| San Jose State Spartans | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1892; 133 years ago[1] | ||
| Head coach | Ken Niumatalolo 2nd season, 7–7 (.500) | ||
| Stadium | CEFCU Stadium (capacity: 18,203) | ||
| Location | San Jose, California | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FBS | ||
| Conference | Mountain West | ||
| All-time record | 525–545–38 (.491) | ||
| Bowl record | 7–7 (.500) | ||
| Conference titles | |||
| FWC:1932,1934 CCAA:1939,1940,1941,1946,1948,1949 PCAA:1975,1976,1978 Big West:1981,1986,1987,1990,1991 MW:2020 | |||
| Consensus All-Americans | 1 | ||
| Rivalries | Fresno State (Battle for the Valley) Stanford (Bill Walsh Legacy Game) Hawai'i (Dick Tomey Legacy Game) San Diego State (El Camino Real Rivalry) Nevada Pacific (Victory Bell) | ||
| Current uniform | |||
 | |||
| Colors | Gold, white, and blue[2] | ||
| Mascot | Sammy the Spartan | ||
| Outfitter | Under Armour | ||
| Website | sjsuspartans.com | ||
TheSan Jose State Spartans football team representsSan José State University inNCAA Division IFBScollege football as a member of theMountain West Conference. Since its first regular season in 1898, the team has produced over 90 All-America team members, won 18 conference championships, and sent 139 players to the NFL, includingPro Football Hall of Fame inducteesBill Walsh andDick Vermeil.[3] The Spartans head coach isKen Niumatalolo.
San Jose State plays their home games inCEFCU Stadium (built in 1933 as Spartan Stadium), and regional rivalries include Fresno State, Stanford, Hawai'i, and San Diego State.
San Jose State first fielded a football team in 1892 which did not have a coach. In their first year fielding an American football team, the Spartans lost in their sole contest against the local YMCA team of San Jose. The game technically occurred during 1893, but it represented the 1892 academic year and so that is the season it is counted.[1] In 1983,James E. Addicott started to serve as the head coach. Addicott also served as a math professor at the California State Normal School (now San José State University). The team played a localYMCA club in 1893 and 1894 and garnered its first tie in 1896, a 6–6 decision against nearby rivalCollege of the Pacific.
The first regular football seasons began in 1898 and mostly consisted of games against local high schools and some colleges and junior colleges.[4]
During the 1920s the football program began playing home games at "Spartan Field," future home of Spartan Stadium. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Spartan football program was considered a powerhouse, posting 12 consecutive winning seasons and earning eight conference championship titles over an 18-year span. The 1932 and 1939 teams went 7–0–2 and 13–0 respectively, the only undefeated seasons in school history.[4][3]
San Jose State first appeared in the national rankings in 1939 when theAP Poll ranked the Spartans No. 19 in week seven. The team would climb to No. 18 in week eight. Lloyd Thomas was the first San Jose State player to receive first-teamAll-America honors. Thomas played as adefensive end on the 1936, 1937 and 1938 teams that fielded a combined win-loss record of 27–7–1. As of 2022, SJSU has produced over 90All-America team members, including seven first-team selections.[5]
Spartan Stadium (now known asCEFCU Stadium) was built on the original Spartan Field site and completed in 1933 with a capacity of 18,000. The Spartans won the first football game played in the stadium 44–6 overSan Francisco State on October 7, 1933.
The San Jose State Spartans football team served unexpectedly with theHonolulu Police Department during World War II. The team had just arrived in Hawaii to play a series of post-season bowl games againstHawaii and theWillamette University Bearcats when the U.S. Navy base atPearl Harbor wasattacked on December 7, 1941. The team was stranded on the islands for a number of weeks following the attack, and players were employed by the local police department to help improve island defenses against a possible Japanese amphibious assault and as guards for military bases on the island.[3][6]
The Spartan football program posted just six winning seasons in the 1950s and 1960s, but the 1970s would usher in a string of successful seasons spanning 20 years.
