College Sports Established
1890
Location
Waco, Texas
College Name
Baylor University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1922 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1996 – Present / Big 12 Conference
1915 - 1996 / Southwest Conference
Nickname
Bears - Sports fans of the Baylor Bears know their team is one of history's most successful NCAA teams. But many don't know how this beloved mascot got its name.
The origin story behind the Baylor Bears nickname dates back to 1914 when a group of students at Baylor University decided they wanted to create a new school spirit and identity for their athletic teams. After much deliberation, they chose “Bears” as an homage to early settlers who lived near Waco Creek—the creek that runs through campus today—and were known for hunting bears in the area.
The students then designed a logo featuring two black bears facing each other with paws raised in victory, which has been used ever since on all official university merchandise and apparel bearing the "Baylor Bears" moniker. In addition to being featured on uniforms worn by athletes during games and competitions, it can also be seen around campus buildings such as McLane Stadium or Ferrell Center, where various sports are held throughout year-round events like Homecoming celebrations or March Madness tournaments!
With over 100 years' worth of tradition backing them up, it's no wonder why so many people have come together under one banner: Go Bears! Whether you're cheering from your couch at home or joining fellow fans inside stadiums across Texas (or even beyond!), there's nothing quite like showing off your support for this iconic team every time they take center stage - win or lose!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 3
2019, 2012, 1005
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 2013
- 2019
- 2021
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Baylor Bear Brittney Griner
Griner played college basketball at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. As a freshman, Griner’s 223 blocked shots set the all-time single-season record, establishing her as one of the greatest shot blockers in women’s basketball history. On December 16, 2009, Griner recorded Baylor’s first triple-double with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and Big 12 Conference record 11 blocked shots. In January 2010, ... -
Lady Bears NCAA Basketball Champions 2019
The 2018–19 Baylor Lady Bears basketball team represented Baylor University in the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women’s basketball season. Returning as head coach was Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey for her 18th season. The team played its home games at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas, and were members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season ranked #1 ... -
Baylor Bears Complete a 21 – 1 Season With Championship
The Baylor Bears were crowned as the national champion for the 2020–21 season after beating the then-undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs, 86–70. The game was played on April 5, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Gonzaga was the first team to enter the national championship game undefeated since Indiana State in 1979. Baylor became the second consecutive first-time NCAA champions ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Bears
Baylor's football program began in 1899 and has since become one of college football’s elite programs. The team has won two Southwest Conference titles and three Big 12 championships since joining the conference in 1996. They also boast five bowl victories over some of college football's top programs, such as Oklahoma State University, Auburn University, and West Virginia University.
In addition to success on the gridiron, Baylor basketball is no slouch either, with six trips to March Madness, including two Elite Eight appearances under legendary head coach Scott Drew who took over at Baylor in 2003 when it was mired by scandal from its former regime led by Dave Bliss. Since then, he has turned around this once-struggling program into a perennial contender reaching seven straight NCAA tournaments while producing NBA talent like Quincy Acy (New York Knicks), Taurean Prince (Atlanta Hawks), Isaiah Austin (Minnesota Timberwolves).
Aside from these marquee sports teams, there are many other successful athletic programs at Baylor, such as tennis which boasts four individual NCAA champions along with multiple All-Americans; baseball, which features numerous MLB draft picks; volleyball which advanced all way to Final Four twice during 2011 & 2012 seasons; softball that won Women College World Series title back 2017; track & field where several athletes have represented US Olympic Team. It is clear that whatever sport you may be interested in, whether big or small, chances are high that you can succeed if you choose Bear Nation!
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