College Sports Established
1921
Location
San Diego, California
College Name
San Diego State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1926 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1999 - Present / Mountain West Conference
1978 – 1999 / Big West Conference
1969 – 1978 / Pacific Coast Athletic Association
1939 – 1969 / California Collegiate Athletic Association
1926 - 1938 / Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Nickname
Aztecs - The San Diego State Aztecs are among the country's most recognizable college sports teams. But where did their nickname come from? The history behind this unique moniker is quite interesting!
In 1925, when San Diego State College (now known as SDSU) opened its doors, it had yet to adopt a nickname for its athletic teams. It wasn't until 1931 that some creative students finally settled on a name: "Aztecs." This was chosen as an homage to the ancient Mesoamerican civilization that flourished centuries ago in Mexico and Central America.
Today, many people associate Aztec culture with human sacrifice and warfare; however, there's much more than meets the eye regarding these indigenous peoples' rich heritage. In addition to being skilled warriors and architects who built impressive structures such as pyramids and palaces made out of stone blocks without metal tools or wheels - they have also accomplished astronomers who developed complex calendars based on astronomical observations, mathematicians whose understanding of geometry surpassed even that found in Europe during their period; poets whose works have survived through oral tradition over hundreds of years; musicians who created sophisticated instruments like flutes crafted from clay or bone which could produce beautiful melodies still heard today throughout Latin America...the list goes on!
Therefore, by choosing “Aztecs” for their team's mascot back then – not only did those students pay respect to this tremendous pre-Columbian civilization but also reminded everyone about how powerful knowledge can be – something we should all keep in mind while cheering our beloved SDSU athletes at every game they play!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1994
- 2011
- 2017
- 2018
- 2020
- 2023
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The All-Around Football Player Called Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk was a standout high school athlete who played both running back and cornerback. He received several recruitment offers from the top colleges in the NCAA, but because of his standout performance on defense, intercepting 11 passes as a senior, he was primarily recruited to play as a defensive back. He ended up accepting an athletic scholarship to attend ... -
Two Years at SDSU for Leonard Kawhi
2As a freshman at San Diego State University in 2009–10, Leonard averaged 12.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game for the Aztecs. He helped the team achieve a 25–9 record and led them to win the Mountain West Conference (MWC) tournament title. The Aztecs thus received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament but would lose in the first round ... -
Women’s Soccer team wins Mountain West Conference
San Diego State Wins 2017 Mountain West Women’s Soccer Championship – Mountain West Conference. No. 2 seed San Diego State defeated No. 4 seed New Mexico, 3-0, to claim the title at the 2017 Mountain West Women’s Soccer Championship -
Steve Fisher retires as San Diego State’s winningest coach
In 2018: San Diego State hires Brian Dutcher as its head men’s basketball coach, replacing Steve Fisher who retires after 18 seasons and 386 wins at SDSU. -
San Diego State winning both the MWC regular season and tournament titles
In 2020: San Diego State finishes the season with a 30-2 record and a No. 6 ranking in men’s basketball, winning both the MWC regular season and tournament titles, but is denied a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic. -
Aztecs wins Mountain West Tournament Title
In 2023, Aztecs secure a nail-biting tournament title win over Utah State, 62-57. The No. 18 San Diego State University men’s basketball team has reached the pinnacle of its season, excluding the NCAA tournament starting on March 16, as they overcame an 11-point deficit to defeat the Utah State University Aggies 62-57 in the Mountain West Conference Tournament title game ...
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 Aztecs
The Aztecs began their journey to success in 1921 when they joined what was then known as the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Under legendary coach Tony Gwynn Sr., who coached from 1981-2001, SDSU won three CCAA titles during his tenure. In 1992, after moving up to Division I status for football and basketball programs, they made their first-ever appearance at an NCAA tournament game - losing by one point against Michigan State University.
Since then, SDSU has gone on to win two more regular season conference championships (in 2002 & 2006) and four Mountain West Tournament Championships (2002-2003; 2011–2012; 2013–2014; 2018–2019). Additionally, under current head coach Brian Dutcher's leadership since the 2017-18 season, the team has earned five consecutive 20+ win seasons with two Sweet Sixteen appearances and a trip to Elite Eight last year.
The program’s success is mainly due to its commitment on and off the court. It focuses heavily on academics which is evident from its graduation rate of over 90%, the highest among all public universities nationwide. It also emphasizes character building through community service projects like “Aztec For Life,” encouraging student athletes' volunteerism within local communities throughout San Diego County. This dedication towards excellence makes them one of the best collegiate athletic programs across the nation.
With such a strong tradition behind it, San Diego State Aztecs are sure favorites amongst sports fans everywhere!
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