UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

Those affiliated with UCSB, including alumni, faculty, and students in addition to the athletic teams, have previously gone under the nicknames Hilltoppers and Roadrunners.{{Cite news |date=September 19, 1934 |title=STUDENTS CHANGE SCHOOL EMBLEM |url=https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/t722h982q |newspaper=El Gaucho |volume=XIV |issue=1 |page=1 |access-date=October 4, 2018}} In September 1934, the student body voted to change the Roadrunners moniker to the Gauchos, which also applied to the athletic teams. Students felt the name more suited the campus's and Santa Barbara, California-area's Spanish architecture, Mission Santa Barbara, and the Gaucho was "essentially Spanish".{{Cite news |date=September 19, 1934 |title=El Gaucho |url=https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/t722h982q |newspaper=El Gaucho |volume=XIV |issue=1 |page=2 |access-date=October 4, 2018}} The school marked the change with a small ceremony of four horse-riders before a football game's kickoff.{{Cite news |date=September 26, 1934 |title=Gauchos Appear At Game Friday For Ceremony |url=https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/dj52w574m |newspaper=El Gaucho |volume=XIV |issue=2 |page=1 |access-date=October 4, 2018}} Later, others attributed the change as inspired by Douglas Fairbanks' role in the eponymous film, The Gaucho.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/fan_zone/Locos/nickname |title=Nickname "Gauchos" |website=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos |access-date=October 4, 2018}}{{Cite news |last=Rivas |first=Paul |date=April 21, 2009 |title=The Men Behind the Myths |url=https://www.independent.com/news/2009/apr/21/men-behind-myths/ |newspaper=Santa Barbara Independent |access-date=October 4, 2018}}

The earliest teams representing UC Santa Barbara, then known as Santa Barbara State Teachers College, appeared in the 1920s with football and basketball followed shortly by baseball.{{Cite book |last=Stadtman |first=Verne A. |title=The Centennial Record of the University of California |url=https://oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=hb4v19n9zb&brand=oac4&doc.view=entire_text |year=1967 |page=34 |access-date=October 4, 2018}}

UCSB was one of four founding members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, which first took place during the 1938–39 school year.{{Cite news |date=June 10, 1938 |title=Harder Explains New 2c2a Setup for Coming Years |url=https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/7s75dd37f |newspaper=El Gaucho |volume=XVII |issue=55 |page=1 |access-date=October 9, 2018}} The association sponsored 10 sports and served as a catalyst for UCSB to elevate sports previously classified as "minor" to equal standing as "major", which provided a level playing field for all UCSB-sponsored teams.{{Cite news |date=September 16, 1938 |title=2c2a Group Plans Major Classes |url=https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/8c97kr347 |newspaper=El Gaucho |volume=XVIII |issue=2 |page=4 |access-date=October 9, 2018}}

In 1969, UC Santa Barbara was a founding member of the Big West Conference, then known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.{{Cite news |date=June 11, 1968 |title=California Colleges Form New Conference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7688704/pacific_coast_athletic_association/ |newspaper=The San Bernardino Sun |location=San Bernardino, California |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=December 2, 2016}} {{Free access}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.bigwest.org/history/ |title=About The Big West Conference |website=Big West Conference |access-date=December 2, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010810235116/http://www.bigwest.org/history/ |archive-date=August 10, 2001 }}{{Cite news |date=June 4, 1988 |title=PCAA to Change Name to Big West |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-04-sp-3898-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 2, 2016}}

Along with a consortium of teams from the Big West Conference, Western Athletic Conference, and Pac-10 Conference, UC Santa Barbara was a founding member of the regional Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in 1992.{{Cite news |last=Snouffer |first=Eric |date=March 9, 1992 |title=UNM Joins Soccer 'Super Conference' |url=https://newspapers.com/image/156272007 |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |volume=112 |issue=69 |page=C1 |access-date=June 6, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Lundeberg |first=Steve |date=August 28, 1992 |title=Beaver men take old style into new league |url=https://newspapers.com/image/442634525 |newspaper=Albany Democrat-Herald |location=Albany, Oregon |volume=127 |issue=207 |page=15 |access-date=June 6, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com}}

{{Main|UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball}}

File:UCSB baseball dugout.jpg

Potentially one of the oldest teams the Gauchos field, baseball can date back to at least 1922. The first known head coach is Kenneth Bolton, who coached in only the 1922 season before handing the reins to O. J. Gilliland in 1923.{{cite book |year=1967 |editor-last=Stadtman |editor-first=Verne A. |title=The Centennial Record of the University of California |url=http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=hb4v19n9zb&brand=calisphere&doc.view=entire_text}}{{Cite web |url=http://static.psbin.com/9/6/l5vb7nflamp7yr/2014BSBRecordBook.pdf |title=2014 Record Book |page=19 |publisher=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos |access-date=September 11, 2014}} The Gauchos have appeared in 13 NCAA Division I baseball tournaments.

