| California Golden Bears | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of California, Berkeley |
| Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference (primary) Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (beach volleyball, men's gymnastics, men's rowing, water polo) |
| NCAA | Division I (FBS) |
| Athletic director | Jay Larson (Co-Director of Athletics) Jenny Simon-O'Neill (Co-Director of Athletics) |
| Location | Berkeley, California |
| Varsity teams | 30 (14 men's, 16 women's) |
| Football stadium | California Memorial Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Haas Pavilion |
| Baseball stadium | Evans Diamond |
| Softball stadium | Levine-Fricke Field |
| Soccer stadium | Edwards Stadium |
| Outdoor track and field venue | Goldman Field |
| Other venues | Clark Kerr Sand Courts |
| Mascot | Oski the Bear |
| Nickname | Golden Bears |
| Fight song | Fight for California |
| Cheer | Oski Yell |
| Colors | Blue and gold[1] |
| Website | calbears |
 | |
TheCalifornia Golden Bears are theathletic teams that represent theUniversity of California, Berkeley. Referred to in athletic competition asCalifornia orCal, the university fields 30varsity athletic programs and various club teams in theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'sDivision I primarily as a member of theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and for a limited number of sports as a member of theMountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). In 2014, Cal instituted a strict academic standard for an athlete's admission to the university. By the 2017 academic year 80 percent of incoming student athletes were required to comply with the University of California general student requirement of having a 3.0 or higher high school grade point average.[2]
California's nickname originated in 1895 during California's dominant track and field team's tour of Midwest and Eastern universities. A blue silk banner with the golden grizzly bear, the state symbol, was displayed by the team during that tour. Since then, Cal's athletic teams have been known as the Golden Bears.[3] Over the course of the school's history, California has won team national titles in 13 men's and 3 women's sports and 115 team titles overall. Cal athletes have also competed in theOlympics for a host of different countries.
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Beach volleyball |
| Cross country | Cross country |
| Football | Field hockey |
| Golf* | Golf* |
| Gymnastics | Gymnastics |
| Rowing | Lacrosse |
| Rugby* | Rowing |
| Soccer | Soccer |
| Swimming and diving* | Softball |
| Tennis | Swimming and diving |
| Track and field† | Tennis |
| Water polo* | Track and field† |
| Volleyball | |
| Water polo | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor * – Endowed Sports Program[4] | |
The California football team began play in 1885 and has played its home games atCalifornia Memorial Stadium since 1923, except for in 2011 while the stadium was being renovated; the team played atSan Francisco'sAT&T Park that season. The Bears have fivenational titles bestowed retrospectively by "major selectors" — 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1937 (a contemporaneous selector in 1937 also chose California) — listed by the NCAA.[5] The team also has produced two of the oddest and most memorable plays in college football:Roy "Wrong Way" Riegels' fumble recovery and run toward the Cal goal line in the 1929Rose Bowl; andThe Play in the 1982Big Game, a game-winning, five-lateral kickoff return as time expired.
The program has produced numerous NFL stars, including:
Current head coachJustin Wilcox began his tenure in 2017.
California has participated in 25 bowl games, garnering a record of 12–12–1.[6]
The California men's basketball team has represented the University of California intercollegiately since 1907 and subsequently began full conference play in 1915. Cal basketball's home court isHaas Pavilion, which was constructed atop of the old Harmon Gymnasium using money donated in the late 1990s in part by the owners of Levi-Strauss.[7] The program has seen success throughout the years culminating in a national championship in 1959 under legendary coachPete Newell and have reached the final four two other times in 1946 and 1960. The1926–27 team finished the season with a 17–0 record[8] and was retroactively named the national champion by thePremo-Porretta Power Poll.[9]
The current head coach of the California men's basketball program isMark Madsen. Some notable NBA players that spent time playing in Berkeley includeJaylen Brown,Jason Kidd,Kevin Johnson, andDarrall Imhoff.
The Cal baseball team plays atEvans Diamond, located between Haas Pavilion, the Recreational Sports Facility (RSF), and Edward's Track Stadium. Cal has appeared in the post-season a total of nine times, including five times in theCollege World Series; Cal won the title in 1947 and 1957. The team is currently coached byMike Neu, who took the helm in 2018.
In September 2010, the university announced that baseball would be one of five sports cut as a cost-cutting measure.[10] However, in April 2011, after receiving more than $9 million in pledges from supporters of the program, the program was reinstated.[11] In June 2011, the team made its most recent appearance in the College World Series.[12]
Perhaps the most famous Cal player was second basemanJeff Kent, who led the Golden Bears to the 1988 College World Series, and would go on to be named the 2000National LeagueMost Valuable Player as a member of theSan Francisco Giants. ShortstopGeoff Blum of Cal's 1992 College World Series team hit the game-winning home run in the 14th inning of Game 3 of the2005 World Series for theChicago White Sox.
Current Golden Bears inMajor League Baseball includeNew York Mets outfielderMark Canha,Texas Rangers shortstopMarcus Semien, andChicago White Sox first baseman and left fielderAndrew Vaughn. Vaughn is Cal's highest everMLB draft selection, having been selected third overall by the White Sox in2019.San Diego Padres managerBob Melvin also played at Cal, having helped the team earn third place in the1980 College World Series.
Men's bowling was a varsity-level intercollegiate sport at the University of California in the 1970s and won a national championship in 1979, governed by the ABC (now the U.S. Bowling Congress).[13]
Crew (rowing) has a long and storied history as the oldest sport at the university, beginning with the formation of the University of California Boat Club in 1875. Competitive racing as known today began in 1893.[14] In 1928, 1932, and 1948, Cal crews won gold at the Olympics while representing the United States.[15]
The University of California's intercollegiate cross country team is under the direction of head coach Bobby Lockhart, who took over the program in 2019 after spending time at UNC-Chapel Hill and Oklahoma State.
The California Golden Bears men's cross country team appeared in theNCAA Cross Country Championships five times, with their highest finish being 16th place in the 2007–08 school year.[18]
| Year | Gender | Ranking | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Men | No. 16 | 434 |
| 2008 | No. 22 | 477 | |
| 2010 | No. 31 | 678 | |
| 2015 | No. 23 | 524 | |
| 2016 | No. 31 | 776 |
Men's rifle began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in the 19th century[19][20][21][22][23] and won 5 national championships in the 1950s.[24] At that time, the national event required five firing members per team, one alternate, a team captain and a coach. The national championship competition consisted of ten shots per firing member at 50 feet, indoors.
The Golden Bears rugby team has won 33championships since the national collegiate championships for rugby began in 1980. Current head coach and Cal alumnus Jack Clark took over the team in 1984, and has achieved prolonged success, leading the Bears to 28 national titles, including twelve consecutive championships from 1991 to 2002, five more consecutive titles from 2004 to 2008, and back-to-back titles in 2010 to 2011 and 2016 to 2017.[25]
Cal also has competed in theCollegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), the highest profile collegerugby sevens tournament in the U.S., winning the title each year from 2013 to 2017. The CRC was held every June from 2011 through 2019 atSubaru Park in thePhiladelphia area. Cal also reached the finals of the 2010 CRC, losing to Utah in sudden death extra time, and finished third in the2012 CRC.[26] Cal won the2013,2014,2015 and2016 CRC titles.
