University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Wins Five National Titles in 2000! - UCLA Athletics - UCLA Official Athletic Site
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 The UCLA women's indoor track & field team captured the 2000 NCAA title. |
June 14, 2000
When it comes to athletic success, UCLA is at the top of the list. Over the past 18 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 `Jock' School.
In 1999-2000, UCLA placed second nationally in competition for the 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, third in 1996-97, 1994-95 and 1993-94, fourth in 1997-98 and fifth in 1998-99.
This past year, UCLA won five national collegiate championships, including four NCAA titles (its highest total since 1983-84) in men's water polo, women's indoor track and field, women's gymnastics and men's volleyball. In addition, the Bruins won the national championship in women's water polo for the fourth time in five years. In NCAA competition, UCLA placed second in softball, third in women's outdoor track and field, tied for third in men's soccer, tied for fifth in women's volleyball, men's tennis and women's tennis, eighth in women's swimming, and tied for ninth in men's basketball, reaching the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years, women's soccer and baseball.
COMBINED PROGRAM
UCLA has placed among the top five schools in each of the seven 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.
UCLA has won more NCAA team championships than any school in the nation -- 82 (65 men's and 17 women's). The men's total is second to USC's 70 while the women's total is fifth behind Stanford (25), Texas (20), LSU (20) and North Carolina (20). In the 19 years that the NCAA has awarded women's championships, UCLA has won 42 NCAA team titles (25 men's and 17 women's).
UCLA has won at least one NCAA team title (men's or women's) in 19 of the last 20 years. In addition, the school has won at least one collegiate title (NCAA or AIAW) in 35 of the last 37 years, missing only in 1979-80 and 1993-94. Over the last 30 years, UCLA has won at least two collegiate titles 23 times. Overall, UCLA has won a nation-leading total of 103 collegiate championships -- 82 NCAA crowns and 21 other titles.
In the last 31 years, the Bruin men have won 50 NCAA championships, nine more than second-place Stanford and 28 more than third-place USC. Eight times during that 31-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
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 led the Bruins to seven NCAA title matches in the last eight years. In the 1990s, the Bruins won four NCAA titles and started the new millenium by winning the 2000 NCAA crown. Scates' total of 18 NCAA titles is a single sport record. The Bruins have now played in the NCAA Final Four 22 times in 31 years. In 2000, senior Brandon Taliaferro earned Player of the Year and 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 Kent Steffes, are Bruin alums. Kiraly and partner 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 basketball has been synonymous with success for over three decades and the 1999-2000 season, Steve Lavin's fourth as head coach, was another good year. A team dominated by juniors and sophomores finished 21-12 and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third time in four years, one of just six schools to accomplish that feat. The Bruins have also reached the NCAA Sweet 16 five times in the last nine years, including 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1999-2000. 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 39 league titles, including three of the last six and four of the last nine and has participated in the NCAA playoffs in 33 of the last 39 years, including each of the last 12 (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 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 and Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers and young players such as Baron Davis, Darrick Martin and Tracy Murray enjoyed fine careers at UCLA.
The Bruin tennis team has earned 15 NCAA titles and has finished second 12 times. Under seventh-year coach Billy Martin, the Bruins reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 2000 after playing in the championship match in 1999. In 1998, UCLA advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals and in 1997, it 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. Gimelstob, 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 18 years, only five 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, Mike Lodish, the only man to play in six Super Bowls, 1995 Outland Trophy winner Jonathan Ogden of the Baltimore Ravens, 1998 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner Cade McNown of the Chicago Bears and 1998 Outland Trophy winner Kris Farris of the Pittsburgh Steelers. UCLA was the first school in NCAA history to win a bowl game in seven consecutive years. UCLA, which defeated crosstown rival USC a record eight straight seasons between 1991-1998, will be looking for its 14th bowl bid in 20 years in 2000. Recently, UCLA won the Pac-10 title and finished with a 10-2 record in both 1997 and 1998, compiling a school-record 20-game win streak during that span. The Bruins were ranked No. 8 in 1998 after finishing No. 5 in 1997.