From 1971 to 1992, San Jose State posted 15 winning seasons, won eight conference titles, appeared in four bowl games and sent nearly 50 players to theNFL.[7]
SJSU's first win over a nationally ranked opponent occurred in 1971 when the Spartans defeated No. 10Stanford 13–12 on November 13. Stanford would go on to defeatMichigan in theRose Bowl that season.[8] SJSU's second win over a ranked opponent occurred four years later in 1975, when the Spartans defeated No. 15 Stanford 36–34 in a nationally televised game on September 27.[3] San Jose State also had victories over No. 10Baylor in 1980, No. 19Fresno State in 1986, and No. 23 Fresno State in 1990.[3]
From 1971 to 1992, SJSU garnered 23 victories over currentPower Five conference opponents. These victories included eight wins over Stanford, five wins overCal and three overOregon.[9]
In 1975, San Jose State appeared in the national rankings for the first time in over 30 years when the team was ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll in week 13.[10] SJSU later earned its first post-season national ranking in 1990 when the Spartans finished No. 20 in theCoaches Poll.[4]
Two stadium expansions and renovations in the 1980s increased the Spartan Stadium seating capacity from 18,000 to 31,218.
From 1993 to 2004, San Jose State had just one winning season when the team finished 7–5 in 2000; however, the team did earn two wins over ranked opponents during this period. The Spartans claimed a 25–22 victory over No. 24Air Force in 1997 and a 27–24 win over No. 9TCU in a nationally televised game in 2000.[3] The Spartans also defeated rival Stanford three consecutive years from 1998 to 2000.
By the spring of 2004, the combination of rising costs for the football program and budget cuts from the state led some San Jose State faculty members to advocate dropping football.[11][12]
In 2004, San Jose State defeated theRice Owls 70–63 in a game that set theNCAA Division I record for total points scored and total touchdowns in a non-overtime game.[13]
CoachDick Tomey took over the program in 2005 amidAcademic Progress Rate (APR) shortcomings that would result in severe penalties imposed by the NCAA.[14] After showing moderate improvement that year, the Spartans had a breakoutseason in 2006. It was the team's best season since joining theWAC ten years prior. Tomey guided the Spartans to a 9–4 record, a win over rivalFresno State, and a win overNew Mexico in the 2006New Mexico Bowl, thus ending the team's 16-year bowl drought. The 2006 Spartan squad produced two2007 NFL draft picks in wide receiversJames Jones andJohn Broussard.
From 2007 through the 2009 seasons, the program was hit with heavyNCAA sanctions for failing to meet APR standards. By the start of the 2009 season, the Spartans had lost 57 scholarships over a four-year period. By the spring of 2010, the NCAA penalties were lifted and a full complement of 85 scholarships was restored.[14]
The2007 team was not as successful as the previous year's team, with the Spartans finishing 5–7 and fifth in the WAC. The post-season showed a positive result, however, with several players being named to all-star games includingDwight Lowery, Marcus Teland,Matt Castelo andAdam Tafralis. The Spartans produced another draft pick in the2008 NFL draft, in defensive back Dwight Lowery. Lowery was named a 1st-team All-America winner in 2007.
The2008 roster gave the school its best start since joining the WAC. The Spartans jumped to 5–2 and led the WAC for three weeks until losing toBoise State. The Spartans finished the season in sixth place in the WAC with a conference record of 4–4 and a 6–6 overall record. Three players were picked in the2009 NFL draft, those being defensive tackleJarron Gilbert, defensive backChristopher Owens and defensive backCoye Francies
After playing an unusually tough non-conference schedule, the 2009 Spartans finished 2–10 with wins overCal Poly andNew Mexico State. Head Coach Dick Tomey announced in November he would retire at the close of the season, thus ending his legendary coaching career. Tomey's record at SJSU was 25–35.
On December 17, 2009,Mike MacIntyre was formally introduced as Tomey's replacement. MacIntyre was previously the defensive coordinator atDuke University.[15]
San Jose State finished 1–12 in 2010 and 5–7 in 2011 under MacIntyre. In MacIntyre's third season, the2012 San Jose State Spartans football team finished 11–2 including a win overBowling Green in the2012 Military Bowl. The 2012 team earned top-25 post-season rankings in theAssociated Press (AP), Coaches andBCS polls.Kent Baer served as interim head coach for the Military Bowl because MacIntyre resigned to accept the head coach position atColorado.