In September 2010, the university announced that rugby would be one of five varsity sports cut as a cost-cutting measure, though the team would have continued to represent the university as a "varsity club sport." A large group of rugby supporters organized to oppose the relegation.[10] On February 11, 2011, the administration reversed its decision on rugby and two other sports, thus continuing them as sponsored varsity sports.[27]
Men's soccer began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1906 and has won no national championships and 4 conference championships. The team currently plays its home games atEdwards Stadium and the head coach (in his 12th season) is Kevin Grimes.Steve Birnbaum was the #2 pick in the first round in the2014 MLS SuperDraft.
The California Golden Bears men's soccer team has an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 14–19 through nineteen appearances.[28]
| Year | Record | Seed | Region | Round | Opponent | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6–2 | — | St. Louis | Quarterfinal | Saint Louis | L 0–2 |
| 1977 | 11–5–3 | — | San Francisco | Second Round | UCLA | L 1–3 |
| 1981 | 13–5–1 | — | Berkeley | First round | San Diego State | L 0–4 |
| 1983 | 17–3 | — | Las Vegas | First round | UNLV | L 1–3 (OT) |
| 1985 | 16–4–1 | — | Los Angeles | First round | UCLA | L 1–3 |
| 1986 | 15–4–2 | — | St. Louis | First round | Saint Louis | L 0–2 |
| 1996 | 12–6–2 | — | Seattle | First round | Fresno State | L 1–2 |
| 2001 | 10–8–1 | — | Stanford | First round | Santa Clara | L 0–1 (3OT) |
| 2002 | 13–5–2 | — | Los Angeles | Second Round Third round | UC Santa Barbara UCLA | W 2–1 L 1–2 |
| 2003 | 10–8–2 | — | New York | First round Second Round | San Jose State UC Santa Barbara | W 2–0 L 0–2 |
| 2004 | 12–3–3 | — | Indianapolis | First round Second Round | Santa Clara No. 7SMU | W 2–1 (OT) L 0–1 |
| 2005 | 13–3–2 | No. 7 | Albuquerque | Second Round Third round Quarterfinals | Santa Clara Wake Forest No. 2New Mexico | T 0–0 (PK) W 3–2 (2OT) L 0–1 |
| 2006 | 12–5–1 | No. 13 | Charlottesville | Second Round Third round | New Mexico No. 4Virginia | W 3–1 L 1–2 |
| 2007 | 11–5–2 | — | Providence | First round Second Round | UC Davis No. 11Virginia Tech | W 2–1 (OT) L 2–3 |
| 2008 | 11–5–2 | — | College Park | First round Second Round Third round | San Francisco No. 15 UC Santa Barbara No. 2Maryland | W 3–0 W 3–2 (2OT) L 1–2 |
| 2010 | 12–2–3 | No. 6 | Akron | Second Round Third round Quarterfinals | Santa Barbara Brown No. 3Akron | W 2–1 (OT) W 2–0 T 3–3 (PK) |
| 2013 | 12–4–2 | No. 4 | Berkeley | Second Round Third round Quarterfinals | Bradley Coastal Carolina No. 5Maryland | W 3–1 W 1–0 W 1–0 L 1–2 |
| 2014 | 12–4–2 | No. 15 | Los Angeles | Second Round Third round | SIU Edwardsville No. 2UCLA | W 1–0 L 2–3 |
Doug Eisenman won theNCAA Division I doubles title withMatt Lucena in 1990.[29]
The California Golden Bears men's water polo team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 58–15 through twenty-nine appearances.[30]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | First round Semifinals National Championship | UC Irvine UC Santa Barbara UCLA | W 5–4 W 6–4 L 2–5 |
| 1973 | First round Semifinals National Championship | New Mexico UCLA UC Irvine | W 8–1 W 4–2 W 8–4 |
| 1974 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Air Force CSU Fullerton UC Irvine | W 12–3 W 12–3 W 7–6 |
| 1975 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Long Beach State UCLA UC Irvine | W 9–6 W 13–9 W 9–8 |
| 1977 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Bucknell Pepperdine UC Irvine | W 28–10 W 11–10 W 8–6 |
| 1978 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Texas A&M UC Irvine Stanford | W 15–6 W 7–5 L 6–7 |
| 1979 | First round Semifinals | Air Force UCLA | W 19–7 L 9–10 |
| 1980 | First round Semifinals National Championship | UC Santa Barbara UC Irvine Stanford | W 11–7 W 9–7 L 6–8 |
| 1981 | First round Semifinals | UCLA Long Beach State | W 10–7 L 9–11 |
| 1982 | First round Semifinals | USC UC Irvine | W 7–6 L 5–8 |
| 1983 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Slippery Rock Long Beach State USC | W 15–2 W 8–5 W 10–7 |
| 1984 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Loyola (IL) USC Stanford | W 11–3 W 10–9 W 9–8 |
| 1986 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Brown UCLA Stanford | W 11–4 W 11–8 L 6–9 |
| 1987 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Brown UC Irvine USC | W 18–3 W 7–3 W 9–8 |
| 1988 | First round Semifinals National Championship | UALR Stanford UCLA | W 17–6 W 10–6 W 14–11 |
| 1989 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Brown Pepperdine UC Irvine | W 15–2 W 10–9 L 8–9 |
| 1990 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Brown UCLA Stanford | W 16–6 W 10–8 W 8–7 |
| 1991 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Navy UC Irvine UCLA | W 13–6 W 13–10 W 7–6 |
| 1992 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Navy UC Irvine Stanford | W 15–2 W 8–5 W 12–11 |
| 1993 | First round Semifinals | Massachusetts USC | W 17–4 L 11–12 |
| 1994 | First round Semifinals | Massachusetts USC | W 12–7 L 6–11 |
| 1995 | Semifinals National Championship | Massachusetts UCLA | W 10–6 L 8–10 |
| 2002 | Semifinals National Championship | Queens College Stanford | W 14–6 L 6–7 |
| 2006 | Semifinals National Championship | UC San Diego USC | W 17–7 W 7–6 |
| 2007 | Semifinals National Championship | Navy USC | W 8–5 W 8–6 |
| 2010 | Semifinals National Championship | Loyola Marymount USC | W 7–6 L 10–12 |
| 2015 | Semifinals | USC | L 6–9 |
| 2016 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Pomona–Pitzer UCLA USC | W 16–6 W 9–8 W 11–8 |
| 2017 | Semifinals | USC | L 11–12 |
| 2023 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | UCLA | W 16–6 W 10–9 W 13–11 |
The California Golden Bears women's volleyball team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 26–17 through seventeen appearances.[31] Despite appearing in the NCAA national championship game in 2010, they have yet to win a national title. Some former Bears that have gone pro include all-time kills leader Hana Cutura, former US Olympian and all-time assists leaderCarli Lloyd, Mia Jerkov, Lara Vukasovic, Jenelle Jordan, and Maddie Haynes. The team is currently coached by Sam Crosson.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981[32] AIAW | Pool Play Pool Play Consolation 9th Place Game | Utah State Minnesota North Carolina Pittsburgh | L 2-3 L 2-3 W 2-0 L 1-2 |
| 1982 | First round Regional semifinals | Pepperdine San Diego State | W 3–0 L 1–3 |
| 1983 | First round Regional semifinals | Oregon State Pacific | W 3–2 L 0–3 |
| 1987 | First round | UCLA | L 1–3 |
| 1988 | First round | UCLA | L 0–3 |
| 1989 | First round Regional semifinals | Florida State Texas | W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 2002 | First round Second Round | Santa Clara UC Santa Barbara | W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 2003 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals | Saint Mary's Michigan Georgia Tech | W 3–0 W 3–0 L 1–3 |
| 2004 | First round Second Round | Pacific Saint Mary's | W 3–2 L 2–3 |
| 2005 | First round Second Round | Valparaiso Wisconsin | W 3–0 L 0–3 |
| 2006 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals | LSU Cal Poly Stanford | W 3–0 W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 2007 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals | Liberty Duke Iowa State Nebraska Penn State | W 3–1 W 3–1 W 3–0 W 3–0 L 0–3 |
| 2008 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Siena New Mexico State Illinois Penn State | W 3–0 W 3–1 W 3–0 L 0–3 |
| 2009 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Lipscomb Ohio State Baylor Penn State | W 3–0 W 3–1 W 3–0 L 0–3 |
| 2010 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals National Championship | Utah State North Carolina Minnesota Washington USC Penn State | W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 L 0–3 |
| 2011 | First round | North Carolina | L 2–3 |
| 2012 | First round | North Carolina | L 1–3 |
| 2013 | First round Second Round | North Carolina Wisconsin | W 3–0 L 0–3 |
California's women's basketball team has made 14NCAA tournament appearances, their best result being a Final Four appearance in2013. The team has also won oneWNIT championship, in2010.
