[18]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Second Round | San Francisco | L 1–2 |
| 1982 | First Round Second Round | Fresno State San Francisco | W 1–0 L 0–2 |
| 1987 | First Round Second Round Third Round Semifinals National Championship | Saint Louis SMU UCLA Harvard Clemson | W 2–1 W 3–2 W 2–1 W 2–1 L 0–2 |
| 1988 | First Round | UCLA | L 1–2 |
| 1989 | First Round | UCLA | L 1–2 |
| 2005 | First Round | UC Santa Barbara | L 0–2 |
| 2006 | First Round | UC Santa Barbara | L 1–2 |
| 2016 | First Round | UNLV | L 1–2 |
Tennis
- Head Coach: Gene Carswell
- Home court: Aztec Tennis Center
- Mountain West Conference regular season championships: 6 (2002 • 2003 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2013)[6]
- Mountain West Conference tournament championships: 3 (2002 • 2003 • 2005)[14]
- NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship tournament appearances: 7 (1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2002 • 2003 • 2005 • 2015)[19]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Region VII Regional | New Mexico | L 2–4 |
| 1999 | First Round Second Round | Tulsa UCLA | W 4–1 L 1–4 |
| 2000 | First Round Second Round Round of 16 | Washington Pepperdine VCU | W 4–3 W 4–2 L 3–4 |
| 2002 | First Round Second Round | Hampton UCLA | W 5–0 L 1–4 |
| 2003 | First Round Second Round | San Diego Washington | W 5–0 L 3–4 |
| 2005 | First Round | Cal | L 1–4 |
| 2015 | First Round Second Round | San Diego USC | W 4–3 L 0–4 |
Basketball
- Head Coach: Stacie Terry
- Arena: Viejas Arena
- Conference regular season championships: 6 (1994 • 1995 • 1997 • 2009 • 2012 • 2013)[6]
- Conference tournament championships: 4 (1994 • 1997 • 2010 • 2012)
- NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament appearances: 9 (1984 • 1985 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1997 • 2009 • 2010 • 2012)[20]
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | #6 | First Round Regional Semifinals | #3 Oregon #2 Long Beach State | W 70–63 L 73–91 |
| 1985 | #5 | First Round Regional Semifinals | #4 UNLV #1 Louisiana Tech | W 70–68 L 64–94 |
| 1993 | #9 | First Round | #8 Georgia | L 68–85 |
| 1994 | #5 | First Round Second Round | #12 Hawaii #13 Texas A&M | W 81–75 L 72–75 |
| 1995 | #5 | First Round | #12 Montana | L 46–57 |
| 1997 | #11 | First Round | #6 Oregon | L 62–79 |
| 2009 | #10 | First Round Second Round | #7 DePaul #2 Stanford | W 76–70 L 49–77 |
| 2010 | #11 | First Round Second Round Regional Semifinals | #6 Texas #3 West Virginia #2 Duke | W 74–63 W 64–55 L 58–66 |
| 2012 | #12 | First Round | #5 LSU | L 56–64 |
Cross Country
- Head Coach: Shelia Burrell
- Home field: Morley Field
- NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship appearances: 1 (1981)[21]
The San Diego State Aztecs women's cross country team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament one time, with that appearance resulting in 7th place in the 1981–82 school year.[22]
| Year | Finish | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 7th | 169 |
Golf
- Head Coach: Leslie Spalding
- Mountain West Conference championships: 2 (2015 • 2019)[23]
Notable alumni include 2015 graduate Paige Spiranac.