Ron Caragher, previously the head coach at theUniversity of San Diego, became the SJSU head coach following the conclusion of the 2012 football season. Caragher's team finished a disappointing6–6 in 2013, however, that season did include a 62–52 upset win over No. 16 Fresno State to close out the year. The team finished 3–9 in 2014, 6–7 in 2015 and 4–8 in 2016. On November 27, 2016, Caragher was relieved of his duties as head coach after compiling a 19–30 (.388) win-loss record and only one bowl appearance over four seasons.
.jpg)
Oregon State wide receivers coachBrent Brennan, who was a San Jose State assistant under Tomey and MacIntyre from 2005 to 2010, took over as head coach in 2017.[16]
In Brennan's first two years as head coach, the Spartans won just three games. This included a 1–11 season in 2018.[17] Despite the poor record, five of the team's losses in 2018 were by fewer than nine points. Three of those losses were by a field goal, including a 5 overtime 44-41 loss to theHawaii Rainbow Warriors on September 29, 2018.[18][19]
The2019 team improved to 5–7, missingbowl eligibility by one win.[20] The Spartans also showed promise by defeatingArkansas on the road in 2019 for the program's first win over aSoutheastern Conference team. Additionally, the 2019 Spartan team defeatedArmy, making the Spartans one of only 20 teams in college football to defeat all three FBSservice academies (Army,Air Force, andNavy).[21] Brennan received a contract extension at the close of the 2019 season.[22]
TheCOVID-19 pandemic impacted the2020 season, with restrictions imposed bySanta Clara County prompting the team to conduct preseason practice atHumboldt State University. The pandemic also resulted in the cancellation of all four non-conference games and two games against Mountain West Conference opponents. Santa Clara County public health orders also forced the Spartans' last two home games to be relocated toAloha Stadium in Hawaii andSam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.[23]
The abbreviated 2020 campaign would be a breakout year for the Spartans, who won each of their six regular season games for their first 6–0 start since 1939. The Spartans also cracked the AP Poll top-25 for the first time since 2012 and debuted in theCollege Football Playoff ranking at No. 24.[24][25]
The Spartans qualified for theMountain West Conference championship game for the first time, where they defeatedBoise State 34–20. In addition to giving San Jose State its maiden win over Boise State, the victory gave the Spartans their first conference championship title since 1991.[26] Brennan was named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year and also received the 2020 Lombardi Foundation national Coach of the Year award.[25][27]
In2023, the Spartans, along with Boise State and UNLV, finished tied for first in the conference standings.[28] All three teams finished 6–2 in conference play, but the Spartans were left out of the MWC championship game after a computer tiebreaker placed UNLV and Boise State higher in the rankings.
In January 2024, Brennan left San Jose State to join theArizona Wildcats as head coach.[29]
Ken Niumatalolo took over as head coach on January 21, 2024,[30] becoming the 30th head football coach in the program's history. Niumatalolo was previously the head coach atNavy and won a program-best 109 games, appeared in ten bowl games over 15 seasons, and was a three-timeAmerican Athletic Conference (AAC) Coach of the Year (2015, 2016, 2019). Inhis first year, he led the Spartans to a bowl eligible 7–5 season, and earned San Jose State its first consensus All-American inNick Nash.[31]
The San Jose State football team has been affiliated with six different athletic conferences since joining theCalifornia Coast Conference in 1922.[32]
San Jose State has won 17 conference championships. From 1969 to 1995, San Jose State earned moreBig West Conference football championship titles than any other team in the history of the Big West Conference.[3] The Spartans moved to the WAC in 1996 and later moved to the Mountain West Conference in 2013.
