UCLA BRUINS - Athletics News
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When it comes to athletic success, UCLA is at the top of the list. Over the 16 years, no school can match UCLA's combination of NCAA team and individual championships, football bowl games and men's basketball NCAA Tournament appearances. In April of 1997, Sports Illustrated named UCLA as the nation's No. 1 eJock' School.
In 1997-98, UCLA placed fourth nationally in competition for the fifth annual Sears Directors Cup. The cup recognizes the school with the best overall sports performance in an academic year and awards points based on finishes in NCAA competition. UCLA placed second in the Directors Cup race in 1995-96 and third in 1996-97, 1994-95 and 1993-94.
In 1997-98, UCLA added two NCAA titles and a collegiate championship to its victory total. The Bruins won their 17th NCAA crown in men's volleyball and their third in men's soccer. They also won a third consecutive national collegiate championship in women's water polo in just the fourth year of the program's existence. In addition, UCLA was also second in women's track, fifth in women's gymnastics, tied for fifth in women's soccer and men's tennis, sixth in men's track, tied for eighth in men's golf, tied for ninth in men's basketball and women's tennis, 12th in men's indoor track, 13th in women's swimming and tied for 17th in women's basketball and women's volleyball. UCLA's football team defeated USC for a record seventh straight season and finished ranked No. 5 after a victory in the Cotton Bowl.
COMBINED PROGRAM
UCLA has won more NCAA team championships than any school in the nation - 77 (63 men's and 14 women's). The men's total is second to USC's 68 while the women's total is fifth behind Stanford (24), LSU (19), North Carolina (19) and Texas (18). In the 17 years that the NCAA has awarded women's championships, UCLA has won 37 NCAA team titles (23 men's and 14 women's).
UCLA has won at least one NCAA team title (men's or women's) in 17 of the last 18 years. In addition, the school has won at least one collegiate title (NCAA or AIAW) in 33 of the last 35 years, missing only in 1979-80 and 1993-94. Over the last 28 years, UCLA has won at least two collegiate titles 22 times.
verall, UCLA has won a nation-leading total of 97 collegiate championships - 77 NCAA crowns and 20 other titles - including the 1998 women's water polo crown.
In the last 29 years, the Bruin men have won 48 NCAA championships, nine more than second-place Stanford and 27 more than third-place USC. Eight times during that 29-year span, they have won at least three titles in a single year. UCLA is the only school to win four men's titles in a single year more than once, accomplishing the feat in 1969-70 (basketball, tennis, volleyball, and water polo), 1970-71 (basketball, tennis, volleyball, and outdoor track) and 1971-72 (basketball, volleyball, outdoor track, and water polo).
In 1981-82, the first year in which the NCAA hosted women's championships, UCLA became the first school in history to win five NCAA titles (men's swimming, men's tennis, men's volleyball, softball, and women's track) in a single year.
MEN'S SPORTS
UCLA basketball has been synonymous with success for over three decades and the 1997-98 season, Steve Lavin's second as head coach, was another fine year. The Bruins reached the NCAA Sweet 16, the fourth time in the last seven years they have progressed that far, and finished with a 24-9 record. In 1994-95 Bruins won their 11th national championship, four more than any other school in the nation. UCLA has won 23 of the last 37 league titles, including three of the last four and four of the last seven and has participated in the NCAA playoffs in 31 of the last 37 years, including each of the last 10 (only three schools have a longer current streak). In 1997, Lavin's first season, UCLA won its third straight Pac-10 title with a record of 15-3 and reached the NCAA Elite Eight. In 1996, the Bruins compiled a 16-2 record in Pac-10 play and finished 23-8. In 1994-95, they won their final 19 games en route to the NCAA title and a 32-1 record. NBA stars such as all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers, Pooh Richardson of the Los Angeles Clippers and young players such as Darrick Martin, Tracy Murray, Don MacLean, Mitchell Butler and Tyus Edney enjoyed fine careers at UCLA.
The Bruin netters have earned 15 NCAA titles and have finished second 11 times. Under fifth-year coach Billy Martin, the Bruins reached the NCAA quarterfinals a year ago. In 1997, they reached the NCAA semifinals. In 1996, UCLA was ranked No. 1 with a 27-1 record and reached the NCAA championship match after reaching the semifinals in each of the previous three years (1993-95). Justin Gimelstob and Srjdan Muskatirovic won the 1996 NCAA doubles title. Jimmy Connors and the late Arthur Ashe are just a few of the UCLA alums who have played pro tennis.