In2009–10, underJoanne Boyle, the Bears's top-10 recruiting class and star seniorAlexis Gray-Lawson) rebounded from a rough start to their season to win theWNIT. The championship game againstMiami (FL) was the first ever championship game held at Haas Pavilion. Gray-Lawson ended her career as the all-time Cal leader in three points made and games played.[33]
In 2012–13, under second-year head coachLindsay Gottlieb, the Cal women reached a record AP and USA Today Coaches Poll #6 ranking at the end of the season, earning the 2 seed in the Spokane region of theNCAA tournament. The Bears reached the first Final Four in school history.[34] In June 2019, Gottlieb became the first NCAA women's head coach to be hired to anNBA coaching staff when she became an assistant coach for theCleveland Cavaliers.[35]
The current women's basketball head coach isCharmin Smith. Notable alumni of the team include first-roundWNBA draft selectionsLayshia Clarendon andKristine Anigwe. Anigwe holds the team's all-time scoring and rebounding records.
In 2002, the Cal softball team won its first national championship against Arizona. Some notable players include Candace Harper, third baseman, and Jocelyn Forest, pitcher, both of whom were team captains. The 2002 Women's College World Series took place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Softball began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1972. The team has won one national championship and 6 conference championships. The team currently plays at the 1,204 seatLevine-Fricke Field in Strawberry Canyon, and the current head coach is former Cal shortstopChelsea Spencer, who was a member of the 2002 WCWS-winning team.
Note: Both Cal and the NCAA consider appearances at the AIAW women's final tournament (which was also named and promoted as the "Women's College World Series"), prior to the first NCAA softball WCWS on May 27–30, 1982, to be equivalent to NCAA WCWS appearances.
The California Golden Bears women's cross country team appeared in the NCAA tournament four times, with their highest finish being 9th place in the 1988–89 school year.[36]
| Year | Gender | Ranking | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Women | No. 15 | 323 |
| 1988 | No. 9 | 236 | |
| 2011 | No. 18 | 433 | |
| 2017 | No. 22 | 530 |
Cal was a member of theNorthern Pacific Field Hockey Conference (NorPac) from the league's founding in 1982 until its demise at the end of the 2014 season. The four NorPac members from California (Cal, Pacific, Stanford, and UC Davis) became single-sport members of theAmerica East Conference starting with the 2015 season.[37]
The California Golden Bears women's hockey team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 1–10 through ten appearances.[38]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980[39] AIAW | First round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Ursinus New Hampshire San Jose State Penn State | W 1-0 W 2-0 W 2-1 (2ot) L 1-2 |
| 1981 AIAW | Quarterfinals Consolation 5th Place Game | Temple Virginia Washington State | L 1-3 W 3-0 W 1-0 (ot) |
| 1982 | First round Quarterfinals | San Jose State Penn State | W 2–1 (2ot) L 1–2 (2ot, ps) |
| 1983 | First round | North Carolina | L 1–2 |
| 1992 | Ball State | L 0–1 | |
| 1993 | Northwestern | L 2–3 | |
| 1994 | Iowa | L 2–3 | |
| 2001 | Syracuse | L 0–1 | |
| 2002 | Wake Forest | L 0–8 | |
| 2003 | Maryland | L 0–2 | |
| 2005 | Wake Forest | L 0–1 | |
| 2006 | Ohio State | L 1–3 |
The Golden Bears women's gymnastics program first competed in 1976 in the AIAW under head coach Sue Williamson. Since women's gymnastics began as an NCAA sponsored sport in 1982, they have appeared in the NCAA tournament 28 times. Their highest finish was in 2024 when they finished second.
The 1980 Cal women's crew dominated the national collegiate championships. They won the varsity eight, Cal's first ever varsity national championship in any women's sport, and also captured the varsity four and finished second in the junior varsity eight. The Bears also captured national titles in the varsity four in 1981 and the novice eight in 1984.[40] The team won NCAA championships in 2005, 2006, 2016 and 2018.