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall Record | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932† | Far Western Conference | Dudley DeGroot | 7–0–2 | 3–0–2 |
| 1934† | Far Western Conference | Dudley DeGroot | 3–3–4 | 2–0–3 |
| 1939 | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Dudley DeGroot | 13–0 | 3–0 |
| 1940 | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Ben Winkelman | 11–1 | 3–0 |
| 1941† | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Ben Winkelman | 5–3–3 | 2–0–1 |
| 1946 | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Bill Hubbard | 9–1–1 | 4–0 |
| 1948 | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Bill Hubbard | 9–3 | 5–0 |
| 1949 | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Bill Hubbard | 9–4 | 4–0 |
| 1975 | Pacific Coast Athletic Association | Darryl Rogers | 9–2 | 5–0 |
| 1976 | Pacific Coast Athletic Association | Lynn Stiles | 7–4 | 4–0 |
| 1978† | Pacific Coast Athletic Association | Lynn Stiles | 7–5 | 4–1 |
| 1981 | Big West Conference | Jack Elway | 9–3 | 5–0 |
| 1986 | Big West Conference | Claude Gilbert | 10–2 | 7–0 |
| 1987 | Big West Conference | Claude Gilbert | 10–2 | 7–0 |
| 1990 | Big West Conference | Terry Shea | 9–2–1 | 7–0 |
| 1991† | Big West Conference | Terry Shea | 6–4–1 | 6–1 |
| 2020 | Mountain West Conference | Brent Brennan | 7–1 | 7–0 |
† Co–champions
San Jose State has made 14 bowl appearances and has an overall bowl game record of 7–7.[3] Their most recent bowl appearance was on December 24, 2024, when they faced theSouth Florida Bulls in the2024 Hawaii Bowl inHonolulu, Hawaii.
| Season | Coach | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Bill Hubbard | Raisin Bowl | Utah State | W 20–0 |
| 1949 | Raisin Bowl | Texas Tech | W 20–13 | |
| 1971 | Dewey King | Pasadena Bowl | Memphis | L 9–28 |
| 1981 | Jack Elway | California Bowl | Toledo | L 25–27 |
| 1986 | Claude Gilbert | California Bowl | Miami (OH) | W 37–7 |
| 1987 | California Bowl | Eastern Michigan | L 27–30 | |
| 1990 | Terry Shea | California Bowl | Central Michigan | W 48–24 |
| 2006 | Dick Tomey | New Mexico Bowl | New Mexico | W 20–12 |
| 2012 | Kent Baer | Military Bowl | Bowling Green | W 29–20 |
| 2015 | Ron Caragher | Cure Bowl | Georgia State | W 27–16 |
| 2020 | Brent Brennan | Arizona Bowl | Ball State | L 13–34 |
| 2022 | Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | Eastern Michigan | L 27–41 | |
| 2023 | Hawaii Bowl | Coastal Carolina | L 14–24 | |
| 2024 | Ken Niumatalolo | Hawaii Bowl | South Florida | L 39–415OT |
Known as Spartan Stadium for over eight decades, CEFCU stadium officially opened in 1933 as a 4,000-seat facility. The stadium featured large berms on the east, west, north and south sides of the field, which gave the stadium a "sunken bowl" appearance. The stadium's seating capacity was increased to 8,500 in 1936, and later expanded incrementally to a total seating capacity of just over 18,000 by 1948. The most recent additions came in the 1980s when the capacity of the stadium was expanded from approximately 18,000 to just over 31,000 by adding end zone bleachers, an upper deck and boxes on the west side.
In 1998, the field was widened and other renovations were carried out for theMLSSan Jose Earthquakes soccer team in accordance with officialFIFA regulations.[33] As a result of these renovations, parts of the stands closest to the playing field were removed, thus lowering available seating for all sports to 30,456.
In August 2016,Citizens Equity First Credit Union purchased sole naming rights to Spartan Stadium for $8.7 million. The deal between CEFCU and San José State University will last for 15 years.[34]
In 2019, seating capacity was temporarily reduced to 21,520 as part of a massive east-side stadium renovation project. Phase I of the project, which included construction of the $70 million Spartan Athletic Center, was completed in August 2023. Phase II, which is tentatively slated to include installation of premium spectator seating on the stadium's east side, remains in the planning stages as of 2023.
Other distinctive and unique features of the stadium include the original 1933 Romanesque balustrade spanning the entire east and west sidelines, and the CEFCU Stadium "Ring of Honor" displayed along the west side upper deck.
