Athletics
San Jose State University has participated in athletics since it first fielded a baseball team in 1890. SJSU sports teams are known as the Spartans, and compete in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in NCAA Division I.
San Jose State University sports teams have won NCAA titles in track and field, golf, and boxing. As of 2010, SJSU has won 10 NCAA team championships and produced 50 NCAA Division 1 individual champions. SJSU also has achieved an international reputation for its judo program, winning 43 out of 46 national collegiate championships in the sport (as of 2008).
SJSU alumni have won 18 Olympic medals (including seven gold medals) dating back to the first gold medal won by Willie Steel in track and field in the 1948 Olympics. Alumni also have won medals in swimming, judo and boxing.
The legendary track team coached by "Bud" Winter earned San Jose the nickname "Speed City," and produced Olympic medalists and social activists Lee Evans, John Carlos and Tommie Smith. Smith and Carlos are perhaps best remembered for giving the raised fist salute from the medalist's podium during the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City.
As of April 2012, current head coaches from the baseball, women’s golf, women’s gymnastics, men's soccer, women's soccer and women's swimming and diving programs had all received conference “Coach of the Year” honors.
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