Women's soccer began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1982 and has won no national championships and 1 conference championship. The team currently plays at Edwards Stadium and the head coach (in his 5th season) is Neil McGuire. Notable alums include Olympic Gold Medalist and 2015 and 2019 World Cup ChampionAlex Morgan, andBetsy Hassett of the New Zealand Women's National Team.[41]
The California Golden Bears women's soccer team has an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 16–25 through twenty-five appearances.[42]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | First round Second Round | Cincinnati North Carolina | W 5–0 L 2–5 |
| 1984 | First round Second Round Semifinals | UC Santa Barbara Colorado College North Carolina | W 2–0 W 1–0 L 1–2 |
| 1986 | First round Second Round | CSU East Bay Colorado College | W 2–0 L 0–1 |
| 1987 | Second Round Semifinals | UC Santa Barbara North Carolina | W 3–0 L 0–4 |
| 1988 | First round Second Round Semifinals | Saint Mary's Colorado College NC State | W 2–0 W 2–1 L 0–1 |
| 1993 | First round | Stanford | L 0–2 |
| 1998 | First round | Pacific | L 1–2 |
| 1999 | First round | BYU | L 0–2 |
| 2000 | Second Round | Santa Clara | L 0–2 |
| 2001 | First round | Saint Mary's | L 2–3 |
| 2002 | First round Second Round | Denver Stanford | W 2–0 L 0–1 |
| 2004 | First round | Santa Clara | L 1–2 |
| 2005 | First round Second Round Third round | Rice UTEP Florida State | W 2–0 W 2–1 L 1–2 |
| 2006 | First round Second Round | Auburn Florida State | W 3–1 L 1–3 |
| 2007 | First round Second Round | Santa Clara Stanford | W 2–0 L 1–2 |
| 2008 | First round | Florida | L 1–2 |
| 2009 | First round Second Round | Auburn Florida State | W 2–1 L 0–3 |
| 2010 | First round | Duke | L 1–2 |
| 2011 | First round Second Round | Santa Clara Boston College | W 2–1 L 0–1 |
| 2012 | First round Second Round | Pepperdine San Diego State | W 1–0 L 1–2 |
| 2013 | First round | Santa Clara | L 1–2 |
| 2014 | First round Second Round | San Diego State Florida | W 3–2 L 1–3 |
| 2015 | First round | Loyola Marymount | L 0–1 |
| 2016 | First round | Pepperdine | L 1–2 |
| 2017 | First round | Santa Clara | L 1–2 |
Women's Water Polo began intercollegiate competition at the University of California in 1996 and has won no national championships and 2 conference championships. The team currently plays at the Spieker Aquatics Complex near Haas Pavilion and the head coach (in her 2nd season) isCoralie Simmons.[43]
The California Golden Bears competed in the NCAA tournament across 26 active sports (12 men's and 14 women's) 627 times at the Division I Level.[44]
The Golden Bears of California earned 43 NCAA championships at the Division I level,[45] plus 5 unofficial men's football titles claimed by the school.[46]
Results
| School year | Sport | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920–21 | Football | Ohio State | 28–0 |
| 1921–22 | Football | Washington & Jefferson | 0–0 |
| 1921–22 | Men's outdoor track and field | Penn State | 28.5–19.5 |
| 1922–23 | Football | Stanford | 28–0 |
| 1923–24 | Football | Stanford | 9–0 |
| 1937–38 | Football | Alabama | 13–0 |
| 1946–47 | Baseball | Yale | 8–7 |
| 1956–57 | Baseball | Penn State | 1–0 |
| 1958–59 | Men's basketball | West Virginia | 71–70 |
| 1968–69 | Men's gymnastics | Southern Illinois | 188.25–188.15 |
| 1973–74 | Men's water polo | UC Irvine | 8–4 |
| 1974–75 | Men's gymnastics | LSU | 437.325–433.7 |
| 1974–75 | Men's water polo | UC Irvine | 7–6 |
| 1975–76 | Men's water polo | UC Irvine | 9–8 |
| 1977–78 | Men's water polo | UC Irvine | 9–6 |
| 1978–79 | Men's swimming and diving | USC | 287–227 |
| 1979–80 | Men's swimming and diving | Texas | 234–220 |
| 1983–84 | Men's water polo | USC | 10–7 |
| 1984–85 | Men's water polo | Stanford | 9–8 |
| 1987–88 | Men's water polo | USC | 9–8 |
| 1988–89 | Men's water polo | UCLA | 14–11 |
| 1990–91 | Men's water polo | Stanford | 8–7 |
| 1991–92 | Men's water polo | UCLA | 7–6 |
| 1992–93 | Men's water polo | Stanford | 12–11 |
| 1996–97 | Men's gymnastics | Oklahoma | 233.825–232.725 |
| 1997–98 | Men's gymnastics | Iowa | 231.2–229.675 |
| 2001–02 | Softball | Arizona | 6–0 |
| 2003–04 | Men's golf | UCLA | 1,134–1,140 |
| 2004–05 | Rowing | Virginia | 67–63 |
| 2005–06 | Rowing | Brown | 66–66 |
| 2006–07 | Men's water polo | USC | 7–6 |
| 2007–08 | Men's water polo | USC | 8–6 |
| 2008–09 | Women's swimming and diving | Georgia | 411.5–400.5 |
| 2010–11 | Men's swimming and diving | Texas | 493–470.5 |
| 2010–11 | Women's swimming and diving | Georgia | 424–394.5 |
| 2011–12 | Men's swimming and diving | Texas | 535.5–491 |
| 2011–12 | Women's swimming and diving | Georgia | 412.5–366 |
| 2013–14 | Men's swimming and diving | Texas | 468.5–417.5 |
| 2014–15 | Women's swimming and diving | Georgia | 513–452 |
| 2015–16 | Rowing | Ohio State | 129–126 |
| 2016–17 | Men's water polo | USC | 11–8 |
| 2017–18 | Rowing | Washington | 130–128 |
| 2018–19 | Men's swimming and diving | Texas | 560–475 |
| 2021–22 | Men's water polo | USC | 13–12 |
| 2021–22 | Men's swimming and diving | Texas | 487.5–436.5 |
| 2022–23 | Men's water polo | USC | 13–12 |
| 2022–23 | Men's swimming and diving | Arizona State | 482–430 |
| 2023–24 | Men's water polo | UCLA | 13–11 |
Below are 72 national team titles in current and former California varsity sports that were not bestowed by the NCAA:
Below are 60 national team titles won by California club sports teams at the highest collegiate level in non-NCAA sports:
As of March 25, 2023, California Golden Bears have won 290 all-time individual championships, including doubles, rowing crews and relay events, in sports currently governed at the Division I level by the NCAA.[45] The eight men's tennis titles won before 1946 were bestowed by the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association.[52][53] The four women's tennis titles won in 1929–1931 were bestowed at the National Collegiate Girls' Tennis Championships.[54] The four women's rowing titles won in the 1980s were bestowed by the National Women's Rowing Association. The names of the nine women who won the 1984 women's novice eights rowing title have not been retrieved.