UCLA, under second-year head coach Art Venegas, 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 T-16th in 1999 after placing sixth in 1998, fourth (tied) in 1997 and third in 1996. In addition, they have placed in the top five in 22 of the last 35 years, and also own 10 Track & Field News dual meet titles. UCLA has won six of the last nine and nine of the last 14 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 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. In 1999, head coach Todd Salda?a, in his first year, led the Bruins to the NCAA semifinals. UCLA won its third NCAA crown in 1997 and played in four College Cups in the 1990's (1990, 1994, 1997 and 1999). In 1998, the Bruins advanced to the second round. 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 27 times in 32 years, including each of the last 17 years, and have finished second three times, third three times 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 stars, including Corey Pavin, Scott McCarron, Steve Pate, Duffy Waldorf and Jay Delsing. Five former Bruins played in the 1995 U.S. Open, which Pavin won. Brad Sherfy, another former Bruin who is currently one of the country's top club professionals, is in his sixth year as head coach. In 2000, senior Brandon DiTullio earned first-team NGCA Academic All-America honors and played in the NCAA Championships. In 1998, Sherfy guided the Bruins to their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and an eighth-place finish (tied), their highest since 1989.
In 2000, the Bruin baseball squad won a share of the Pac-10 title and reached the NCAA playoffs for the fourth time in five years and ninth time in 15 seasons, reaching the Super Regional at LSU. UCLA was led by returning star pitcher Josh Karp (10-2) and numerous 2000 major league draft selections, including All-Americans Bill Scott, Chase Utley and Forrest Johnson, all of whom hit at least 21 home runs. In 1999, the Bruins placed third in their regional. In 1997, perhaps the finest baseball team in school history reached the College World Series. 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. Under head coach Gary Adams, UCLA has reached regional championship games in 1987, 1992 and 1996 in addition to the 1997 College World Series berth and the 2000 Super Regional. A top producer of major leaguers (47 overall), former Bruins in the majors include Glaus, Parque, 1992 National League Rookie of the Year Eric Karros, Todd Zeile, Rich Amaral, Bill Hasselman, Torey Lovullo and Sean Berry. 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.
UCLA's water polo team returned to the victory stand in 1999, winning the NCAA championship for the sixth time in the program's history and the third time in the last five years (1995, 1996 and 1999). UCLA also has finished second five times and third six times. In Guy Baker's nine seasons as head coach (he is now co-coach with Adam Krikorian), UCLA has finished lower than fifth just twice (1997 and 1998) in NCAA play and has finished fifth or better in 17 of the last 26 years. Alex Rousseau and Dan Hackett played for the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, and the late Jim Toring was an alternate. In 1999, Sean Kern was selected NCAA Player of the Year as a junior.
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 owns 30 women's national championships -- 17 NCAA titles, four 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.
UCLA has dominated the sport of softball for two decades. It has participated in 17 of the 19 NCAA College World Series and has won eight NCAA titles (a ninth, 1995, was vacated). In 2000, a young team missing two Olympians battled to reach the championship game against Oklahoma. In 1999, the Bruins compiled a record of 63-6 and defeated Washington in the College World Series to win the program's eighth NCAA title. In 1997, UCLA 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 five times, including 2000, 1997 and 1993, third twice and fourth once in their 17 NCAA appearances and won an AIAW title in 1978. Some of the top collegiate stars in the history of the game are Bruins, including six members of the 2000 Olympic team -- three-time College Player of the Year and 1996 Olympian Lisa Fernandez, 1996 Olympians Sheila Cornell and Dot Richardson, Jennifer Brundage and Christie Ambrosi and current star Stacy Nuveman, who redshirted in 2000 to play with the Olympic team -- plus alternate Amanda Freed.
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 both 1997 and 1998. In 1999, the Bruins, led by All-American Kristee Porter, reached the NCAA regional final before losing to eventual champion Penn State. UCLA has played in the NCAA Final Four 10 times in its 19 years, including five straight between 1988-92. The first women's volleyball coach to win 800 matches, Hall of Famer Andy Banachowski has led UCLA to six national titles and five second-place finishes, including the AIAW years. Banachowski has produced 18 AVCA All-Americans who have earned 30 All-America certificates, and 23 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. In 2000, UCLA won its second NCAA team championship in four years and had two athletes win individual crowns for the third straight year. In 1999, UCLA finished fifth at the NCAA meet and had two athletes win individual crowns. In 1997, the Bruins won their first 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 nine of the last 14 Pac-10 championships and have won seven NCAA Regional crowns in the last eight years. UCLA Hall of Famer Sharon Shapiro, Jill Andrews, Kim Hamilton, Stella Umeh, Heidi Moneymaker, Kiralee Hayashi, Lena Degteva and Mohini Bhardwaj have all won individual NCAA titles. In 2000, five Bruins earned All-America acclaim, Moneymaker was named Region I and Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year and Valorie Kondos was named National Coach of the Year for the third time.