Lacrosse
- Head Coach: Kylee White
- Home field: Aztec Lacrosse Field
- Conference championships: 2 (2018 • 2019)[24]
The women's lacrosse team began play in 2012 and competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Rowing
- Head Coach: Bill Zack
- Facility: Mission Bay Aquatics Center
The women's rowing team competes as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
The program is scheduled to be discontinued following the 2020–21 academic year due to ongoing Title IX gender equity challenges and financial stress on the athletics department brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Soccer
- Head Coach: Mike Friesen
- Home field: SDSU Sports Deck
- Mountain West Conference regular season championships: 6 (1999 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2019)[6]
- Mountain West Conference tournament championships: 5 (2009 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2017)[25]
- NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship appearances: 7 (1998 • 1999 • 2009 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2017)[26]
The Aztecs women's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 4–7 through seven appearances.[27]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Second Round Third Round | USC Portland | W 1–0 L 0–5 |
| 1999 | First Round | San Diego | L 1–2 |
| 2009 | First Round Second Round | San Diego UCLA | W 1–0 L 0–5 |
| 2012 | First Round Second Round Third Round | CSU Northridge Cal UCLA | W 3–0 W 2–1 L 0–3 |
| 2013 | First Round | UCLA | L 0–3 |
| 2014 | First Round | Cal | L 2–3 |
| 2017 | First Round | UCLA | L 1–3 |
Softball
- Head Coach: Kathy Van Wyk
- Stadium: SDSU Softball Stadium
- Mountain West Conference championships: 8 (2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2006 • 2008 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014)[6]
- NCAA Division I Softball Tournament appearances: 11 (2001 • 2003 • 2006 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015)[28]
| Year | Tournament Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3-2 | Lost in the Region 2 Regional finals to UCLA. |
| 2003 | 1-2 | Eliminated by Oregon in the Region 6 Regional. |
| 2006 | 2-2 | Lost in the Los Angeles Regional finals to UCLA. |
| 2008 | 1-2 | Eliminated by Fresno State in the Gainesville Regional. |
| 2009 | 0-2 | Eliminated by Cal State Fullerton in the Tempe Regional. |
| 2010 | 1-2 | Eliminated by Fresno State in the Los Angeles Regional. |
| 2011 | 2-2 | Lost in the Tempe Regional finals to Arizona State. |
| 2012 | 2-2 | Lost in the Tampa Regional finals to Hofstra. |
| 2013 | 1-2 | Eliminated by Georgia in the Tempe Regional. |
| 2014 | 1-2 | Eliminated by Michigan in the Tallahassee Regional. |
| 2015 | 2-2 | Lost in the Los Angeles Regional finals to UCLA. |
Swimming & Diving
- Head Coach: Mike Schrader
- Home pool: Aztec Aquaplex
- Mountain West Conference regular season championships: 1 (2011)[6]
- Mountain West Conference tournament championships: 4 (2011 • 2013 • 2015 • 2019)[29]
- NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships appearances: 8 (1982 • 2010 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2017 • 2019)[30]
| Year | Finish |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 23rd |
| 2010 | 42nd |
| 2012 | 45th |
| 2013 | 41st |
| 2014 | 27th |
| 2015 | 39th |
| 2017 | 46th |
| 2019 | 38th |
Tennis
- Head Coach: Peter Mattera
- Home court: Aztec Tennis Center
- Mountain West Conference regular season championships: 3 (2002 • 2003 • 2013)[6]
- Mountain West Conference tournament championships: 1 (2003)[31]
- NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship appearances: 22 (1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2002 • 2003 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2009 • 2013)[32]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | First Round Quarterfinals | Northwestern Trinity | W 8–1 L 3–6 |
| 1983 | First Round Quarterfinals | Miami (FL) Stanford | W 5–4 L 4–5 |
| 1984 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Third Place Game | Cal Texas Stanford Trinity | W 7–2 W 6–3 L 2–7 L 4–5 |
| 1985 | First Round Quarterfinals | Northwestern USC | W 6–3 L 0–9 |
| 1986 | First Round | Oklahoma State | L 3–6 |
| 1989 | First Round Second Round | William & Mary Stanford | W 6–3 L 0–9 |
| 1990 | First Round | Indiana | L 3–5 |
| 1991 | First Round Second Round | Tennessee Stanford | W 5–1 L 1–5 |
| 1992 | First Round Second Round | Kansas Duke | W 5–4 L 1–5 |
| 1993 | First Round | Ole Miss | L 3–5 |
| 1996 | West Regional | Arizona State | L 4–5 |
| 1997 | West Regional West Regional | Oregon Pepperdine | W 5–2 L 2–5 |
| 1998 | West Regional West Regional | San Diego USC | W 5–2 L 1–5 |
| 1999 | California Regional | Marquette | L 1–5 |