| NCAA individual championships* | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order | School year | Athlete(s) | Sport | Source |
| 1 | 1921–22 | Jack Merchant | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 2 | 1921–22 | Jack Merchant | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 3 | 1921–22 | Allen Norris | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 4 | 1924–25 | Gervais Hills Gerald Stratford | Men's tennis | [52][56] |
| 5 | 1924–25 | Edward Chandler | Men's tennis | [52][56] |
| 6 | 1924–25 | Oather Hampton | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 7 | 1925–26 | Edward Chandler | Men's tennis | [52][53][56] |
| 8 | 1925–26 | Edward Chandler Tom Stow | Men's tennis | [52][53][56] |
| 1928–29 | Josephine Cruickshank | Women's tennis doubles | [54] | |
| 1929–30 | Josephine Cruickshank | Women's tennis singles | [54] | |
| 1929–30 | Josephine Cruickshank | Women's tennis doubles | [54] | |
| 9 | 1929–30 | Dolf Muehelisen Robert Muench | Men's tennis | [52][56] |
| 10 | 1929–30 | Kenny Churchill | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 11 | 1930–31 | Kenny Churchill | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 1930–31 | Charlotte Miller | Women's tennis doubles | [54] | |
| 12 | 1934–35 | Richard Bennett Paul Newton | Men's tennis | [52][56] |
| 13 | 1935–36 | Archie Williams | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 14 | 1936–37 | Richard Bennett Paul Newton | Men's tennis | [52][56] |
| 15 | 1938–39 | Douglas Imhoff Robert Peacock | Men's tennis | [52][56] |
| 16 | 1939–40 | Martin Biles | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 17 | 1940–41 | Martin Biles | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 18 | 1940–41 | Guinn Smith | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 19 | 1941–42 | Robert Biles | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 20 | 1941–42 | Hal Davis | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 21 | 1941–42 | Hal Davis | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 22 | 1942–43 | Hal Davis | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 23 | 1942–43 | Hal Davis | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 24 | 1947–48 | Charlie Thompson | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 25 | 1948–49 | Charlie Thompson | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 26 | 1951–52 | Clifton Mayne Hugh Ditzler | Men's tennis | [56] |
| 27 | 1951–52 | Bentley Lyon | Wrestling | [58] |
| 28 | 1951–52 | George Roseme | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 29 | 1953–54 | Lawrence Anderson | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 30 | 1956–57 | Don Bowden | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 31 | 1958–59 | Art Shurlock | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 32 | 1959–60 | James Fairchild | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 33 | 1960–61 | Paul Davis | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 34 | 1960–61 | James Fairchild | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 35 | 1961–62 | Paul Davis | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 36 | 1961–62 | Roger Olson | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 37 | 1963–64 | Al Courchesne Dave Fishback Forrest Beaty Dave Archibald | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 38 | 1964–65 | Chuck Glenn Dave Fishback Forrest Beaty Dave Archibald | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 39 | 1964–65 | Dan Millman | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 40 | 1966–67 | Josh Robinson | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 41 | 1967–68 | Sidney Freudenstein | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 42 | 1968–69 | Dan Bowels | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 43 | 1969–70 | Eddie Hart | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 44 | 1974–75 | Tom Beach | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 45 | 1975–76 | Tom Beach | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 46 | 1975–76 | Ed Miller | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 47 | 1976–77 | Graham Smith | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 48 | 1976–77 | Graham Smith | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 49 | 1977–78 | Peter Rocca Graham Smith Pär Arvidsson Jim Fairbank | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 50 | 1977–78 | Peter Rocca | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 51 | 1977–78 | Graham Smith | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 52 | 1978–79 | Peter Rocca Graham Smith Pär Arvidsson Per Holmertz | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 53 | 1978–79 | Pär Arvidsson | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 54 | 1978–79 | Pär Arvidsson | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 55 | 1978–79 | Peter Rocca | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 56 | 1978–79 | Graham Smith | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 57 | 1978–79 | Graham Smith | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 58 | 1978–79 | Graham Smith | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 59 | 1979–80 | Pär Arvidsson | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 60 | 1979–80 | Pär Arvidsson | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 1979–80 | Katie Stone Renee Russak Joy Stockton Leanne Cox Barb O'Neill Nancy Denison Kathy Moeller Alice Lee Nan Bernadou (cox) | Women's rowing varsity eight | [60][61] | |
| 1979–80 | Connie Carpenter Signe Wallen Jennifer Scott Pauline Velez Robin Kneeland (cox) | Women's rowing varsity four | [61] | |
| 1980–81 | Signe Wallen Jennifer Scott Pauline Velez two unknown others | Women's rowing varsity four | [62][63] | |
| 61 | 1980–81 | Mark Bergman | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 62 | 1980–81 | Larry Cowling | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 63 | 1981–82 | Paolo Revelli P.A. Magnusson Todd Trowbridge Per Holmertz | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 64 | 1981–82 | Per Holmertz | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 65 | 1981–82 | Randall Wickstrom | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 66 | 1982–83 | Mary Meagher | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 1983–84 | nine unknown women | Women's rowing novice eight | ||
| 67 | 1984–85 | Thomas Lejdström Michael Söderlund Bengt Baron Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 68 | 1984–85 | Michael Söderland Thomas Lejdström Bengt Baron Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 69 | 1984–85 | Conny van Bentum | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 70 | 1984–85 | Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 71 | 1984–85 | Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 72 | 1984–85 | Mary Meagher | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 73 | 1984–85 | Mary Meagher | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 74 | 1985–86 | Tommy Werner Thomas Lejdström Michael Söderlund Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 75 | 1985–86 | Tommy Werner Thomas Lejdström Michael Söderland Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 76 | 1985–86 | Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 77 | 1985–86 | Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 78 | 1985–86 | Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 79 | 1985–86 | Mary Meagher | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 80 | 1985–86 | Conny van Bentum | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 81 | 1986–87 | Tommy Werner Joel Thomas Terry DeBiase Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 82 | 1986–87 | Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 83 | 1986–87 | Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 84 | 1986–87 | Matt Biondi | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 85 | 1986–87 | Sheila Hudson | Women's outdoor track and field | [65] |
| 86 | 1986–87 | Mary Meagher | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 87 | 1986–87 | Mary Meagher | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 88 | 1987–88 | Sheila Hudson | Women's outdoor track and field | [65] |
| 89 | 1987–88 | Hiroko Nagasaki | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 90 | 1987–88 | Kari Nisula | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 91 | 1989–90 | Sheila Hudson | Women's indoor track and field | [66] |
| 92 | 1989–90 | Sheila Hudson | Women's indoor track and field | [66] |
| 93 | 1989–90 | Doug Eisenman Matt Lucena | Men's tennis | [56] |
| 94 | 1989–90 | Sheila Hudson | Women's outdoor track and field | [65] |
| 95 | 1989–90 | Sheila Hudson | Women's outdoor track and field | [65] |
| 96 | 1990–91 | Matt Lucena Bent-Ove Pedersen | Men's tennis | [56] |