The Bruin football program has been one of the more successful over the last two decades. In the last 16 years, only three schools have won more bowl games than UCLA (nine). Jerry Robinson and Kenny Easley, the nation's only three-time consensus All-Americans in the last 50 years and members of the College Football Hall of Fame, played at UCLA, as did Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys, the only quarterback to win three Super Bowls in four years, Ken Norton of the San Francisco 49ers, the only man to play on three straight Super Bowl champions, 1995 Outland Trophy winner Jonathan Ogden of the Baltimore Ravens and running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar, who in 1996 became the first Miami Dolphin to rush for over 1,000 yards since 1979. UCLA was the first school in NCAA history to win a bowl game in seven consecutive years. UCLA, which has defeated crosstown rival USC a record seven straight seasons, will be looking for its 13th bowl bid in 18 years in 1998. A year ago, UCLA finished 10-2, tied for the Pac-10 title, defeated Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl and was ranked No. 5 in both polls.
UCLA also owns one of the most respected track and field programs in the nation. The Bruins have won eight NCAA crowns, including the 1987 and 1988 titles, and have finished second six other times, including 1995. The Bruins finished sixth in 1998 after placing fourth (tied) in 1997 and third in 1996. In addition, they have placed in the top five in 22 of the last 33 years, and also own 10 Track & Field News dual meet titles. During head coach Bob Larsen's 14 years, they have lost just two dual meets and have won six of the last seven and nine of the last 12 Pac-10 titles. Willie Banks, Greg Foster, John Smith, Mike Powell, Steve Lewis, Kevin Young, Mike Marsh, Danny Everett, John Godina, Jonathan Ogden, Ato Boldon and Mebrahtom Keflezighi are just a few of the NCAA and/or Olympic champions produced by the UCLA. Several Bruins, including Boldon, competed in the 1996 Olympics.
UCLA became the first school in history to win NCAA titles in eight different men's sports when the soccer team won the 1985 championship. Head coach Sigi Schmid, who served as an assistant coach for the U.S. World Cup team and is now a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, won his third NCAA crown in 1997 and has now been to three Final Fours in the 1990s (1990 and 1994). UCLA reached the second round in 1995 and the first round in 1996. In 1990, the Bruins won their second NCAA crown, reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 1991, the second round in 1992 and the first round in 1993. They have competed in the playoffs 25 times in 30 years, including each of the last 15 years, and have finished second three times, third twice and fourth once. UCLA was the only school to place five players on the 1994 U.S. World Cup soccer squad - Paul Caligiuri, Brad Friedel, Cobi Jones, Mike Lapper and Joe-Max Moore and six players on the 1992 Olympic team - Friedel, Chris Henderson, Zak Ibsen, Jones, Lapper and Moore. Twenty-two former Bruins currently play for Major League soccer teams.
UCLA earned a championship in a ninth men's sport when the golf team captured its first NCAA title in 1988, coming from 13 strokes back entering the final day to win by three. UCLA finished in the NCAA Top Ten four times in the 1980s, and the program has produced some of the PGA's top young stars, including Corey Pavin, Scott McCarron, Steve Pate, Duffy Waldorf and Jay Delsing. Five former Bruins played in the 1995 U.S. Open. Brad Sherfy, another former Bruin who is currently one of the country's top club professionals, just completed his second year as head coach. In 1998, Sherfy guided the Bruins to their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and an eighth-place finish (tied), their highest since 1989.
In 1997, perhaps the finest baseball team in school history reached the College World Series for the first time since 1969, winning five straight Midwest Regional games after losing its opener. Led by first-team All-Americans Troy Glaus, who set school and Pac-10 season (34) and career (62) home run records while batting .409, and Jim Parque (13-2 with a 3.08 ERA) and second-team All-Americans Jon Heinrichs (28 homers) and Eric Valent (27 homers, including six in the regional), the Bruins rewrote the record books while winning a school-record 45 games and finishing with a No. 5 ranking. UCLA has participated in the NCAA playoffs in seven of the last 13 years, reaching a regional championship game in 1987, 1992 and 1996. A top producer of major leaguers (45 overall), former Bruins in the majors include Parque, 1992 National League Rookie of the Year Eric Karros, Todd Zeile, Rich Amaral, Bill Hasselman, Torey Lovullo, Sean Berry and Bob Hamelin. Glaus, the 1997 Pac-10 Southern Division Player of the Year, and Parque were members of the 1996 Olympic team and the third and 46th selections, respectively, in the 1997 Free Agent draft. In May, Parque became the first player from the 1997 draft to reach the major leagues.