The women's track and field team contends for the NCAA title on an annual basis. In 2000, Jeanette Bolden's squad won the NCAA indoor championship and placed third in the outdoor meet, its fourth consecutive Top Three finish. In 1999, UCLA finished second at the NCAA outdoor championships for the second straight year 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 outdoor 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 nine 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, who won a record six NCAA outdoor throwing championships during her career. Devers, Acuff, Joyner-Kersee and Suzy Powell were just a few of the Bruins who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 2000, UCLA won its fourth straight Pac-10 title and its ninth championship in 11 years.
In 2000, the UCLA women's tennis team, under the direction of fourth-year head coach Stella Sampras, won a regional and reached the NCAA quarterfinals. In 1998, the Bruins won an NCAA regional to advance to the NCAA Tournament after reaching the NCAA quarterfinals in 1997. In 1996, the Bruins played in the NCAA semifinals after reaching the quarterfinals in 1995 and 1992. UCLA has recorded 13 Top Five finishes in the 19 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 and diving, the Bruins have finished in the Top Ten at the NCAA championships in 11 of the last 16 seasons and in the Top 16 in 17 of the 19 years the event has been held. In 2000, the Bruins placed eighth at the NCAA meet, their highest finish since 1994. In 1999, they placed 16th after finishing 13th in 1998 and 14th in 1997. UCLA finished 11th in 1996, 10th in 1995, seventh in 1993 and 1994, sixth in 1992 and fifth in both 1991 and 1990. Keiko Price, one of the top swimmers in the nation, placed second in the NCAA 100 freestyle. Annette Salmeen, the 1996 UCLA Female Athlete of the Year, became the first female UCLA swimmer to win an NCAA individual championship (200 butterfly). She also won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games (800 free 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. In 2000, the Bruins reached the NCAA Tournament for an unprecedented third consecutive season. Forward Maylana Martin broke the 2,000-point barrier and became the third player ever to be selected All-Pacific-10 first team four times. In 1999, the Bruins won the Pac-10 and reached the Elite Eight and in 1998, they finished second in the Pac-10 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. UCLA won the AIAW national title in 1978.
In 1991, the Bruin women won their first NCAA golf championship, defeating top-ranked San Jose State in a one-hole playoff. Second-year head coach Carrie Leary was a member of that championship squad. In 1997, the Bruins placed fifth in the NCAA championships -- their seventh consecutive Top 10 finish. The Bruins own 12 Top 10 finishes (eight NCAA) and have participated in 14 of the 19 NCAA championships. Former Bruin Lisa Kiggens is a rising star on the pro tour.
In only its seventh season (1999) as an intercollegiate program, the women's soccer team compiled a record of 15-5-1 and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year (fourth overall appearance), reaching the third round. In 1998, UCLA compiled its second-best record ever (17-4-1) and won a second consecutive Pac-10 title. In addition, it earned an NCAA Tournament berth and reached the second round. In 1997, UCLA won two NCAA Tournament 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 NCAA Tournament for first time and finished with a No. 16 ranking.
In 2000, UCLA's women's water polo program, under the guidance of co-head coach Adam Krikorian, captured its fourth national collegiate championship in five years, finishing with a record of 30-5. Six Bruins earned All-America recognition, including College Player of the Year Elaine Zivich and first-team selection Catharine von Schwarz. In 1999, UCLA compiled a record of 24-10 and placed third in the national collegiate championships despite the absence of head coach Guy Baker and three players who were competing for the U.S. National team. Prior to the third-place finish, UCLA had won three consecutive National Collegiate championships (1996-98), winning 95 of 98 matches during that span. In its six years of existence, the team has compiled a record of 162-29 and has finished first in the nation four times, third once and fifth once while producing 17 All-Americans.
In women's cross-country, UCLA has established a fine program and has competed in the NCAA championships five times in the last 10 years, including 1998 and 1999 under head coach Eric Peterson.