| 97 | 1992–93 | Chris Huffins | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 98 | 1993–94 | Jason Bertram | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 99 | 1993–94 | Uğur Taner | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 100 | 1994–95 | Uğur Taner | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 101 | 1995–96 | Uğur Taner | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 102 | 1997-98 | Amanda Augustus Amy Jensen | Women's tennis | [67] |
| 103 | 1997–98 | Josh Birckelbaw | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 104 | 1998-99 | Amanda Augustus Amy Jensen | Women's tennis | [67] |
| 105 | 1998–99 | Marylyn Chiang | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 106 | 1998–99 | Bartosz Kizierowski | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 107 | 1999–00 | Matthew Macedo Anthony Ervin Bartosz Kizierowski Lars Merseburg | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 108 | 1999–00 | Anya Kolbisen Haley Cope Nicole Omphroy Joscelin Yeo | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 109 | 1999–00 | Haley Cope Staciana Stitts Waen Minapraphal Joscelin Yeo | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 110 | 1999–00 | Claire Curran Amy Jensen | Women's tennis | [67] |
| 111 | 1999–00 | Michael Ashe | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 112 | 1999–00 | Anthony Ervin | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 113 | 1999–00 | Anthony Ervin | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 114 | 1999–00 | Bevan Hart | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 115 | 2000–01 | Michael Ashe | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 116 | 2000–01 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 117 | 2000–01 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 118 | 2000–01 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 119 | 2000–01 | Anthony Ervin | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 120 | 2001–02 | Duje Draganja Anthony Ervin Matthew Macedo Mattias Ohlin | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 121 | 2001–02 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 122 | 2001–02 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 123 | 2001–02 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 124 | 2001–02 | Anthony Ervin | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 125 | 2001–02 | Cody Moore | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 126 | 2002–03 | Duje Draganja Milorad Čavić Joe Bruckart Anthony Ervin | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 127 | 2002–03 | Christina Fusano Raquel Atawo | Women's tennis | [67] |
| 128 | 2002–03 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 129 | 2002–03 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 130 | 2002–03 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 131 | 2002–03 | Duje Draganja | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 132 | 2003–04 | Natalie Coughlin Erin Reilly Ashley Chandler Lauren Medina | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 133 | 2003–04 | Graham Ackerman | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 134 | 2003–04 | Graham Ackerman | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 135 | 2003–04 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 136 | 2003–04 | Natalie Coughlin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 137 | 2003–04 | Sarah Huarte | Women's golf | [68] |
| 138 | 2004–05 | Erin Cafaro Mara Allen Erin Reinhardt Iva Obradović Kim Atkinson Laura Terheyden Kaylan Vander Jelena Djukic Remy Hitomi | Rowing | [69] |
| 139 | 2004–05 | Duje Draganja Rolandas Gimbutis Jonas Tilly Milorad Čavić | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 140 | 2004–05 | Duje Draganja Milorad Čavić Jonas Tilly Rolandas Gimbutis | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 141 | 2004–05 | Milorad Čavić Henrique Barbosa Duje Draganja Rolandas Gimbutis | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 142 | 2004–05 | Graham Ackerman | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 143 | 2004–05 | Duje Draganja | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 144 | 2004–05 | Duje Draganja | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 145 | 2005–06 | Suzi Babos | Women's tennis | [67] |
| 146 | 2005–06 | Henrique Barbosa | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 147 | 2005–06 | Henrique Barbosa | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 148 | 2005–06 | Jessica Hardy | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 149 | 2005–06 | Tim McNeill | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 150 | 2005–06 | Helen Silver | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 151 | 2006–07 | Emily Silver Erin Reilly Jessica Hardy Dana Vollmer | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 152 | 2006–07 | Dana Vollmer Emily Silver Blake Hayter Erin Reilly | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 153 | 2006–07 | Lauren Rogers Jessica Hardy Dana Vollmer Emily Silver | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 154 | 2006–07 | Kelechi Anyanwu | Women's outdoor track and field | [65] |
| 155 | 2006–07 | Jessica Hardy | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 156 | 2006–07 | Alysia Montaño | Women's indoor track and field | [66] |
| 157 | 2006–07 | Alysia Montaño | Women's outdoor track and field | [65] |
| 158 | 2006–07 | Tim McNeill | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 159 | 2006–07 | Tim McNeill | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 160 | 2006–07 | Patrick O'Neil | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 161 | 2006–07 | Dana Vollmer | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 162 | 2007–08 | Tim McNeill | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 163 | 2007–08 | Tim McNeill | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 164 | 2007–08 | Katie Morgan | Women's outdoor track and field | [65] |
| 165 | 2008–09 | Hannah Wilson Liv Jensen Erica Dagg Dana Vollmer | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 166 | 2008–09 | Sara Isaković Hannah Wilson Liv Jensen Dana Vollmer | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 167 | 2008–09 | Mari Andersson Jana Juricová | Women's tennis | [67] |
| 168 | 2008–09 | Nathan Adrian | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 169 | 2008–09 | Nathan Adrian | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 170 | 2008–09 | Damir Dugonjič | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 171 | 2008–09 | Martin Marić | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 172 | 2008–09 | Evan Roth | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 173 | 2008–09 | Amanda Sims | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 174 | 2008–09 | Dana Vollmer | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 175 | 2008–09 | Dana Vollmer | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 176 | 2009–10 | Nathan Adrian Graeme Moore Joshua Daniels Guy Barnea | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 177 | 2009–10 | Graeme Moore Joshua Daniels Tom Shields Nathan Adrian | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 178 | 2009–10 | Guy Barnea Damir Dugonjič Graeme Moore Joshua Daniels | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 179 | 2009–10 | Guy Barnea Damir Dugonjič Tom Shields Nathan Thomas | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 180 | 2009–10 | Nathan Adrian | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 181 | 2009–10 | Damir Dugonjič | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 182 | 2009–10 | Liv Jensen | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 183 | 2009–10 | Tom Shields | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 184 | 2010–11 | Becca Lindquist Kyndal Mancho Charlotte Palmer Catherine Shannon Lynn Anderson | Rowing | [69] |
| 185 | 2010–11 | Graeme Moore Joshua Daniels Tom Shields Nathan Adrian | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 186 | 2010–11 | Guy Barnea Damir Dugonjič Graeme Moore Nathan Adrian | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 187 | 2010–11 | Guy Barnea Damir Dugonjič Tom Shields Nathan Adrian | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 188 | 2010–11 | Hannah Wilson Colleen Fotsch Erica Dagg Liv Jensen | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 189 | 2010–11 | Cindy Tran Caitlin Leverenz Colleen Fotsch Liv Jensen | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 190 | 2010–11 | Cindy Tran Caitlin Leverenz Amanda Sims Liv Jensen | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 191 | 2010–11 | Nathan Adrian | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 192 | 2010–11 | Nathan Adrian | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 193 | 2010–11 | Damir Dugonjič | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 194 | 2010–11 | Jana Juricová | Women's tennis | [67] |
| 195 | 2010–11 | Michael Morrison | Men's outdoor track and field | [55] |