UCLA's water polo team returned to the victory stand in 1996, winning a second consecutive NCAA championship and the fifth in the program's history. UCLA also has finished second five times and third six times. In 1997, the Bruins placed sixth in the MPSF. In Baker's seven seasons as head coach, UCLA has finished lower than fifth just once (1997) and has finished fifth or better in 16 of the last 24 years. Alex Rousseau and Dan Hackett played for the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, and the late Jim Toring was an alternate.
At the end of the 1993-94 school year, UCLA discontinued two programs for financial reasons, but their accomplishments are still part of UCLA's tradition. The Bruins won the 1982 NCAA swimming title and finished among the top seven nationally between 1970-90. Brian Goodell, Tom Jager, Bruce Hayes, Bill Barrett and Robin Leamy earned Olympic honors as Bruins.
UCLA won two NCAA men's gymnastics titles (1984 and 1987). Peter Vidmar, Mitch Gaylord and Tim Daggett, each a 1984 Olympic gold medalist, competed at UCLA as did 1992 Olympians Chris Waller and Scott Keswick and 1996 Olympian Chainey Umphrey.
WOMEN'S SPORTS
UCLA has dominated the sport of softball for two decades. It has participated in 15 of the 17 NCAA College World Series and has won seven NCAA titles (an eighth, 1995, was vacated). Last year, UCLA was not eligible to participate in the tournament and fielded a team mostly of non-scholarship players. In 1997, it played in the NCAA championship game after reaching the semifinals in 1996. In 1995, the Bruins won the NCAA title but was required to vacate the championship almost two years later. In the first 11 years of the NCAA Tournament, UCLA won seven team championships. The Bruins also have finished second four times, including 1993 and 1997, third twice and fourth once in their 15 NCAA appearances and won an AIAW title in 1978. Some of the top collegiate stars in the history of the game, including three-time College Player of the Year and 1996 Olympian Lisa Fernandez, Bruin Hall of Fame pitcher Debbie Doom, 1996 Olympians Sheila Cornell and Dot Richardson, and All-America third baseman Jennifer Brundage, who was selected the 1995 GTE/Academic All-American of the Year, played at UCLA.
Another very successful sport at UCLA is women's volleyball. The Bruins won three national titles in the 1970s. In the 1980s, UCLA captured the 1984 NCAA title and appeared in seven Final Fours, finishing second twice. The Bruins have been as successful in the 1990s, winning back-to-back NCAA championships in 1990 and 1991, finishing second in 1992 following an undefeated regular season, posting a 30-2 record and reaching the regional final in 1993, placing second nationally in 1994, reaching the regional final in 1995 and the second round in 1997. UCLA has played in the NCAA Final Four 10 times in its 17 years, including five straight between 1988-92. The first women's volleyball coach to win 800 matches, Hall of Fame coach Andy Banachowski has led UCLA to six national titles and five second-place finishes, including the AIAW years. Banachowski has produced 17 AVCA All-Americans who have earned 29 All-America certificates, and 22 Volleyball Magazine All-Americans. His program has produced six Olympians - Laurie Lewis, Jeanne (Beauprey) Reeves, Liz Masakayan, Elaine Youngs, Holly McPeak and Linda (Robertson) Hanley - 25 pro beach players and 20 National Team players, including 1997 senior Kara Milling.
The Bruins boast one of the top women's gymnastics programs in the nation. Last year, UCLA finished fifth at the NCAA Championships and had two athletes win individual crowns. In 1997, the Bruins won their first-ever NCAA team title, completing a run which saw them improve each year, finishing second in 1996, fourth in 1995 and fifth in 1994. The Bruins have won seven of the last 12 Pac-10 championships and have won five of the last six NCAA West Regional crowns. Sharon Shapiro, Jill Andrews, Kim Hamilton, Stella Umeh and Heid Moneymaker have all won individual NCAA titles. In 1998, six Bruins earned All-America acclaim and Umeh was selected Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year.