Numerous Major League Baseball all-stars and World Series champions have come through the ranks including Shane Bieber, Skip Schumaker, Chris Speier, Michael Young, and Barry Zito.

Both the UCSB men's and women's basketball teams play at the UCSB Events Center, commonly known as the Thunderdome.

{{Main|UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's basketball}}

File:4K Video Board.tif

UCSB Men's Basketball had its best years in the late '80s and early '90s under coach Jerry Pimm, highlighted by a 77–70 victory over then No. 2 and eventual National Champion UNLV in 1990, and NCAA tournament appearances in 1988 (lost to Maryland) and 1990 (defeated Houston 70–66 and lost to Michigan State 62–58). The Gauchos returned to the NCAA tournament in 2002 where they nearly upset powerhouse Arizona in the opening round. Over the years, a few of Pimm's assistants at UCSB have gone on to coach other major programs around the country, including Ben Howland (1982–1994) of UCLA and Jamie Dixon of Pittsburgh.

In the 2009–10 season, UCSB Men's Basketball was the regular season champion and final tournament champion in the Big West Conference, defeating Long Beach State. It won an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament and played 2nd seed Ohio State, losing to the Buckeyes. In 2010–2011, they placed fifth in the regular season. They defeated Long Beach State in the tournament final for the second year in a row. The Gauchos were the lowest seed to win the Big West Tournament since sixth-seeded San Jose State toppled Utah State in 1996. They played the 2nd seed Florida Gators and lost. It was the first time UCSB entered an NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons.

Famous Gauchos men's basketball players are Brian Shaw, Conner Henry, Alex Harris, Lucius Davis, Don Ford, James Nunnally, and Orlando Johnson.

{{Main|UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's basketball}}

In 2005, UCSB Women's Basketball won its unprecedented ninth straight Big West Conference Championship. The team had its best year in history during the 2004 season when it advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 where it lost to eventual champion UConn. UCSB was the only team to hold UConn to less than a double-digit victory in the NCAA playoffs. From 2000 to 2005, Tasha McDowell served as an assistant coach.

In the 2012 Big West Tournament, the UCSB women's basketball team became the first 6th seed to win the tournament. In the first round, the team traveled to UC Irvine and defeated the 3rd-seeded Anteaters 61–51.{{cite web|url=http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/w-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20120307k4w2fc |title=Gauchos Knock off UC Irvine in Big West Tournament's First round: Santa Barbara Athletics |publisher=UCSBGauchos.com |date=2012-03-06 |access-date=2015-10-14}} The Gauchos continued on their playoff march against the Pacific Tigers in the semifinals hosted at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. Pacific swept UCSB in the regular season, but the Gauchos were victorious when it mattered the most as they bounced the Tigers out of the tournament with an overwhelming 84-66 decision.{{cite web|url=http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/w-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20120309f1too8 |title=Complete Game Effort Sends Gauchos to Big West Tournament Title Game: Santa Barbara Athletics |publisher=UCSBGauchos.com |date=2012-03-09 |access-date=2015-10-14}} The 84-point output currently stands as the most points the Gauchos have scored under head coach Carlene Mitchell. After defeating the number 3 seed and number 5 seed, the Gauchos ended up being the higher-ranked team in the championship game as they were set to face Long Beach State who pulled off two miraculous upsets of their own as the 7 seed. The Gauchos went on to capture its record 14th Big West crown with a 63–54 final tally.{{cite web|url=http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/w-baskbl/2011-12/releases/2012031030zvr1 |title=Big West Champs!!!: Santa Barbara Athletics |publisher=UCSBGauchos.com |date=2012-03-10 |access-date=2015-10-14}} Gaucho center Kirsten Tilleman had a double-double (16 points and 11 rebounds) against the 49ers, which earned her the tournament MVP honors.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=15635 |title=Women's Basketball |publisher=bigwest.org |date=2012-10-03 |access-date=2015-10-14}} She was also included on the All-Tournament team roster along with her teammate sophomore guard Melissa Zornig, who averaged 16.7 points per game in the tournament. The 2011-2012 Gauchos' season ended in the first round of the NCAA tournament where they fell 81–40 against the eventual national champion Baylor.{{cite web|url=http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/w-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20120318dq0zed |title=No. 1 Baylor Too Much for Gauchos: Santa Barbara Athletics |publisher=UCSBGauchos.com |date=2012-03-18 |access-date=2015-10-14}}

Famous Gauchos women's basketball players are Kristen Mann currently plays in the WNBA and Mekia Valentine was drafted by the New York Liberty in the 2011 WNBA draft.