| 2000 | First Round Second Round | South Florida Wake Forest | W 5–0 L 0–5 |
| 2002 | First Round | Arizona | L 3–4 |
| 2003 | First Round | Fresno State | L 0–4 |
| 2005 | First Round | Arizona State | L 0–4 |
| 2006 | First Round | UCLA | L 0–4 |
| 2007 | First Round | Florida State | L 0–4 |
| 2009 | First Round | Washington | L 0–4 |
| 2013 | First Round | Baylor | L 1–4 |
Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor)
- Head Coach: Shelia Burrell
- Home track: Aztrack at SDSU Sports Deck
- Mountain West Conference indoor championships: 1 (2013)[33]
- Mountain West Conference outdoor championships: 5 (2003 • 2013 • 2014 • 2017 • 2018)[33]
- NCAA Women's Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships appearances: 10 (2006 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019)[34]
- NCAA Women's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships appearances: 22 (1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1998 • 1999 • 2001 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019)[35]
| Year | Competition | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Indoor | 51st |
| 2008 | Indoor | 33rd |
| 2009 | Indoor | 34th |
| 2010 | Indoor | 21st |
| 2012 | Indoor | 48th |
| 2013 | Indoor | 25th |
| 2014 | Indoor | 19th |
| 2017 | Indoor | 21st |
| 2018 | Indoor | 17th |
| 2019 | Indoor | 27th |
| Year | Competition | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Outdoor | 10th |
| 1983 | Outdoor | 24th |
| 1984 | Outdoor | 11th |
| 1985 | Outdoor | 9th |
| 1986 | Outdoor | 20th |
| 1998 | Outdoor | 51st |
| 1999 | Outdoor | 62nd |
| 2001 | Outdoor | 37th |
| 2003 | Outdoor | 29th |
| 2004 | Outdoor | 27th |
| 2005 | Outdoor | 29th |
| 2007 | Outdoor | 46th |
| 2008 | Outdoor | 31st |
| 2009 | Outdoor | 25th |
| 2011 | Outdoor | 60th |
| 2012 | Outdoor | 9th |
| 2013 | Outdoor | 23rd |
| 2014 | Outdoor | 12th |
| 2016 | Outdoor | 20th |
| 2017 | Outdoor | 32nd |
| 2018 | Outdoor | 46th |
| 2019 | Outdoor | 32nd |
Volleyball
- Head Coach: Brent Hilliard
- Home arena: Aztec Court at Peterson Gymnasium
- Mountain West Conference regular season championships: 1 (2012)[6]
- NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament appearances: 14 (1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 2001 • 2012)[36]
The Aztecs women's volleyball team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 13–14 through fourteen appearances.[37]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals | New Mexico UC Santa Barbara UCLA | W 3–0 W 3–0 L 1–3 |
| 1982 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals | Cal UCLA USC | W 3–1 W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 1983 | First Round Regional Semifinals Regional Finals | Colorado State Arizona Stanford | W 3–0 W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 1984 | First Round Regional Semifinals | BYU USC | W 3–0 L 0–3 |
| 1985 | First Round | Hawaii | L 1–3 |
| 1986 | First Round Regional Semifinals | UC Santa Barbara Pacific | W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 1988 | First Round Regional Semifinals | San Jose State Hawaii | W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 1989 | First Round | Long Beach State | L 0–3 |
| 1990 | First Round Regional Semifinals | BYU Stanford | W 3–1 L 1–3 |
| 1994 | First Round Second Round | Memphis Arizona State | W 3–1 L 2–3 |
| 1995 | Second Round Regional Semifinals | Long Beach State Michigan State | W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 1996 | First Round Second Round | Sam Houston State Texas | W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 2001 | First Round | Long Beach State | L 0–3 |
| 2012 | First Round | Saint Mary's | L 2–3 |
Water Polo
- Head Coach: Carin Crawford
- Home pool: Aztec Aquaplex
- NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship appearances: 3 (2007 • 2008 • 2016)[38]
| Year | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 4th |
| 2008 | 5th |
| 2016 | 8th |
Conference affiliations
San Diego State has been a member of six different athletic conferences in its history.
- Southern California Junior College Conference (1921–1924)
- Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1926–1938)
- California Collegiate Athletic Association (1939–1967)
- Pacific Coast Athletic Association (1969–1975)
- Independent (1925, 1968, 1976–1977)
- Western Athletic Conference (1978–1998)
- Mountain West Conference (1999–Present)
Formerly sponsored sports
In the past, San Diego State has sponsored additional varsity sports programs to those currently sponsored, though they have since been discontinued. Budgeting and Title IX equity challenges have been cited as the primary reason for these programs being cut.[39] In some cases, club teams later emerged in place of discontinued sports programs.