The Battle for the Valley
San Jose State's biggest rival isCalifornia State University, Fresno, due in large part to the two schools' geographic proximity and long history of competing in the same conferences.[35]
Fresno is the largest city in the agriculturally richSan Joaquin Valley.San Jose is the largest city in the metropolitan capital of the high-techSilicon Valley. The two schools are separated by approximately 150 driving miles. Beginning in 2013, the winner of the game is awarded the Valley Trophy.[36][37]
San Jose State led the series from 1949 to 2001, but Fresno State tied it at 32–32–3 with a victory in 2002 and recaptured the lead in 2003. The Bulldogs and Spartans first played each other in 1921.
As of 2024, Fresno State leads the football series 45–39–3. The two schools have met on the gridiron 87 times.[38]
Bill Walsh Legacy Game
TheBill Walsh Legacy Game is the name given to the rivalry between the Spartans and theStanford Cardinal football team ofStanford University.[39][40]
In 2007, following the death of San Jose State alumnus and former Stanford coach Bill Walsh, the near-annual game played between the two schools was renamed the Bill Walsh Legacy Game.[41]
The rivalry is rooted in the two schools' close geographical proximity to one another, with the Stanford University campus being located just 23 driving miles northwest of the San Jose State campus onInterstate 280. The two teams have played each other 69 times since 1900. Stanford and San Jose State announced an agreement to renew the rivalry with a six-game home-and-home series beginning in 2024.[42][43] San Jose State won the first of the renewed 6 game match-ups 34-31 in dramatic fashion against the Cardinal at CEFCU Stadium on the Friday after thanksgiving November 29th, 2024.[44] The following year, in 2025, Stanford won the rivalry game 30-29, in dramatic fashion, scoring the winning touchdown with only 19 seconds left in the game.[45]
Stanford currently leads the series 53–15–1.
Dick Tomey Legacy Game
The two schools first met in 1936, and each team was previously led by legendary coachDick Tomey. Tomey was a successful head coach atHawaii from 1977 to 1986 and was a successful head coach at San Jose State from 2005 to 2009. The winner of the rivalry game each year takes possession of the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy. TheRainbow Warriors and Spartans have played each other 47 times as of the 2025 season.
In 1941, the San Jose State Spartans football team served unexpectedly with theHonolulu Police Department during World War II. The team had just arrived in Hawaii to play a series of postseason bowl games against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and theWillamette University Bearcats when the U.S. Navy base atPearl Harbor wasattacked on December 7, 1941. The team was stranded on the islands for a number of weeks following the attack, and players were employed by the local police department to help improve island defenses against a possible Japanese amphibious assault and as guards for military bases on the island.[3][6]
As of 2025, the Spartans have won 5 in a row in the series and lead the series 24-22–1.
El Camino Real Rivalry
The rivalry between the twoCal State schools dates back to 1935. The matchup is named after the historic 600-mileCamino Real that connects the 21Spanish missions inCalifornia, stretching fromSan Diego Bay in the south toSan Francisco Bay in the north. TheSan Diego State Aztecs and San Jose State Spartans have played each other 47 times as of the 2023 season.
In 2014, there were conversations between the two programs about creating a trophy using an old mission bell or a replica of an old Spanish mission bell to be awarded to the winner of the rivalry game, but no trophy ever materialized.[46]
The Spartans currently have the longest win streak in the series with 11 consecutive wins from 1938 to 1952.
As of 2023,San Diego State leads the series 24–22–2.
TheUniversity of Nevada, Reno and San Jose State first played each other in 1899. TheWolf Pack won the first meeting 6–0 inReno onThanksgiving Day. Bob Brule scored the game’s only touchdown and fell into an irrigation ditch behind the end zone, followed by threeCal State Normal School players.[citation needed]
The series was tied at seven wins apiece at the close of the 2001 season, but SJSU fell to 4–16 against Nevada over the following 20 seasons (2002–2022). The two schools did not play each other from 1901 to 1930 and again from 1949 to 1991.
The SJSU and Nevada campuses are located approximately 250 miles apart. The football teams have competed in the same conferences since 1992, first in theBig West Conference in the 1990s and then in the 2000s as members of theWAC. Since 2013, the two teams are West Division rivals in theMountain West.