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's cross country team appeared in the NCAA tournament two times, with their highest finish being 17th place in the 2001–02 school year.{{cite web |title=Division I Men's Cross Country Championships Records Book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_cross_country_champs_records/2018-19/D1.pdf |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=5 August 2018}} The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's cross country team appeared in the NCAA tournament four times, with their highest finish being 9th place in the 2006–07 school year.{{cite web |title=Division I Women's Cross Country Championships Records Book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_cross_country_champs_records/2018-19/D1.pdf |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=5 August 2018}}

{{Main|UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer}}

{{see also|List of UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer seasons}}

In 2004, the UCSB men's soccer team advanced to the College Cup. It routed Duke in the semifinals 5–0, but lost in the championship match to Indiana on penalties

In 2006, UCSB again advanced to the College Cup. In the semi-finals, UCSB and 2nd seed Wake Forest played to a 0–0 tie before UCSB won the game on penalty kicks 4–3. In the championship game, UCSB defeated UCLA 2-1{{cite web |title=National Champions!!! |url=http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/120306aaa.html |date=3 December 2006 |work=UC Santa Barbara Athletics |access-date=21 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013234229/http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/120306aaa.html |archive-date=13 October 2007 }} to win its first NCAA Men's Soccer title and its second NCAA championship (1979 Men's Water Polo) in school history.{{cite web |title=Gauchos Complete Amazing Run to Earn Program's First NCAA national championship, Defeat UCLA 2-1 |url=http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/120306aab.html |date=3 December 2006 |work=UC Santa Barbara Athletics |access-date=21 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723091142/http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/120306aab.html |archive-date=23 July 2008 }}

In conference play, the Gauchos have dominated Big West competition. They have won the Big West Championship in 5 of the last 7 years. Also, the Gauchos have had no less than 5 former players receive full international caps.

The Gauchos have led the NCAA in attendance each year from 2007 to 2012 and averaged 5,873 fans during their 2010 home matches.NCAA Soccer, Men's Attendance Records, Annual Home Attendance Champions, http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_soccer_RB/2011/attend.pdfUCSBGauchos.com, UCSB Leads National Soccer Attendance for Sixth Year, Jan. 15, 2013, http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-soccer/2012-13/releases/20130115fuef6v The Gauchos Sep. 24, 2010 match against UCLA drew 15,896 fans, the highest attendance for an NCAA soccer match since the year 2000.NCAA Soccer, Men's Attendance Records, All-Time Largest Crowds, http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_soccer_RB/2011/attend.pdf

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team has an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 23–13–1 through sixteen appearances.{{cite web |title=Division I Men's Soccer Championships Records Book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_soccer_champs_records/2017/D1.pdf |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=22 July 2018}}

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's soccer team has an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 5–9 through nine appearances.{{cite web |title=Division I Women's Soccer Championships Records Book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_soccer_champs_records/2017/D1.pdf |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=25 July 2018}}

File:UCSB men's soccer team at the White House 2007-06-18.jpg at the White House]]

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's softball team has an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 2–8 through four appearances. The Gauchos won their first NCAA tournament game in 2025.{{cite web |title=Division I Softball Championships Records Book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/softball_champs_records/2018/D1.pdf |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=11 February 2019}}

File:Campus Pool (UC Santa Barbara).jpg

Based out of Campus Pool on the UCSB campus, the swimming program has seen its fair share of success. For 40 seasons Gregg Wilson was the head coach of the men's and women's swimming teams. Wilson posted a dual meet record of 292–208–1 (172–115 with the men, 120–92–1 with the women). Even more impressive, his squads have collected 36 Big West Conference Championships, 23 by his men's teams and 13 by his women's teams. Before the Texas Longhorns men's swim team broke it, the UCSB men's swim team set the NCAA record for most consecutive conference titles in any sport with 23 straight Big West Conference championships from 1979 to 2001. The men's teams have been ranked as high as 16th nationally and several of his swimmers over the years have advanced to the NCAA Championships. The men's team has turned in 38 All-American performances under Wilson.