| 196 | 2010–11 | Tom Shields | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 197 | 2010–11 | Amanda Sims | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 198 | 2010–11 | Cindy Tran | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 199 | 2011–12 | Tyler Messerschmidt Shayne Fleming Fabio Gimondi Seth Stubblefield | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 200 | 2011–12 | Mathias Gydesen Nolan Koon Tom Shields Tyler Messerschmidt | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 201 | 2011–12 | Cindy Tran Caitlin Leverenz Colleen Fotsch Liv Jensen | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 202 | 2011–12 | Cindy Tran Caitlin Leverenz Sara Isaković Katherine Raatz | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 203 | 2011–12 | Will Hamilton | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 204 | 2011–12 | Glen Ishino | Men's gymnastics | [57] |
| 205 | 2011–12 | Sara Isaković | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 206 | 2011–12 | Liv Jensen | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 207 | 2011–12 | Caitlin Leverenz | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 208 | 2011–12 | Caitlin Leverenz | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 209 | 2011–12 | Tom Shields | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 210 | 2011–12 | Tom Shields | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 211 | 2011–12 | Marcin Tarczyński | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 212 | 2011–12 | Cindy Tran | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 213 | 2012–13 | Aggie Nowinski Erica Rippe Paparangi Hipango Kara Kohler Jenn Helssen Kendall Chase Maggie Simpson Clair Premzic Rachel Ersted | Rowing | [69] |
| 214 | 2012–13 | Rachel Bootsma | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 215 | 2012–13 | Max Homa | Men's golf | [70] |
| 216 | 2012–13 | Caitlin Leverenz | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 217 | 2012–13 | Elizabeth Pelton | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 218 | 2012–13 | Tom Shields | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 219 | 2012–13 | Tom Shields | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 220 | 2013–14 | Dorothee Beckendorff Stephanie Kraemer Charlotte Passot Anne Duval Mary Thomasmyer | Rowing | [69] |
| 221 | 2013–14 | Tyler Messerschmidt Ryan Murphy Tony Cox Seth Stubblefield | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 222 | 2013–14 | Ryan Murphy Chuck Katis Tony Cox Tyler Messerschmidt | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 223 | 2013–14 | Rachael Acker Caroline Piehl Elizabeth Pelton Missy Franklin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 224 | 2013–14 | Ryan Murphy Chuck Katis Marcin Tarczyński Seth Stubblefield | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 225 | 2013–14 | Missy Franklin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 226 | 2013–14 | Ryan Murphy | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 227 | 2013–14 | Ryan Murphy | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 228 | 2014–15 | Ryan Murphy Chuck Katis Justin Lynch Tyler Messerschmidt | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 229 | 2014–15 | Kaylin Bing Missy Franklin Rachel Bootsma Farida Osman | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 230 | 2014–15 | Cierra Runge Camille Cheng Elizabeth Pelton Missy Franklin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 231 | 2014–15 | Rachel Bootsma Marina García Noemie Thomas Farida Osman | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 232 | 2014–15 | Rachel Bootsma | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 233 | 2014–15 | Missy Franklin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 234 | 2014–15 | Missy Franklin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 235 | 2014–15 | Missy Franklin | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 236 | 2014–15 | Ryan Murphy | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 237 | 2014–15 | Ryan Murphy | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 238 | 2015–16 | Francis Wood Kendall Ritter Hunter Deuel Eleanor Howe Riley Brown | Rowing | [69] |
| 239 | 2015–16 | Sarah Schwartz Katherine Kelly Charlotte Passot Ellen Heile Dana Moffat Sydney Payne Roisin Duffy Charlotte Wesselmann Rachel Lether | Rowing | [69] |
| 240 | 2015–16 | Farida Osman Kristen Vredeveld Valarie Hull Amy Bilquist | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 241 | 2015–16 | Rachel Bootsma | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 242 | 2015–16 | Ryan Murphy | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 243 | 2015–16 | Ryan Murphy | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 244 | 2015–16 | Josh Prenot | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 245 | 2016–17 | Abbey Weitzeil Maddie Murphy Amy Bilquist Farida Osman | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 246 | 2016–17 | Kathleen Baker Abbey Weitzeil Noemie Thomas Farida Osman | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 247 | 2016–17 | Kathleen Baker | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 248 | 2016–17 | Kathleen Baker | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 249 | 2016–17 | Kathleen Baker | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 250 | 2016–17 | Ryan Murphy | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 251 | 2016–17 | Ryan Murphy | Men's swimming and diving | [59] |
| 252 | 2016–17 | Farida Osman | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
| 253 | 2017–18 | Hannah Christopher Charlotte Wesselmann Mia Croonquist Juliane Faralisch Dana Moffat Chloe Betts Maddison Brown Sydney Payne Bea Bliemel | Rowing | [69] |
| 254 | 2017–18 | Riley Brown Alex Floyd Ellen Heile Katie De Haas Zoe Feist | Rowing | [69] |
| 255 | 2017–18 | Kathleen Baker | Women's swimming and diving | [64] |
* Including pre-NCAA men's and women's tennis and women's rowing
California Ice Hockey Team is anACHA Division II program, competing in thePacific 8 Intercollegiate Hockey Conference.[71] The team is coached by Devin Cox, who took over as head coach in 2023.[72]
The University of California department of athletics sponsors a varsity women's volleyball program without a men's equivalent program at the NCAA/varsity level; therefore, California only competes in intercollegiate men's volleyball at the club level. Along with the men's club volleyball program, there is also a women's club team separate from the women's varsity team. According to the UC Berkeley Recreational Sports page, the club men's volleyball program has won a total of six national championships.[73] Occasionally, members of the club volleyball team will help the women's varsity volleyball team with practices and open scrimmages.[74][75]
The California taekwondo team has won 32 national team championships from 1976 through 2018 (includes 3 men's and one women's team titles prior to the adoption of overall scoring).[76][77]
California Memorial Stadium is the home field for California's football program. The venue opened in 1923 and seated between 72,000 and 80,000 fans until the 2010 football season (its final configuration before the renovation seated 71,799), making it northern California's largest football stadium in terms ofseating capacity;[78] however, the stadium's capacity dropped to 62,467 seats after the renovation was completed.
The Simpson Center (known as the Student Athlete High Performance Center or SAHPC during construction) is the new high-performance center for California's student athletes, located right next to California Memorial Stadium on Piedmont Avenue. The new center opened in the fall of 2011 and by January 2012, the final team (football) had moved into the facility. The Simpson Center is home to 13 of California's 32 intercollegiate athletic programs, including football, Men's Rugby, Women's Lacrosse, Men's and Women's Gymnastics, Men's and Women's Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Crew, Women's Field Hockey, and softball. According to the University of California, the facility is a 142,000-square-foot (13,200 m2) complex that will provide "year round access for over 450 student athletes."[79]
Walter A. Haas, Jr. Pavilion is the home of California's men's and women'sbasketball, women'svolleyball, and men's and women'sgymnastics teams. The arena is located in the middle of the main University of California sports complex, overlookingEvans Diamond (baseball) andEdwards Stadium (track/soccer). The arena was originally constructed in 1933 as theMen's Gym. It was renamed, in 1959,Harmon Gym afterOakland financier A.K.P. Harmon, who in 1879 donated the funds to build Cal's first indoor athletic facility. The playing surface, after being known as simply "Room 100" when the arena opened, was renamed Pete Newell Court in 1987 in honor ofPete Newell, who led Cal to the national championship in 1959. Proposals for replacing the old gym were bandied about from the 1970s onward, but sentiment was strongly in favor of its reconstruction. As a result, the arena was heavily renovated from 1997 to 1999 after a donation of about $11 million fromWalter A. Haas, Jr. ofLevi Strauss & Co., constructing a new seating bowl within the existing walls.