Both schools are the oldest public institutions of higher education in their respective states ofCalifornia andNevada. SJSU was founded in 1857 while UNR was founded in 1874.
As of 2024 Nevada leads the series 23–12–2.
Victory Bell
The now defunct, 100-year rivalry matchup between theSJSU Spartans and thePacific Tigers began in 1895 and ended in 1995 when Pacific dropped its football program. The Spartan-Tiger football game was played 72 times between 1895 and 1995.
Due to the "private vs. public" institutional competitiveness and the close geographical proximity of the two schools, a natural "cross-town" rivalry was born.University of the Pacific was founded in 1851 inSanta Clara, California, and claims to be the first institution of higher education in California.[47] San José State University was founded in 1857 and is California's first public institution of higher education.
In 1949, in a game which drew national attention, the "Victory Bell" was unveiled.[48] The Victory Bell would go to the winner of subsequent Tiger-Spartan games. The bell was two feet tall and waist-high on a rolling cart. The bell was half black with an orange "P" for Pacific and half blue with a gold "SJ" for San Jose.[49]
The Spartans led the series 43–23–6 when the rivalry ended at the close of the 1995 season.
San Jose State earned its first national ranking in 1939, reaching the 18th spot in theAssociated Press college football poll. Since then, the school has spent eight weeks ranked among the top–25 college football teams in the AP poll, including two post–season top–25 rankings. In 2020, the team received a postseason ranking in the AP Poll (24), Coaches Poll (24), and the College Football Playoff Rankings (22).
| Year | Weeks | Low | High | Final | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 2 | 19 | 18 | NR | 13–0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 20 | 20 | NR | 9–2 |
| 2012 | 2 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 11–2 |
| 2020 | 3 | 25 | 19 | 24 | 7–1 |
San Jose State has had 29 head football coaches. There have been four periods in which the Spartans did not host a team (1894, 1896–1897, 1901–1920, 1943–1945).[50]
| Year | Coach | Pct. |
|---|---|---|
| 1893 | James E. Addicott | .000 |
| 1894 | No Team | n/a |
| 1895–1896 | James E. Addicott | .500 |
| 1897 | No Team | n/a |
| 1898 | James E. Addicott | .750 |
| 1899 | Jess Woods | .688 |
| 1900 | James E. Addicott | .417 |
| 1900 | Fielding H. Yost(Interim) | 1.000 |
| 1901–1920 | No Team | n/a |
| 1921–1922 | David Wooster | .250 |
| 1923 | H.C. McDonald(Interim) | .000 |
| 1924–1928 | Ernesto R. Knollin | .378 |
| 1929–1931 | Walter Crawford | .348 |
| 1932–1939 | Dudley DeGroot | .736 |
| 1940–1941 | Ben Winkelman | .761 |
| 1942 | Glenn Hartranft | .778 |
| 1943–1945 | No Team | n/a |
| 1946–1949 | Bill Hubbard | .761 |
| 1950–1956 | Robert T. Bronzan | .515 |
| 1957–1964 | Bob Titchenal | .424 |
| 1965–1968 | Harry Anderson | .333 |
| 1969–1970 | Joe McMullen | .231 |
| 1970–1972 | Dewey King | .339 |
| 1973–1975 | Darryl Rogers | .691 |
| 1976–1978 | Lynn Stiles | .529 |
| 1979–1983 | Jack Elway | .634 |
| 1984–1989 | Claude Gilbert | .558 |
| 1990–1991 | Terry Shea | .696 |
| 1992 | Ron Turner | .636 |
| 1993–1996 | John Ralston | .244 |
| 1997–2000 | Dave Baldwin | .400 |
| 2001–2004 | Fitz Hill | .298 |
| 2005–2009 | Dick Tomey | .479 |
| 2010–2012 | Mike MacIntyre | .432 |
| 2012 | Kent Baer(Interim) | 1.000 |
| 2013–2016 | Ron Caragher | .388 |
| 2017–2023 | Brent Brennan | .413 |
| 2024–present | Ken Niumatalolo |
| San José State Spartans retired numbers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Pos. | Tenure | No. ret. | Ref. |
| 52 | Dave Chaney | LB | 1969–1971 | 2019 | [68] |
In 2019, Chaney was the first and thus far only Spartan to have his number retired. He was a two-timeAll-American linebacker who played for the Spartans from 1969 to 1971. In his three seasons, he established school career records for tackles, interception return yardage and interceptions returned for a touchdown. His 527 career tackles in just three seasons remains a SJSU record. Although Chaney was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1972, he turned down the offer to pursue a career in education.[69]
As of 2024, SJSU has produced over 99All-America team members, including nine first-team selections, 25 second-team and third-team selections, and over 65 honorable mentions.[70] As of 2024,Nick Nash became the first Spartan player to ever earn both consensus and unanimous All-American honors.