The team is now led by Coach Matt Macedo, who took over the position in August 2016 (was an assistant coach for two years prior). The men's team earned back-to-back championship titles at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship (MPSF) in 2017 and 2018, while Macedo also earned the coach of the year award in his first year.

Notable alumni of the program include Olympic gold medalists Richard Schroeder, Jason Lezak, Sandy Neilson, Sophie Kamoun, former 50-meter freestyle world record holder Bruce Stahl (the first person to ever hold this world record), and Pat Cary.

File:Robertson Gymnasium (UC Santa Barbara) interior.jpg

The men's volleyball team has finished as the NCAA runner-up five times, most recently in 2011. The women's volleyball team plays at the UCSB Events Center, while the men's team plays at Robertson Gymnasium.

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's volleyball team has an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 21–28 through twenty-eight appearances.{{cite web |title=Division I Women's Volleyball Championship Records Book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_volleyball_champs_records/2017/D1.pdf |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=6 August 2018}}

UC Santa Barbara won the 1979 National Championship in men's water polo, defeating the UCLA Bruins by a score of 11–3.{{cite web |url=https://www.ncaa.com/history/waterpolo-men/nc |title=Championship History |publisher=NCAA |access-date=September 22, 2014}} This was UCSB's first-ever NCAA Division I championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/our_stories/Our_Stories_Videos/OS-MWP_National_Championship_Story |title=Our Stories: The First National Championship |date=November 30, 2012 |publisher=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos |access-date=September 22, 2014}} The program has produced several notable players including Craig Wilson, Greg Boyer, John Anderson, Brian Alexander, and Ross Sinclair, who have won multiple Olympic medals between the group. The current head coach is three-time Olympian and former United States men's national water polo team captain Wolf Wigo, who also oversees the UCSB women's water polo program.

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's water polo team has an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 7–11 through twelve appearances.{{cite web |title=National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championships Records Book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_water_polo_champs_records/2018/champs.pdf |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=8 August 2018}}

File:Univ santa barbara football team 1921.jpg

UCSB began playing intercollegiate football in 1921, playing as the "Roadrunners" on a field at Pershing Park. Theodore "Spud" Harder became coach in 1934; in the same year, the school adopted a new name, selecting "Gauchos" in a student vote. The 1936 team finished with a 9–1 record, the best in school history, and two of its members later played for the NFL's New York Giants.

La Playa Stadium, now used by Santa Barbara City College, opened in 1938 and was the team's home until 1966, when Harder Stadium was built.

"Cactus Jack" Curtice, who had been head coach at several major college programs, coached the team from 1963 to 1969. His 1965 team finished 8-1 and went to the Camellia Bowl. Under Curtice's successor, Andy Everest, the college decided to launch an NCAA Division I program, but after two seasons of dismal on-field performance and a lack of student support, the college changed directions and decided to drop the sport entirely in December 1971 after falling $40,000 below its estimated operating budget.{{Cite news |last=Eber |first=Rich |date=December 9, 1971 |title=Gaucho football comes to an end |pages=1 |work=Daily Nexus}}

The Gauchos appeared in four bowl games during 50 years, winning only once, in the 1948 Potato Bowl.John Zant, [http://www.independent.com/news/2015/apr/23/ucsbs-forgotten-football-history/ "UCSB’s Forgotten Football History"], Santa Barbara Independent, April 23, 2015.Gordon Monson, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-07-sp-4674-story.html "Gauchos Back in Saddle Again : UC Santa Barbara Strives to Corral Football Program Often Gone Astray"], Los Angeles Times, November 7, 1987.