The Recreational Sports Facility is a 100,000 square foot athletics center that is attached to Haas Pavilion and is located on Bancroft Avenue. The RSF features many different rooms for many different activities including, but not limited to: basketball, weight lifting, racquetball, handball, squash, volleyball, and badminton. Attached to the facility is the RSF Field House which is home to many of California's club and intramural teams and has, in the past, hosted the Cal women's volleyball team while Haas Pavilion was under construction. Also attached to the RSF is the Spieker Aquatics Complex, which is home to the California men's and women's water polo and men's and women's swimming and diving programs.[80][81]
Evans Diamond is California's baseball stadium, it opened in 1933 and currently has aseating capacity of 2,500. Evans Diamond is located in the UC sports complex in the southwest corner of campus, pressed betweenEdwards Stadium to the west (right field) andHaas Pavilion to the east. Originally named Edwards Field, it was renamed afterClint Evans, the Cal head coach from 1930 to 1954. The stadium was renovated in 1992 at a cost of $275,000, paid for by the donations of UC alumni. Construction was done by RNT Landscaping, aSan Leandro landscaping company.[82] The stadium is considered inadequate to host regional and super regional games for the NCAA tournament because of its lack of lights.
Blue and gold have been Cal's official colors since 1875. The dark blue represents California's sky and ocean, andYale University, the alma mater of several of the university's founders, including its first president, Henry Durant. Gold is a reference to the state of California's nickname, the "Golden State."[84][85] The shade of gold varies from a more metallic gold on the university seal, and a yellow-gold (also known as California Gold) that is in use by the athletic department. Because of the university's use of blue and gold, the state of California's de facto colors were blue and gold from around 1913 to 1951 and became the official state colors in 1951.[86]
Since 1895, the athletic teams of the University of California have officially been known as the "California Golden Bears."[87]
TheUniversity of California Marching Band, usually shortened toCal Band, is themarching band for theUniversity of California, Berkeley. While the Cal Band is student-run, it is administered under the auspices of the university and represents Cal at sporting events and social gatherings. The name of the band is "The University of California Band" by the constitution, but is typically called "The University of California Marching Band" or "The Cal Band". When the band marches out of Memorial Stadium's North Tunnel for football pre-games, it is referred to as "The Pacesetter of College Marching Bands, the Pride of California". When in attendance at basketball games or other small sporting events, a smaller subset known as the "Straw Hat Band" represents the UC Marching Band.
Fight for California
Primary fight song
TheUniversity of California Rally Committee, usually shortened toRally Comm, is the official guardian of theUniversity of California's spirit and traditions. The committee is in charge of the protection of theStanford Axe (while Cal is in possession of it), the Bonfire Rally, the Cal flags, the California Victory Cannon, Homecoming Rally, the upkeep of theBig C, and many other spirit related activities. Rally Comm is completely student-run and can be found at almost every major sporting event and many other events throughout the Bay Area and country. The most distinguishing feature of the University of California Rally Committee are the blue and gold striped rugby shirts that serve as the official uniform of the committee.
The Bench is thestudent cheering section for theUniversity of California men's basketball team. Located insideHaas Pavilion, The Bench holds up to 900 students who cheer on their California Golden Bears at home basketball games. Students who sit on The Bench receive an annual Bench T-shirt each year and continue to makeHaas Pavilion one of the loudest basketball arenas in thePac-12 Conference.[88] The Bench prides itself on standing the entire game and ensuring that the arena is a hostile place for any opposing team to play.[89]
Although exact dates are not known, the tradition of The Bench was drastically changed in October 2000 when renovations onHaas Pavilion were completed and put a row of portable chairs between the student section and the court. University officials called the move necessary for the protection of referees and players, but students were angry at the move because it further removed them from the action.[90]
During the2024 college football season, Cal's online fanbase drew national attention for its unique and self-deprecating usage ofmemes on the websiteX (formerly Twitter). Known as the Calgorithm (coined by Jessica Smetana[91]), their humor largely played on the stereotype of Berkeley students asleft-leaning. It also relied heavily onAI generated images. The trend rose to prominence with a post directed atAuburn official twitter account after they lost to Cal declaring "You just lost to thewoke agenda." The image featured a picture of former Cal quarterbackFernando Mendoza alongsideKamala Harris,Joe Biden, Cal's mascotOski, and a rainbow. The post has received over 5 million views. Other posts referencedDEI andCritical race theory. A group of fans also created a parody ofChappell Roan's song "Hot to Go!" entitled "Ott to Go." The increased interest was cited as a contributing factor inCollege GameDay visiting Cal for the first time on October 5.[92][93][94]
California shares a traditional sports and academic rivalry with nearbyStanford University. Both schools operate in theSan Francisco Bay Area with the University of California in theEast Bay and Stanford inSanta Clara County. While the schools have a rich athletic rivalry with the football programs meeting 126 times, they also share an academic rivalry: the University of California, Berkeley, is commonly considered one of the best public university nationally while Stanford University is thought of as being one of the best private universities in the country. Athletic events between the two schools are usually signified by being the "Bigwhatever", examples include: the Big Game (football), Big Tip Off (basketball), Big Spike (Volleyball), Big Splash (Water Polo), Big Meet (Track & Field), Big Freeze (Club Ice Hockey), et cetera. Women's basketball does not follow the normal naming template for games between the two schools and is simply known as "The Battle of the Bay."
The annual football game features both teams vying for theStanford Axe.
TheStanford Axe is a trophy awarded to the winner of the annualBig Game, a college football match-up between theUniversity of California Golden Bears and theStanford University Cardinal. The trophy consists of an axe-head mounted on a large wooden plaque, along with the scores of past Big Games. California is currently in possession of the Axe after winning the 2024 Big Game in Berkeley.
| 72 years total: 31 years pre-trophy, 40 years as the Big Game Trophy (2 ties) | |
|---|---|
| 1899–1930, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950*, 1951, 1952, 1953*, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
| *In 1950, and 1953, the Big Game ended in a tie. Because California was already in possession of the Axe, it remained in Berkeley. | |
The World Cup is awarded to the winner of the annual rugby union series between the University of California Golden Bears and theUniversity of British ColumbiaThunderbirds. In rugby, California's traditional rival is British Columbia, not Stanford, which led to the creation of the World Cup. California was the 2013 World Cup winner, defeating UBC 28–18 in Berkeley on February 16, 2013, and 38–6 in Vancouver on March 24, 2013.[95][96]
Although California's main rival in rugby is British Columbia, the rivalry between California and Stanford in rugby has been going on for more than a century. The trophy awarded to the winner of the California-Stanford rugby match is known as the "Scrum Axe", which is a play on the "Stanford Axe", the trophy awarded to whichever school wins the annual rugby contest. California retained its hold on the Scrum Axe on January 26, 2013, in Berkeley, winning their 17th straight meeting over the Cardinal 176–0.[97]
Throughout the years, the University of California has been well represented in the Summer Olympic games with Cal athletes winning 90 gold medals, 40 silver medals, and 28 bronze medals. Despite the fact that the university sponsors no sports that compete in the Winter Olympics, California does have 1 gold medalist from the1928 Winter Games.
At the2016 Summer Olympics, California's at the time enrolled students won at total of 18 medals, including 9 gold ones. Sixteen of those medals were won in swimming.[98]
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Olympics | 90 | 40 | 28 | 158 |
| Winter Olympics | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals (2 entries) | 91 | 40 | 28 | 159 |
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