The women's track and field team contends for the NCAA title on an annual basis. In 1998, UCLA finished second at the NCAA outdoor championships after placing third in 1997. In 1995, the Bruins placed second in both outdoor and indoor competition and tied for ninth outdoors in 1996. UCLA won back-to-back championships in 1982 and 1983 and finished second in 1988-89-90, fourth in 1991 and third in both 1993 and 1994. Including the AIAW years, the Bruins have won four national titles and have finished second eight times thanks to Olympic gold medalists such as Gail Devers, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Florence Griffith Joyner and Evelyn Ashford and NCAA champions such as Dawn Dumble, Amy Acuff (five outdoor and indoor titles), Karen Hecox, Valeyta Althouse and Seilala Sua. Acuff, Joyner-Kersee and Suzy Powell were just a few of the Bruins who competed in Atlanta. In 1998, UCLA won the Pac-10 title for the second straight year and seventh time in nine years.
In 1998, the UCLA women's tennis team, under the direction of second-year head coach Stella Sampras, won an NCAA regional to advance to the NCAA Tournament after reaching the NCAA quarterfinals in 1997. Annica Cooper was selected the Pac-10 Player of the Year. In 1996, the Bruins played in the NCAA semifinals after reaching the quarterfinals in 1995 and 1992. UCLA has recorded 12 Top Five finishes in the 17 years of the NCAA Tournament. In 1991, the Bruins reached the NCAA championship match for the second time in three years (they reached the semifinals in 1990) and also finished second in 1982 and third in 1983 and 1988. The Bruins won the AIAW Tournament in 1981 and have produced numerous All-Americans over the years. Keri Phebus was selected the 1995 ITA Player of the Year after becoming UCLA's first NCAA singles champion. UCLA doubles teams have won four championships, with Phebus and her partner Susie Starrett taking the title in 1995.
In women's swimming, the Bruins have finished in the Top Ten at the NCAA championships in 10 of the last 14 seasons and in the Top 15 in 15 of the 17 years the event has been held. In 1998, they placed 13th after finishing 14th the previous year. UCLA finished 11th in 1996, 10th in 1995, seventh in 1993 and 1994, sixth in 1992 and fifth in both 1991 and 1990. Annette Salmeen, the 1996 UCLA Female Athlete of the Year, became the first UCLA woman to win an NCAA individual championship (200 butterfly). She also won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games (800 freestyle relay) and is the first Bruin female student-athlete to earn a Rhodes Scholarship, having compiled a 3.9 grade-point average in Chemistry.
The women's basketball program has produced some of the most famous players in the game, including Olympians Ann Meyers and Denise Curry, both of whom have been voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and several All-Americans, including Pac-10 Female Athlete of the Decade Natalie Williams, who won NCAA Player of the Year honors in volleyball, Pac-10 Player of the Year acclaim in basketball and was selected the 1998 MVP of the American Basketball League. Head coach Kathy Olivier has built a solid foundation for future success. Most of the key members of the 1998 squad that finished second in the Pac-10 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament return, including 1998 third-team All-American Maylana Martin, spectacular point guard Erica Gomez and a talented group of juniors. UCLA won the AIAW national title in 1978 and last reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1992.
In 1991, the Bruin women won their first NCAA golf championship, defeating top-ranked San Jose State in a one-hole playoff. In 1997, they placed fifth - their seventh consecutive Top 10 finish. The Bruins own 12 Top 10 finishes (eight NCAA) and have participated in 14 of the 17 NCAA championships (they did not qualify in 1998). Former Bruin Lisa Kiggens is a rising star on the pro tour.
In only its fifth season (1997) as an intercollegiate program, the women's soccer team qualified for its second NCAA Tournament, won two matches to reach the Elite Eight and finished the year ranked sixth in the nation. The Bruins also won their first Pac-10 title and became the first league team to go 9-0. In 1995, the Bruins qualified for the first time and finished with a No. 16 ranking. New head coach Todd SaldaOa takes over a program with a solid foundation and should raise it to the next level.
In 1998, UCLA's women's water polo program, in only its fourth season, won its third consecutive collegiate championship, finishing with a 35-1 record. In the last three seasons, the Bruins have won 95 of 98 matches while capturing three consecutive titles. Guy Baker was named National Coach of the Year for the third straight time while Coralie Simmons was named National Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Simmons, Nicolle Payne and Catharine von Schwarz were selected first-team All-Americans. In its four years of existence, the team has compiled a record of 108-14, has finished first three times and fifth once and has produced eight All-Americans.