• In 1930, UCSB finished 6–1–1. Overall, the team outscored its opponents 97–51 for the season.
• In 1936, the Gauchos finished the season with a record of 9–1, including 4–1 in the SCIAC, with the only blemish a one-point loss to league champion San Diego State. Overall, the team outscored its opponents 223–43 for the season. The Gauchos had five shutouts and held the other team to a touchdown or less in 8 of 10 games.
• In 1948, UCSB finished the season 6–5, including 2–3 in the CCAA. At the end of the season, the Gauchos played in the first Potato Bowl, in Bakersfield, California.{{efn|The Potato Bowl was played as a charity benefit in Bakersfield from 1948–1967. In later years, instead of four-year institutions it was played between Junior College teams. This Bowl game has no relation to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl which was founded in 1997.}} The Gauchos were Potato Bowl Champions versus Willamette University, 46–7.
• In 1950, the Gauchos finished 7–3 overall and 3–1 in the CCAA.
• In 1952, UCSB went 8–2 overall and 3–1 against the CCAA.
• In 1956, the Gauchos finished the season 5–5 overall and 1–1 in the CCAA. The Gauchos accepted an invitation to play in a charity bowl game. The game was the first and only Citricado Bowl,{{cite web|url=http://www.times-advocate.com/news/2016-12-01/Community_News/_ESCONDIDO_REFLECTIONS.html|title=Escondido Reflections: The year Escondido hosted a bowl game|author=Ron Kenney|access-date=February 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206024512/http://www.times-advocate.com/news/2016-12-01/Community_News/_ESCONDIDO_REFLECTIONS.html|archive-date=2017-02-06|url-status=dead}} played at Escondido High School in Escondido, California against a military team from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, which they lost 25–16 to the San Diego Marines.
• In 1957, the Gauchos finished the season with a record of 6–2 overall, including 1–1 in the CCAA.
• In 1964, UCSB went 4–7. For the season, they were outscored by their opponents 164–152. They played in an unsanctioned Aztec Bowl in Mexico City against a Mexican All-Star Team and lost 20–7.
• In 1965, the Gauchos finished the regular season 8–1. At the end of the season, the Gauchos qualified for a postseason bowl game, the 1965 Camellia Bowl, played in Sacramento, California. They lost the game against Cal State Los Angeles 18–10. That brought their final record to 8–2. For the 1965 season, they outscored their opponents 225–95. Jack Curtice won the AFCA Coach of the Year in Division II.

• In 1987, the Gauchos competed as a Division III football independent and compiled a record of 8–2, and outscored their opponents 237–107.
• In 1989, led by Mike Warren in his fourth and final season as head coach, the Gauchos compiled a record of 8–2 and outscored their opponents 313–150. The team again played as a D-III independent. Looming NCAA legislation, however, mandated that universities' athletic programs must all compete at the same divisional level. Warren finished his four-year stint as head coach with a record of 26–13 for a winning percentage of .667.
• A student-run club team started play in 1983, and in 1985 a student referendum approved funding for a Division III, non-scholarship team on a $65,000 budget. The team began play in 1987 and enjoyed some success on the field, with a 33–15 record from 1987 to 1991.
• In 1991, UCSB football moved up to Division II, with students paying $1 per quarter to generate a budget of $80,000 for the team. However, soon after in 1992, the NCAA decided to officially forbid schools playing in Division I in other sports from maintaining a lower-level football program, and UCSB dropped the sport again. The final outcome came in February 1992, as students voted by a margin of 54.1 percent (3,644) to 45.9 percent (3,089) against implementing a potential $9-per-quarter fee increase which would've enabled the football team to play at the Division I-AA (today known as FCS) level.{{Cite news |date=February 20, 1992 |title=Vote fails, UCSB football dropped |pages=B4 |work=San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune}}

• Jack Curtice won the AFCA Coach of the Year for the 1965 NCAA football season in NCAA Division II.
• Jack Curtice also won the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award for the 1972 NCAA football season.

• 1948 Potato Bowl - Bakersfield, CA vs. Willamette University, 46-7 Win
• 1956 Citricado Bowl - San Diego, CA vs. San Diego Marines, 16-7 Loss
• 1964 Aztec Bowl - Mexico City, CD, MX vs. Mexican All-Stars, 7-20 Loss
• 1965 Camellia Bowl - Sacramento, CA vs. Cal State LA (College Division N0. 4 ranked), 10-18 Loss

• Cal Poly

"Blue-Green Rivalry"

The Mustangs won the football rivalry 21-14, at a total of 35 games that were played between 1923 and 1971.

• San Diego State

In this 'Southern California Coastal Beach Town Rivalry' the Gauchos lost to 2 ranked Aztec teams in 1964 (SDSU NO.4) and 1970 (SDSU No.14). San Diego State Aztecs won the football rivalry 26-8-1 games, at a total of 35 games that were played between 1923 and 1971.

• UC Davis

In this 'Little UC- School Rivalry' The 2 UC schools' rivalry mirrors their older, larger 'UC brothers' (UC-Berkeley–UCLA Rivalry) in this Southern vs. Northern California UC School Rivalry. The Gauchos won the football rivalry 14-6-2 games, at a total of 22 games that were played between 1938 and 1965.

• Whittier College

This Local So. Cal Rivalry with the campuses approximately 120 miles apart from each other ran for 57 years on the gridiron. It is the longest running Rivalry years wise in UCSB football history. Whittier College Poets won the football rivalry 17-15-1 games, at a total of 33 games that were played between 1930 and 1987.