Men's discontinued varsity sports
Crew
- Year discontinued: 1976[40]
Cross Country
- Year discontinued: 1993[41]
- NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship team appearances: 3 (1968 • 1970 • 1976)[42]
| Year | Finish | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 6th | 247 |
| 1970 | 9th | 356 |
| 1976 | 8th | 361 |
Gymnastics
- Year discontinued: 1974
- NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships team appearances: 1 (1959)[43]
| Year | Finish |
|---|---|
| 1959 | 18th |
Swimming & Diving
- Year discontinued: 1985[41]
- NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships team appearances: 1 (1969)[44]
| Year | Finish |
|---|---|
| 1969 | 27th |
Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor)
- Year discontinued: 1992[41]
- NCAA Men's Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships team appearances: 1 (1979)[45]
- NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships team appearances: 14 (1965 • 1966 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1974 • 1976 • 1977 • 1979 • 1980 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1989)[46]
| Year | Competition | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Indoor | 60th |
| Year | Competition | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Outdoor | 25th |
| 1966 | Outdoor | 24th |
| 1969 | Outdoor | 19th |
| 1970 | Outdoor | 12th |
| 1971 | Outdoor | 35th |
| 1974 | Outdoor | 16th |
| 1976 | Outdoor | 19th |
| 1977 | Outdoor | 55th |
| 1979 | Outdoor | 28th |
| 1980 | Outdoor | 41st |
| 1982 | Outdoor | 53rd |
| 1983 | Outdoor | 74th |
| 1984 | Outdoor | 71st |
| 1989 | Outdoor | 67th |
Volleyball
- Year discontinued: 2000[47]
- NCAA Men's Volleyball Tournament appearances: 2 (1972 • 1973)[48]
- NCAA National Championships: 1 (1973)
The men's volleyball team won San Diego State's first (and to-date only) NCAA Division I National Championship in 1973.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Semifinals Championship | UC Santa Barbara UCLA | W 3–2 L 2–3 |
| 1973 | Semifinals Championship | Ball State Long Beach State | W 3–0 W 3-1 |
Water Polo
Despite coming off a season in which the team was ranked in the top 10 nationally, the men's water polo team, along with other programs, was cut, due to a combination of a lack in athletic department funding, Proposition 13's passage, and necessity to comply with Title IX.[50]
Wrestling
- Year discontinued: 1992[41]
- NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships team appearances: 3 (1956 • 1969 • 1992)[51]
In 1949, San Diego State wrestler Harold Hensen became the first African-American to compete in an NCAA wrestling championship tournament when he competed in individual competition at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.[52][53]
| Year | Finish | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 33rd | 1 |
| 1969 | 17th | 15 |
| 1992 | 41st | 5 |
Athletics facilities
Venues
| Facility | Team(s) | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Aztec Aquaplex | Swimming & diving (women's)
Water Polo (women's) |
2007 |
| Aztec Lacrosse Field | Lacrosse (women's) | 2011 |
| Aztec Tennis Center | Tennis (men's)
Tennis (women's) |
2005 |
| Dignity Health Sports Park (interim) | Football | 1967 |
| Mission Bay Aquatic Center | Rowing (women's) | 1974 |
| Peterson Gymnasium | Volleyball (women's) | 1961 |
| SDSU Softball Stadium | Softball | 2005 |
| SDSU Sports Deck / Aztrack | Soccer (men's)
Soccer (women's) Track & Field (women's) |
2000 |
| Tony Gwynn Stadium | Baseball | 1997 |
| Viejas Arena | Basketball (men's) | 1997 |
Future venue
| Facility | Tenant(s) | Expected opening |
|---|---|---|
| Aztec Stadium | Football | 2022 |
Other facilities
| Facility | Description | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Fowler Athletics Center | Athletics department headquarters and Aztec Hall of Fame | 2001 |
| Jeff Jacobs JAM Center | Practice facility for men's and women's basketball | 2015 |
Non-varsity club sports
In addition to the official sports sponsored by the athletic department, San Diego State also offers club-level sports through the Aztec Recreation Center.[56]
Co-ed club teams
- Cycling
- Skiing & Snowboarding
- Surfing
- Tennis
- Triathlon
- Waterskiing & Wakesports
Men's club teams
- Baseball
- Crew
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Women's club teams
- Dance
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Championships
NCAA tournament appearances
The San Diego State Aztecs have competed in the NCAA Tournament across 16 active sports (6 men's and 10 women's) 189 times at the Division I FBS level.[57]
National championships
