College Sports Established
1892
Location
Moraga, California
College Name
Saint Mary's College of California
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1952 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1989 - Present / West Coast Conference
1952 - 1989 / West Coast Athletic Conference
Nickname
Gaels - The Saint Mary’s Gaels are a beloved NCAA Division I basketball team who have been thrilling fans for decades. But where did the name “Gaels” come from? The school's history and connection to Gaelic culture are the answer.
Saint Mary's College of California was founded by members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, an Irish Catholic religious order that traces back to 18th-century Ireland. When they arrived in Moraga, California, in 1863, they brought their love for everything Irish - including Gaelic language and culture. So it makes sense that when it came time to choose a nickname for their new college sports teams, they chose "Gaels" as an homage to this rich heritage!
Today, Saint Mary's athletes proudly represent not only their university but also Irish pride every time they take the court or field wearing green and gold uniforms emblazoned with "Gael" across them. Because of these origins, so many sports fans feel such strong connections between themselves and this unique team - after all, there aren't too many other universities whose nicknames pay tribute to ancient Celtic cultures!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1999
- 2005
- 2012
- 2023
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Gaels Women’s Basketball Winnings
Saint Mary’s began play in 1978. They moved to Division I play in 1987. They have won the WCC Tournament twice (1999, 2001) and the regular season title thrice (1989, 1990, 2001). They made it to the Second Round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament after beating Texas 68–64. They lost to Tennessee 92–75 in the ensuing Second Round. They made ... -
Gaels Men’s Basketball Team
The men’s basketball team has become recognized nationally as one of the top mid-major programs in the country, appearing in eight NCAA tournaments since 2005 and making appearances in both the Associated Press and ESPN Top 25 polls. -
Gaels sanctioned by NCAA
During the 2012–13 season, the NCAA sanctioned the men’s basketball program for recruiting violations stemming primarily from a former assistant coach and his attempts to recruit players from France. Penalties included a reduction in scholarships, four years probation and a five-game suspension for head coach Randy Bennett -
Gaels NCAA tournament appearances
The Gaels have made twelve NCAA tournament appearances. They have an overall 7–12 record in tournament games.
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 the player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Gaels
Saint Marys has won 10 conference championships in basketball since 2000, including five West Coast Conference titles and two WCC tournament championships. The team also made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament from 2005-2007 before making its historic run to the Elite Eight in 2010. In addition, they were ranked as high as #7 during that season and finished with an impressive 27-5 record overall.
On top of all this success on the court, some notable alumni include former NBA players Patrick Mills (Portland Trail Blazers), Omar Samhan (Houston Rockets), and Diamon Simpson (Sacramento Kings). These players are just a few examples of how successful athletes can come from a small school like St Mary's University near the San Francisco Bay Area.
For any true sports fan looking for an exciting team to follow throughout March Madness or beyond, look no further than your Saint Mary’s Gaels! With so much past and present talent, you can be sure these guys will always give it their all when playing against tough competition. So please show your support by cheering them on every chance you get!
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