• Occidental College

Only 95 miles separate the 2 college campuses. In this Local So. Cal Rivalry the Occidental Tigers won the football rivalry 16-11-2 games, at a total of 29 games that were played between 1927 and 1961.

Numerous UC Santa Barbara athletic teams compete intercollegiately at the student club level without official sanction or sponsorship from the university's Athletic Department. While there are 450 students-athletes in ICA,{{cite web |title=UCSB Athletics Teams With Bridges of Hope International to Make Lasting Difference in South Africa |url=http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/genrel/092109aaa.html |date=21 September 2009 |work=UC Santa Barbara Athletics |access-date=21 September 2009}} there are over 700 in club (recreational) sports teams. Many of these teams are highly regarded and compete against intercollegiate teams across the United States. The Women's Water Polo team captured two Collegiate Club titles, in 1987 and 1989. The Rowing Team is the current National Champion for the second consecutive year (American Collegiate Rowing Association) and the Women's Team point Champion (2015).

The following teams compete in intercollegiate non-varsity club sports:

UC Santa Barbara men's lacrosse started in 1969 and has competed in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) from 1980-2009 and 2019-present, holding the record for most conference championships in the WCLL at 11 (1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2023, 2024, 2025).{{Cite web |date=2019-03-17 |title=History |url=https://gaucholacrossealumni.org/history/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Gaucho Lacrosse Alumni Association |language=en-US}} They also competed in the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference from 2010 to 2018.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-17 |title=History |url=https://gaucholacrossealumni.org/history/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Gaucho Lacrosse Alumni Association |language=en-US}} They lead the They won the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) national championship twice (2004 and 2005) and rank in the top 5 programs in history for both national championships won and national championship finals appearances.{{Cite web |url=http://mcla.us/tournaments/championships/d-i-championship-records |title=National Championships - MCLA |website=Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association |access-date=September 21, 2018}}

Rowing was started in 1965 as the first club sport at UC Santa Barbara, predating some of the university's intercollegiate athletic teams.{{Cite news |last=Moslander |first=Quinn |date=June 9, 2017 |title=UCSB Crew Making Waves, Men & Women Claim National Championships |url=http://dailynexus.com/2017-06-09/ucsb-crew-making-waves-men-women-claim-national-championships/ |newspaper=Daily Nexus |location=Santa Barbara, California |access-date=September 21, 2018}} It was followed in 1972 by a women's side. The Gauchos compete in the American Collegiate Rowing Association, where they've won numerous national championships.{{Cite magazine |last=Cassis |first=Lauren |title=Spotlight: UCSB Rowing |url=https://www.sbfitnessmagazine.com/articles/college-edition/ucsb-crew/ |magazine=SB Fitness Magazine |location=Santa Barbara, California |access-date=September 21, 2018}} The program has produced Olympic Games and national team members such as Amy Fuller.{{Cite news |last=Grunwald |first=Michael |date=August 21, 1992 |title=A Ripple Effect : Amy Fuller Claimed a Silver Medal in Rowing After a Chance Meeting Put Her on a New Course |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-21-sp-5492-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=September 21, 2018}}{{Cite news |last=Lynch |first=John |date=July 13, 1996 |title=A Woman With a Lot of Pull |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-13-sp-24827-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=September 21, 2018}}

UC Santa Barbara previously played host to the Santa Barbara International Rugby Tournament, once the largest rugby tournament in the world which drew teams locally and internationally.{{Cite news |last=Zant |first=John |date=December 24, 2009 |title=All Hail Rugby |url=https://www.independent.com/news/2009/dec/24/all-hail-rugby/ |newspaper=Santa Barbara Independent |access-date=October 8, 2018}} UCSB has produced several top rugby players, including international team members Bill Leversee, Stuart Krohn, and Kristine Sommer.{{Cite news |last=Silvas |first=Vanessa |date=April 19, 2009 |title=Honoring a Gaucho Rugby Star |url=https://www.independent.com/news/2009/apr/19/honoring-gaucho-rugby-star/ |newspaper=Santa Barbara Independent |access-date=October 8, 2018}} Others went on to success in other sports, such as Doug Oldershaw.