Unanimous selections are indicated by a double asterisk (**) beside their name.Note: List below does not include honorable mention selections.[71]
| Year | Name | Position | Team | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Lloyd Thomas | E | AP 1st | [72] |
| 1939 | Leroy Zimmerman | FB | AP 1st | [73] |
| 1970, 1971 | Dave Chaney | LB | AP 1st, NEA 1st, UPI 2nd | [74] |
| 1974 | Louie Wright | CB | AP 2nd | [75] |
| 1975 | Kim Bokamper | DE | NEA-2nd | [76] |
| 1976 | Wilson Faumuina | DT | AP 3rd | [77] |
| 1976 | Vic Rakhshani | TE | FBN 1st | [78] |
| 1978 | Frank Manumaleuga | LB | AP 3rd | [79] |
| 1981 | Ken Thomas | DB | NEA 2nd | [80] |
| 1983 | Eric Richardson | WR | NEA 2nd | [81] |
| 1987 | Guy Liggins | WR | UPI 2nd | [82] |
| 1990 | Sheldon Canley | TB | AP 3rd | [83] |
| 1991 | Joe Nedney | PK | FBN 3rd | [84] |
| 1992 | Brian Lundy | WR | FBN 1st | [85] |
| 1995 | Brian Roche | TE | AP 2nd | [86] |
| 2000 | Deoncé Whitaker | TB | TSN 3rd | [87] |
| 2002 | Charles Pauley | Returns | CFBN 1st, AP 3rd | [88] |
| 2006, 2007 | Dwight Lowery | CB | AFCA 1st, FWAA 1st, AP 3rd | [89] |
| 2010 | Vince Buhagiar | LB | Phil Steele 3rd | [90] |
| 2010 | Noel Grigsby | WR | Phil Steele 2nd | [91] |
| 2010 | Keith Smith | LB | FWAA, CFBN 2nd, Phil Steele 3rd | [92] |
| 2010 | Harrison Waid | P | Phil Steele 2nd | [93] |
| 2012 | Travis Johnson | DE | CBS 3rd | [94] |
| 2012 | Austin Lopez | PK | FWAA, CFBN 2nd | [95] |
| 2013 | Tyler Winston | WR | Athlon 3rd, Phil Steele 3rd | [96] |
| 2015 | Michael Carrizosa | P | FWAA 2nd, WCFF 2nd | [97] |
| 2015 | Tyler Ervin | RB | Athlon 2nd | [98] |
| 2020 | Cade Hall | DL | USA Today 2nd | [99] |
| 2022 | Viliami Fehoko | DL | PFF 2nd | [100] |
| 2023 | Kairee Robinson | HB | Hero Sports 2nd | [101] |
| 2024 | Soane Toia | DL | Hero Sports 2nd | [102] |
| 2024 | Justin Lockhart | WR | Hero Sports 3rd | [103] |
| 2024 | Jordan Pollard Jr. | LB | Hero Sports 3rd | [104] |
| 2024 | Nick Nash | WR | AFCA 1st, AP 1st, FWAA 1st, WCFF 1st, TSN 1st, CBS 1st, PFF | [105] |
Two former SJSU players have been inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame.Bill Walsh attended San Jose State, where he played quarterback from 1953 to 1955. He went on to win threeSuper Bowls as the head coach of theSan Francisco 49ers.