The Aztecs of San Diego State have earned 1 NCAA national championship at the Division I level.[58]
| School year | Sport | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972–73 | Men's volleyball | Long Beach State | 3–1 |
San Diego State won 7 national championships while at the Division II level.[58]
- Men's cross country (3): 1965, 1966, 1967
- Men's track and field (outdoor) (2): 1965, 1966
- Men's swimming and diving (2): 1965, 1966
The Aztecs have also claimed 4 national team titles at the varsity level that were not bestowed by the NCAA (being awarded instead by sponsors of College Division football polls and other sports' governing bodies):
- Basketball (1): 1941 (NAIA)
- Football (3): 1966 (both polls), 1967 (both polls), 1968 (coaches' poll) (NCAA College Division)
SDSU's cheerleading and dance teams have additionally won national championships
- Cheerleading (2): 2009, 2011
- Dance (1): 2011
Below are eleven national club team championships:
Individual Championships
San Diego State has had 15 individuals win NCAA individual national championships at the Division I level.[58]
| NCAA individual championships | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order | School year | Athlete(s) | Sport | Source |
| 1 | 1933–34 | Jack Rand | Men's outdoor track and field | [59] |
| 2 | 1946–47 | Willie Steele | Men's outdoor track and field | [59] |
| 3 | 1947–48 | Willie Steele | Men's outdoor track and field | [59] |
| 4 | 1948–49 | Bob Smith | Men's outdoor track and field | [59] |
| 5 | 1949–50 | Bob Smith | Men's outdoor track and field | [59] |
| 6 | 1964–65 | Larry Godfrey | Men's outdoor track and field | [59] |
| 7 | 1969–70 | Arnie Robinson | Men's outdoor track and field | [59] |
| 8 | 1975–76 | Quentin Wheeler | Men's outdoor track and field | [59] |
| 9 | 1983–84 | Ramona Pagel | Women's outdoor track and field | [60] |
| 10 | 1984–85 | Laura De Snoo | Women's outdoor track and field | [60] |
| 11 | 1984–85 | LaTanya Sheffield | Women's outdoor track and field | [60] |
| 12 | 2011–12 | Whitney Ashley | Women's outdoor track and field | [60] |
| 13 | 2012–13 | Shanieka Ricketts | Women's outdoor track and field | [59] |
| 14 | 2013–14 | Shanieka Ricketts | Women's indoor track and field | [61] |
| 15 | 2013–14 | Shanieka Ricketts | Women's outdoor track and field | [60] |
At the NCAA Division II level, San Diego State garnered 14 individual championships.[58] In 1975 Barbara Barrow won the women's national intercollegiate individual golf championship after a tie-breaker playoff (an event conducted by the AIAW, which was succeeded by the current NCAA women's golf championship).
Rivals
BYU
SDSU athletics has had a formidable rivalry with the BYU Cougars of Brigham Young University since at least the 1980s when both programs were members of the Western Athletic Conference. The rivalry intensified after both schools left the conference to become charter members of the Mountain West Conference in 1999. Through their many years in the same conferences, the Aztecs and Cougars were routinely each-others toughest competition for conference championships in numerous sports among both the men and women. The Cougars departed the Mountain West in 2011, though the programs continue to compete semi-regularly. Men's basketball and football have represented the most high-profile contests of the rivalry.[62][63]
Fresno State
San Diego State has a longtime rivalry with California State University, Fresno, primarily stemming from the American football rivalry dating back to the 1920s. The two schools have competed against each other in over 55 football, 50 men's basketball, and 190 baseball matches.[64][65][66] The two institutions are popular choices and top-tier schools in the California State University system, and often compete for national attention in athletics from conference play to the postseason across many sports.[67]
San Diego
The Aztecs have a local rivalry with the University of San Diego, emphasizing the competition in college men's basketball. The city of San Diego heavily relies on this rivalry, which features many competitions in a neutral location such as Petco Park across many sports.[68] The two schools, approximately separated by 9 miles, have different cultures yet fiercely compete for city visibility, like San Diego State's chants "LITTLE SISTERS!"', "WE RUN SD!", and "WE RUN CALI!'" after each victory in the college rivalry.[69]
Aztec Hall of Fame inductees
- See: Hall of fame and footnote[70]
|
1988 Track & Field Coach (1922–46) M. Basketball Coach (1929–42); Baseball Coach (1931–1932); Director of Athletics (1935–1941) 2003 |
2005 |
The Show
The Show is the name of the student section at SDSU sporting events.