In women's cross-country, UCLA has established a fine program and has competed in the NCAA championships four times in the last nine years. The Bruins finished fifth in the NCAA District championships in 1997.
UCLA has placed among the top four schools in each of the five years of the Sears Directors Cup. In 1992-93, UCLA earned the award as the nation's top combined program, according to the annual USA Today All-Sports Survey. Prior to 1993-94, USA Today conducted separate surveys for men's and women's programs. In the 23-year history of the All-Sports Survey for men's programs (formerly conducted by the Knoxville Journal), UCLA finished first 11 times (no other school had more than six titles), second seven times, third once and fourth once and was in the top 10 each year. The Bruins won five of the last eight men's surveys and placed fifth in 1993. In the women's survey (formerly sponsored by the Santa Monica Evening Outlook), UCLA won 10 titles in 18 years, including four straight (1988-1991), and finished second in 1992 and 1993.
No school has dominated men's volleyball, men's basketball or men's tennis like UCLA. In volleyball, Al Scates has established himself as the premier coach in the sport. In 1997 he became the first coach to pass the 900-victory plateau and the Hall of Fame coach has now led the Bruins to six straight NCAA title matches. In the 1990s, the Bruins have won four NCAA titles, raising their total to 17, a national leader. Scates' total of 17 NCAA titles is a record for one coach in a single sport. The Bruins have played in the NCAA Final Four 21 times in 29 years. In 1998, sophomores Adam Naeve and Brandon Taliaferro earned first-team All-America honors. Karch Kiraly, Doug Partie, Ricci Luyties and Dave Saunders all played on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal team, and many of the stars of the beach, including Kiraly, Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos, are Bruin alums. Kiraly and partner Kent Steffes won the 1996 Olympic beach gold medal, and Jeff Nygaard, a two-time AVCA Player of the Year, and Dan Landry were members of the 1996 Olympic indoor volleyball team. A total of nine current or former players and coaches represented UCLA men's volleyball in the Atlanta Olympics, including beach legend Smith and 1996 FIVB World Champion Bjorn Maaseide.
UCLA owns 26 women's national championships - 14 NCAA titles, three collegiate titles and nine AIAW crowns. In the nine-year history of the USA Today All-Sports Survey, UCLA won five titles, including four straight (1988-91), and finished second in 1992 and 1993.
1997-98 UCLA Sports Recap
Conference & NCAA Finish/Ranking
Sport Pac-10* National
Football T-1st 5th in polls
Basketball (M) 3rd T-9 in NCAA/12th
Basketball (W) 2nd T-17th in NCAA/20th
Baseball 4th -
Cross Country (M) 4th 7th in NCAA District
Cross Country (W) 4th 5th in NCAA District
Golf (M) 2nd T-8th in NCAA
Golf (W) 4th 11th in NCAA regional
Gymnastics (W) 4th 5th in NCAA
Soccer (M) 1st* NCAA Champion
Soccer (W) 1st T-5th in NCAA/6th
Softball 7th -
Swimming (W) 5th 13th in NCAA
Tennis (M) T-2nd T-5th in NCAA/7th
Tennis (W) 4th T-9th in NCAA/14th
Indoor Track (M) n/a 12th in NCAA
Indoor Track (W) n/a T-19th in NCAA
Outdoor Track (M) 1st 6th in NCAA
Outdoor Track (W) 1st 2nd in NCAA
Volleyball (M) 2nd* NCAA Champion
Volleyball (W) 6th T-17th in NCAA
Water Polo (M) 6th 6th in polls
Water Polo (W) 1st National Champion
*Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
**Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Mountain Division
Olympic Gold Medal Standings
1996 at Atlanta
1. Unified States 44
2. Russia 26
3. Germany 20
4. China 16
7. UCLA Athletes 12
1992 at Barcelona
1. Unified Team 45
2. United States 37
3. Germany 33
4. China 16
9. UCLA Athletes 8
1988 at Seoul
1. Soviet Union 55
2. East Germany 37
3. United States 36
4. UCLA Athletes 17
5. South Korea 12
1984 at Los Angeles
1. United States 83
2. Romania 20
3. UCLA Athletes 19
4. West Germany 17
5. China 15