Dick Vermeil played for San Jose State as a backup quarterback before graduating in 1959 with amaster's degree.[106] Vermeil later wonSuper Bowl XXXIV in 1999 as the head coach of theSt. Louis Rams.
| Name | Years | Position | Inducted | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Walsh | 1953–1955 | Head Coach | 1993 | [107] |
| Dick Vermeil | 1956–1959 | Head Coach | 2022 | [108] |
Two former SJSU players have been inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame.Willie Heston attended San Jose State, where he played halfback from 1898 to 1900 before transferring to theUniversity of Michigan. Heston has been named one of the greatest halfbacks in college football history.[109]
Terry Donahue was a freshman walk-ondefensive tackle for one year at San Jose State before transferring toUCLA. Donahue was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his contributions as the head coach at UCLA.
Two former San Jose State coaches are also enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, mostly for their contributions while coaching at other schools.Pop Warner led his teams to a combined four national championships while serving as the head coach atPitt and Stanford.
John Ralston led Stanford to multipleRose Bowl victories before taking over as the head coach at SJSU from 1993 to 1996. Ralston was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1992.
| Name | Years | Position | Inducted | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn "Pop" Warner | 1939–1940 | Associate Coach | 1951 | [110] |
| Willie Heston | 1898–1900 | HB | 1954 | [111] |
| John Ralston | 1993–1996 | Head coach | 1992 | [112] |
| Terry Donahue | 1963 | DT /Head coach | 2000 | [113] |
As of December 2022, 139 San Jose State players have gone on to play in theNFL,[114] and seven former Spartans are actively playing in the NFL as of August 2023.[3][115][116] The 139 players include 121 draftees, six NFLPro Bowl selections, six first-round draft picks, two MVP award winners, and one NFL Rookie of the Year.[114][115]
Along with Miami (OH), Dayton, Arkansas, Eastern Illinois, and Pacific, SJSU is one of only six programs in the nation to produce more than one alumnus who would go on to coachSuper Bowl-winning teams.[117][3]
As of May 2024, there are nine former SJSU players in the NFL.[118]
| Player | Team | Position | Round | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Chachere | Philadelphia Eagles | S | UDFA | 2018 |
| Josh Oliver | Minnesota Vikings | TE | 3 | 2019 |
| David Quessenberry | Minnesota Vikings | G | 6 | 2013 |
| Wes Schweitzer | Washington Commanders | G | 6 | 2016 |
| Viliami Fehoko | Dallas Cowboys | DE | 4 | 2023 |
| Elijah Cooks | Jacksonville Jaguars | WR | UDFA | 2023 |
| Chevan Cordeiro | Seattle Seahawks | QB | UDFA | 2024 |
| Tre Jenkins | New York Jets | LB | UDFA | 2024 |
| Jay Kakiva | Seattle Seahawks | DL | UDFA | 2024 |
Record at the conclusion of the2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season.[119]
| Opponent | Won | Lost | Tied | Percentage | Streak | First meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | Won 1 | 1996 |
| Boise State | 1 | 16 | 0 | .059 | Lost 2 | 1978 |
| Colorado State | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | Lost 1 | 1961 |
| Fresno State | 39 | 45 | 3 | .466 | Lost 1 | 1921 |
| Hawaii | 23 | 22 | 1 | .511 | Won 4 | 1936 |
| Nevada | 12 | 23 | 2 | .351 | Won 2 | 1899 |
| New Mexico | 15 | 5 | 1 | .738 | Won 3 | 1954 |
| San Diego State | 21 | 24 | 2 | .468 | Won 1 | 1935 |
| UNLV | 21 | 7 | 1 | .741 | Lost 1 | 1981 |
| Utah State | 21 | 20 | 1 | .512 | Won 1 | 1940 |
| Wyoming | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | Won 3 | 1959 |
| Totals | 168 | 182 | 11 | .481 |
Announced schedules as of April 8, 2025.[149][150]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)
Located in:San Jose, California | |||||||
| Colleges |
|  | |||||
| Campus | |||||||
| Research | |||||||
| Athletics |
| ||||||
| Student life | |||||||
| People | |||||||
| Related | |||||||
Established: 1857 –Endowment: 242 million –Students: 37,661 –California State University | |||||||