Band
The San Diego State Marching Aztecs, and Pep and Varsity Bands are often seen at many sporting events including Football, Basketball and even Volleyball.[71]
Notable athletes
- See also the List of San Diego State University people
- Marcelo Balboa, World Cup and Major League Soccer (MLS) soccer star
- Bud Black, former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher and manager of the Colorado Rockies
- Jim Campbell, former MLB pitcher
- Joe Corona, current U.S. international soccer player
- Isaac Curtis, former National Football League (NFL) receiver
- Jeff DaVanon, former MLB player (Arizona Diamondbacks)
- Fred Dryer, actor-producer and former NFL player
- Herm Edwards, Arizona State University head coach
- Marshall Faulk, Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL running back and broadcaster
- John Fox, former Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos head coach
- Mark Grace, retired MLB player and World Series Champion
- Tony Gwynn, Baseball Hall of Famer (and San Diego State baseball Head Coach at the time of his death in 2014)
- Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, former NFL player with the Green Bay Packers
- Joe Gibbs, former NFL head coach of the Washington Redskins and current NASCAR team owner
- Az-Zahir Hakim, former NFL wide receiver
- Kameron Kelly, defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Armen Keteyian, Sports Journalist, HBO Sports, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
- Travis Lee, former MLB player
- Kawhi Leonard, NBA Small Forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, 2014 and 2019 NBA Finals MVP, 2015 and 2016 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
- Art Linkletter, SDSU basketball player and swimmer who went on to a decades-long career as a radio and TV personality
- Chris Marlowe, Sportscaster, former Olympic volleyball player
- Kirk Morrison, former NFL linebacker with Buffalo Bills
- Haven Moses, former NFL receiver, 2x Pro Bowler
- Kassim Osgood, former NFL receiver
- Rashaad Penny, running back for the Seattle Seahawks
- Noel Prefontaine, former Canadian Football League kicker
- Donnel Pumphrey, former NFL running back
- Jimmy Raye, former NFL player
- Darnay Scott, former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
- Don Shaw, former MLB pitcher
- Brian Sipe, former NFL quarterback
- Webster Slaughter, former American football wide receiver
- Dave Smith, former MLB pitcher
- Stephen Strasburg, MLB pitcher for the Washington Nationals
- Carl Weathers, actor/former NFL player most famous for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky film series
- Eric Wynalda, former World Cup and MLS soccer star, former ABC Sports broadcaster, current head coach of Las Vegas Lights FC
- Jeanne Zelasko, Sports Journalist, Fox Sports
References
- Color Palette (PDF). San Diego State Athletics Style Guide. November 27, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- "SDSU Water Polo to Move into Golden Coast Conference" (Press release). San Diego State Athletics. June 3, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
- "C-USA Rowing Welcomes Sacramento State and San Diego State" (Press release). Conference USA. March 6, 2013. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
- "The American adds Associate Members for Women's Rowing" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. March 25, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
- "Big East Conference introduces Boise State Broncos, San Diego State Aztecs, Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, UCF Knights". Espn.go.com. 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
- "All-Time Mountain West Regular-Season Champions". themw.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- "2019 Mountain West Baseball Championship". themw.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- pbrock (2013-11-29). "NCAA Baseball Championships Statistics and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "2020 Mountain West Men's Basketball Championship". themw.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- pbrock (2013-11-27). "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "San Diego State Aztecs Bowls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "San Diego State Bowl History". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
- Giovanniello, Jeanette (2019-12-05). "San Diego State announces multi-million dollar donation to help fund Mission Valley stadium". The Daily Aztec. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- "All-Time Mountain West Tournament Champions". themw.com. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- pbrock (2013-11-29). "NCAA Men's and Women's Golf Championships Records and Results". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "Xander Schauffele voted 2017 Rookie of the Year". PGATour. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- pbrock (2013-11-29). "NCAA Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "Division I Men's Soccer Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- pbrock (2013-11-29). "NCAA Men's and Women's Tennis Championships Records and Results". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- pbrock (2013-11-27). "NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2014-04-17). "NCAA Men's and Women's Cross Country Championship Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "Division I Women's Cross Country Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- "2019 Women's Golf Championship". themw.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- "Aztecs Repeat as MPSF Champs". mpsports.org. