Santa Clara Broncos

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Santa Clara Broncos
Logo
UniversitySanta Clara University
ConferenceWest Coast Conference (primary)
Western Water Polo Association (men's)
GCC (women's water polo)
NCAADivision I
Athletic directorRenee Baumgartner
LocationSanta Clara, California
Varsity teams20
Basketball arenaLeavey Center
Baseball stadiumStephen Schott Stadium
Soccer stadiumStevens Stadium
MascotBucky
NicknameBroncos
Fight song"Fight For Santa Clara"
ColorsMaroon and white[1]
   
Websitewww.santaclarabroncos.com

The Santa Clara Broncos are athletic teams that represent Santa Clara University. The school colors are red and white. The nicknames for teams is The Broncos and the student fans are referred to as the "Ruff Riders". The Broncos compete in the NCAA Division I (NCAA) as members of the West Coast Conference of which Santa Clara is a charter member.

Sports sponsored

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Beach volleyball
Cross country Cross country
Golf Golf
Rowing Rowing
Soccer Soccer
Tennis Softball
Track and field Tennis
Water polo Track and field
Volleyball
Water polo
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

Baseball

The Santa Clara University Broncos baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball team that represents the school in NCAA Division I. Santa Clara Baseball competes in the West Coast Conference, of which the Broncos were a charter member. The Broncos play their home games on campus at Stephen Schott Stadium, which opened in 2005. The Broncos and are led by head coach Rusty Filter, who is in his third season.

The Broncos baseball team celebrates a home run hit by Tommy Medica in 2008

Santa Clara began play in 1883 and has enjoyed a long history of baseball excellence. Santa Clara has won eleven conference titles and appeared in twelve NCAA Tournaments, including a runner-up finish in the

1962 College World Series. Individually, 34 Broncos have been named All-Americans, and 158 players have been drafted in the MLB Draft, with 48 players making it to the Major Leagues.[when?
]

Men's basketball

Men's basketball played its first season in 1904. Since then, the men's basketball team has historically been a strong program within the

All-Americans, with their first, Ralph Giannini, coming in the 1940 season. The program has produced NBA stars Steve Nash, and Kurt Rambis, as well as college stars Ken Sears and Bob Feerick. The Team has played in the NCAA tournament in 11 different seasons, reaching the 1952 Final Four. The 1992–1993 Santa Clara team, led by future NBA MVP Steve Nash, was one of 6 #15 seeds to defeat a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament
.

On February 12, 2007, the men's basketball team snapped Gonzaga's 50-game home winning streak. At the time, it was the longest ongoing home winning streak in the NCAA.

The Broncos are led by head coach Herb Sendek, a coach of the year in three different conferences, who is in his seventh season.

Women's basketball

Women's basketball played its first season in 1963. Since then, the women's basketball team has historically been a strong program within the West Coast Conference. The Women's Basketball team won the WNIT in 1991. The 2012–13 Santa Clara Broncos women's basketball team was another notable team. Head Coach JR Payne signed a contract with the Santa Clara Bronco in the 2014 season. Finishing with a record of 10–20 during the season of 2014–15, the Broncos came out with an outstanding record of 23–9 beating Stanford University on November 23, (61–58).[2] Coach JR Payne accepted a head coaching position at Colorado University at the end of the 2015–16 season.[3] In April 2016 the Broncos hired Bill Carr, who is currently in his fourth season as head coach.[4]

Men's soccer

The men's soccer team is one of the nation's elite teams having since 2006 been among the top eight programs of the NCAA for developing professional players overall. The men's soccer team has reached the championship match of the

1999, they lost to Indiana University
, 0–1. The men's soccer team is led by coach Cameron Rast, who is in his 19th season at Santa Clara.

Women's soccer

The women's soccer team is one of the nation's elite programs in the NCAA consistently ranking among the top ten teams nationally with twenty consecutive years in the Top 10. The program won the national title in the 2001

2020 NCAA Championship, defeating Florida State 4–1 on penalties. The team was mentioned several times in the film Bend It Like Beckham
.

The team has had over 40 players in play in the top professional leagues in the country:

.

Former varsity sports

Football

Santa Clara University fielded an intercollegiate football team from 1896 to 1992. The Broncos were the first team to play the Cal Bears in

Paul "Bear" Bryant's Kentucky Wildcats
, 21–13.

Combatting increased costs, rising enrollments at public universities and the advent of professional football, Santa Clara dropped football in 1952. The team was reinstated in

Division I-AA
level.

There is no indication football will return to the school in the future, although rumors of the return of Bronco football have not been put to rest. Advocates for the reinstatement of the football program argue that major collegiate football will generate enormous media buzz surrounding the small university.

Club sports

Sponsored club sports include:

The Santa Clara Women's Lacrosse team has made it to nationals multiple years and placed 3rd in the 2011 season. In 2008, the Santa Clara Paintball Team made it to the final rounds of the NCPA national competition in Florida.

Rugby

The Santa Clara University Rugby Football Club has a rich history. The rugby team began in 1907, around the time that a number of California schools were dropping American football due to its violence.

U.S. national rugby teams that won gold at the 1920 and 1924 Olympics.[6]
Santa Clara rugby faded after that, however, and it was not until the 1960s that the rugby team was re-founded.[5]

Following their success on the DII national stage and the creation of the College Premier Division, Santa Clara made the move to DI in the Northern California League (Nor Cal League).[7] In 2012 Santa Clara men's rugby won the 2012 Nor Cal Conference Championship and advanced to the round of 16 of the D1 National Playoffs.[8] In 2013, Santa Clara was promoted to Division 1-A and played in the California conference. In 2014, Santa Clara finished second in the California conference, qualifying for the playoffs, beating Colorado State 49–12 in the round of 16, before losing to Saint Mary's in the quarterfinals.[9] Santa Clara rugby is led by head coach Paul Keeler.

References

  1. ^ "SCU Color Palette - University Marketing and Communications - Santa Clara University". Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  2. ^ "2015-16 Santa Clara Women's Basketball Schedule". Santa Clara. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  3. ^ http://santaclarabroncos.com/sports/w-baskbl/2015-16/releases/20160328kn49o[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Carr to Head Women's Basketball Program". santaclarabroncos.com. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Santa Clara Rugby - History. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "Olympic Rugby Book Author's Comments" Archived 2015-06-23 at the Wayback Machine, RugbyToday, Mark Ryan, June 22, 2015.
  7. ^ Santa Clara University – Current Club Sports Archived 2009-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Santa Clara University – Current Club Sports Archived 2009-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Santa Clara Moves on in DIA", Rugby Mag, April 19, 2014.

External links