UC Santa Barbara and its campus is widely considered to be one of the top 5 "surf schools".{{Cite magazine |date=January 12, 2018 |title=Best Surf Colleges, No. 4: University of California Santa Barbara |url=https://www.surfer.com/features/best-surf-colleges-no-1-university-of-california-santa-barbara/ |magazine=Surfer |location=Carlsbad, California |access-date=May 5, 2012}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.theinertia.com/surf/the-2015-guide-to-surf-universities-which-surf-school-suits-you-best/ |title=The 2015 Guide to Surf Universities: Which Surf School Suits You Best? |last=Pitz |first=Taylor |date=April 14, 2015 |website=theinertia.com |access-date=May 5, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://mpora.com/surfing/8-best-surf-universities-in-the-world/3/ |title=8 Best Surf Universities In The World |date=May 8, 2014 |website=mpora.com |access-date=May 5, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.sandiegosurfingschool.com/blogs/surfing/100670918-top-10-surf-colleges/ |title=Top 10 Surf Colleges |website=sandiegosurfingschool.com |access-date=May 5, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.educationnews.com/2013/10/05/americas-10-best-surfing-universities/ |title=America's 10 Best Surfing Universities |date=October 5, 2013 |website=educationnews.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007161713/http://www.educationnews.com/2013/10/05/americas-10-best-surfing-universities/ |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=May 5, 2022}} The Gauchos compete in the National Scholastic Surfing Association. Since the organization's creation in 1978, UCSB has been the most successful collegiate program in history and has won 13 collegiate national championship trophies, the last coming in 2010.{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Seth |date=October 24, 1984 |title=National Surf Title Again Within Gauchos' Reach |url=https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/5425kb808 |newspaper=Daily Nexus |location=Santa Barbara, California |volume=65 |number=34 |page=13 |access-date=May 6, 2022}}{{Cite magazine |date=2015 |title=2015 National Championships Program |url=https://issuu.com/surfing-magazine/docs/surfing-nssa-guide2015-issuu |magazine=Surfing Magazine |location=San Clemente, California |access-date=May 5, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Lehrmann |first=Rebecca |date=July 14, 2010 |title=Surf Team Claims National Victory |url=https://dailynexus.com/2010-07-14/surf-team-claims-national-victory/ |newspaper=Daily Nexus |location=Santa Barbara, California |access-date=May 5, 2022}}

The Black Tide (men's team) and the Burning Skirts (women's team) are consistently top teams in the nation. The Black Tide is the most successful men's collegiate ultimate frisbee team in history and has won six national championships (1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998) through USA Ultimate's college championships.{{Cite web |url=http://collegechampionships.usaultimate.org/d1-men/history/ |title=D-I MEN HISTORY |website=USA Ultimate |access-date=September 18, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://ultimatehistory.com/history/teams-leagues/santa-barbara-ultimate-frisbee-teams/ucsb-black-tide/ |title=UCSB 'Black Tide' |website=ultimatehistory.com |access-date=September 18, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://ultiworld.com/2015/05/20/uc-santa-barbara-black-tide-returns-nationals-legacy-tow/ |title=UC Santa Barbara Black Tide Returns To Nationals With Legacy In Tow |last=Surmani |first=Alec |date=May 20, 2015 |website=ultiworld.com |access-date=September 18, 2018}}{{Cite book |last1=Leonardo |first1=Pasquale Anthony |last2=Zagoria |first2=Adam |year=2005 |title=Ultimate: The First Four Decades |isbn=0976449609 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RIlx4Jpa154C |access-date=September 18, 2018}} It's also the only men's team to win back-to-back-to-back championships, which it accomplished twice. The Burning Skirts have won five national championships (1988, 1990, 1991, 2009, 2011), one of only three teams to have ever won back-to-back championships.{{Cite web |url=http://collegechampionships.usaultimate.org/d1-women/history/ |title=D-I WOMEN HISTORY |website=USA Ultimate |access-date=September 18, 2018}}

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos competed in the NCAA tournament across 20 active sports (10 men's and 10 women's) 184 times at the Division I level.{{cite web|title=NCAA Championships Statistics|url=https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2021/2/9/statistics.aspx|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|access-date=10 April 2022}}

• Baseball (11): 1972, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1996, 2001, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019
• Men's basketball (7): 1988, 1990, 2002, 2010, 2011, 2021, 2023
• Women's basketball (14): 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012
• Men's cross country (2): 2001, 2006
• Women's cross country (4): 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007
• Men's golf (2): 1994, 1998
• Men's soccer (13): 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019
• Women's soccer (9): 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2008, 2009
• Softball (3): 2004, 2006, 2007
• Men's swimming and diving (22): 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007
• Women's swimming and diving (9): 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2008, 2009, 2014
• Men's tennis (14): 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Women's tennis (4): 1994, 1996, 2016, 2017
• Women's indoor track and field (2): 2012, 2019
• Men's outdoor track and field (13): 1948, 1949, 1950, 1956, 1960, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012
• Women's outdoor track and field (7): 1984, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2019
• Men's volleyball (7): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1988, 2011
• Women's volleyball (29): 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2019
• Men's water polo (12): 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1990
• Women's water polo (1): 2016

The Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara earned 2 NCAA championships at the Division I level.{{cite web|title=Championships Summary|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|access-date=20 May 2018}}

• Men's (2)
• Soccer (1): 2006
• Water polo (1): 1979

Results

UC Santa Barbara won 1 national championship at the NCAA Division II level.