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "2019 Mountain West Women's Soccer Championship". themw.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- pbrock (2013-11-20). "NCAA Women's Soccer Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "Division I Women's Soccer Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- pbrock (2013-11-26). "NCAA Softball Records Books". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "2019 Women's Swimming & Diving Championships". themw.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- rpowell (2019-07-09). "2019 Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Results and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "2019 Mountain West Women's Tennis Championship". themw.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2019-08-05). "2019 Women's Tennis Championships Results and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "All-Time Mountain West Tournament Champions". themw.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2019-06-19). "2019 Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships Results and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2019-09-04). "2019 Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships Results and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2018-11-01). "2018 NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament Statistics and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "Division I Women's Volleyball Championship Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- pbrock (2013-11-29). "Women's Water Polo Championship Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- Zeigler, COMMENTARY Mark. "A no-win situation: It's time to drop football at SDSU". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- "It's Official: SDSU crew dropped to club status". The Daily Aztec. May 4, 1976. p. 10.
- "Title IX". The Daily Aztec. May 8, 1996. p. 8.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2017-10-27). "2017 Men's Cross Country Championship results and records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2018-03-15). "2018 Men's Gymnastics Championships Results and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2018-03-15). "2018 Men's Swimming and Diving Championships Results and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2018-03-15). "2018 Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships Results and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2018-04-30). "2018 Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships Results and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- "SDSU Men's Volleyball Season Ends In A Heartbreak". SDSU Athletics. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2017-04-18). "2017 Men's Volleyball Tournament Statistics and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- "Five sports may be eliminated". The Daily Aztec. May 17, 1978. pp. 28, 34.
- "Time takes its toll on water polo team". The Daily Aztec. September 6, 1979. p. 6.
- smeyers@ncaa.org (2018-03-15). "2018 Wrestling Championships Results and Records". NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- "National Wrestling Hall of Fame Marks Black History Month with New Exhibit". WrestlingPod. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- "Former Aztec Leaves Mark in History Books - San Diego State University". goaztecs.com. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- "Title IX looms over athletics". The Daily Aztec. September 5, 1978. p. 22.
- "CSSA Debates Support of Athletic Scholarship Bills". The Daily Aztec. March 3, 1986. p. 3.
- "Sport Clubs Teams | Aztec Receation | A.S. | San Diego State University". arc.sdsu.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- "NCAA Championships Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- "Championships Summary" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- "Division I Men's Outdoor Track Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- "Division I Women's Outdoor Track Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- "Division I Women's Indoor Track Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- "Aztecs fans love to loathe BYU — and for good reason (they believe)". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2019-11-29. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- "BYU and San Diego State were fierce rivals in the WAC and Mountain West; now they meet again". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- "San Diego State Aztecs vs. Fresno State Bulldogs football series history". Winsipedia. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- "Head-to-Head Records for San Diego State men's basketball". College Basketball Reference. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- "2017 San Diego State Aztecs baseball gudie" (PDF). Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- "A tale of Aztecs, Dawgs, oil cans & rivalry". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- "USD shocks SDSU at Petco Park". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- "Calkins: Aztecs-Toreros rivalry good for all parties involved". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- Traditions: Aztec Hall of Fame webpage. San Diego State Aztec Athletics official website. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
- "School of Music and Dance, San Diego State University". Bands.sdsu.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
External links
Located in: San Diego, California | |||||||
| Colleges |  | ||||||
| Athletics |
| ||||||
| Media | |||||||
| Campus |
| ||||||
| Related | |||||||
| |||||||