• Men's swimming and diving: 1967

Below are twenty-eight national club team championships:

• Co-ed cycling (1): 1988 (USA Cycling)
• Co-ed sailing (1): 1984 (ICSA)
• Co-ed surfing (13): 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010 (NSSA)
• Men's ultimate (6): 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998 (USA Ultimate)
• Men's lacrosse (2): 2004, 2005 (MCLA)
• Women's ultimate (5): 1988, 1990, 1991, 2009, 2011 (USA Ultimate)

UC Santa Barbara had 1 Gaucho win an NCAA individual championship at the Division I level.

At the NCAA Division II level, UC Santa Barbara garnered 12 individual championships.

The official mascot of the UC Santa Barbara is Olé.{{cite web|url=http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/fan_zone/Locos/ole|title=Olé|publisher=ucsbgauchos.com|access-date=May 27, 2019}} In September 1934, the student body voted to change the Roadrunners moniker to the Gauchos, which also applied to the athletic teams. The mascot, Olé, is the costumed mascot representing the "Gauchos" nickname.

The school colors are "Pacific Blue" (Pantone 286) and "Gaucho Gold" (Pantone 130), with the occasional accent of "Navy Blue" (Pantone 275).{{cite web |url=http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/genrel/081909aaa.html |title=UCSB Unveils New Logos |date=August 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928073457/http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/genrel/081909aaa.html |archive-date=September 28, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2016}} In 2009, the program transformed, giving UCSB a new brand and visual identity. As a result, the UCSB athletic program released new logos, different colors, and a unified theme across all teams.

{{Main|Blue–Green Rivalry}}

The main rival of UC Santa Barbara is the Cal Poly Mustangs who compete together in the Blue–Green Rivalry. The Blue-Green Rivalry, which started in November 1921 with a football game, was formalized in 2009. This new format calculates earned points between UCSB and Cal Poly to determine a winner based on their teams' competitive results against each other.[http://www.bluegreenrivalry.com/landing/index] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029234852/http://www.bluegreenrivalry.com/landing/index|date=October 29, 2013}} Additionally, collegesoccernews.com ranked UC Santa Barbara vs. Cal Poly as the Greatest Rivalry in College Soccer.{{cite web |url=http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page2764.htm |title=The Fourteen Greatest Rivalries In College Soccer |website=collegesoccernews.com |access-date=January 5, 2016}}

UC Santa Barbara also has a long-standing "Beach School" rivalry with Long Beach State .{{cite web|url=http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20190227lkncmv|title=UCSB Plays Rival Long Beach State in Final Home Game of Season Thursday|publisher=ucsbgauchos.com|access-date=May 17, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/2013-14/releases/20140212b6qte1|title=UCSB Renews Rivalry at Long Beach Thursday, Hosts Northridge Saturday|publisher=ucsbgauchos.com|access-date=May 17, 2019}}

The UCSB Gauchos Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame was announced on December 8, 1959.{{Cite news |date=December 8, 1959 |title=GAUCHO HALL OF FAME |url=https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/0g354g36x |newspaper=El Gaucho |location=Santa Barbara, California |volume=XXXIX |number=21 |page=5 |access-date=September 13, 2021}} During the construction of Robertson Gymnasium, plans were in place to establish a Hall of Fame located in the new gymnasium.{{Cite news |date=October 14, 1958 |title=Tomorrow Proclaimed Block 'C' Day |url=https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/zc77sr19n |newspaper=El Gaucho |location=Santa Barbara, California |volume=XXXVIII |number=8 |page=3 |access-date=September 13, 2021}} Following the completion of Rob Gym, the inaugural class was announced as C. James Anderson, Sam Cathcart, Tom Guerrero, Doug Oldershaw, Ernie Saenz, and Howard Yeager.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ucsbgauchos.com/information/dare_to_be_great/gaucho_fund/gaucho_order/hall_of_fame |title=UCSB Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame |website=UC Santa Barbara Gauchos |access-date=September 13, 2021}}

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