College Sports Established
1891
Location
Santa Barbara, California
College Name
University of California, Santa Barbara
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1939 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1988 - Present / Big West Conference
1969 - 1988 / Pacific Coast Athletic Association
1939 - 1969 / California Collegiate Athletic Association
Nickname
Gauchos - The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos have been a proud part of the NCAA since their founding in 1959. But where did the name “Gaucho” come from? It turns out that it has a fascinating history and is deeply rooted in local culture.
For starters, Gaucho is a term used to refer to people from Argentina and Uruguay who were known for their skill at horsemanship and cattle herding. The word comes from the Quechua language, spoken by indigenous peoples throughout South America before European colonization in the 16th century.
In addition, there are several theories about how this nickname came into being for UCSB's athletic teams specifically. One story suggests that when students first began attending classes on campus back in 1891, they noticed many of their classmates wearing gaucho-style clothing like sombreros or ponchos – items commonly associated with ranching communities near Santa Barbara during this period! This led them to adopt “Gaucho” as an unofficial mascot before becoming official decades later when UCSB joined NCAA Division I athletics programs across America (in 1970).
Another theory states that former coach George Allen first suggested using “Gauchos” after noticing similarities between his team’s style of play – characterized by speed and agility -to those same cowboys he had seen while visiting Argentina earlier on his trip abroad! Either way, you look at it, though, one thing remains true: The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will forever be linked with its unique origins dating back centuries ago!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 1
2006
- 1923
- 1941
- 2006
- 2011
- 2012
-
The first UC Santa Barbara Gauchos football team is established
In 1923, the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos football team was established, marking the beginning of the university’s intercollegiate athletics program. The team played its first game against the Santa Maria High School team, winning by a score of 26-0. Over the next few years, the team played against other local high schools and junior colleges before eventually joining the Southern ... -
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team wins its first conference championship
In 1941, the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team won its first conference championship in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). This was a significant achievement for the program, which had only been in existence for 14 years. The team went on to win several more conference championships over the years and established itself as a perennial contender in ... -
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men’s soccer team wins the NCAA Division I championship
In 2006, the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men’s soccer team won the NCAA Division I championship. They defeated UCLA in the final match with a score of 2-1, becoming the first Big West Conference team to win the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship. Forward Nick Perera was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the tournament. The team finished the season ... -
Gauchos baseball team wins the Big West Conference championship
In 2011, the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team won the Big West Conference championship, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. They finished the regular season with a record of 40-17 overall and 15-6 in conference play. The team was led by Head Coach Bob Brontsema and featured standout players such as Matt Vedo, who set a school ... -
Orlando Johnson – two time Big West Player of the Year
Orlando Johnson played for UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men’s basketball team from 2007-2012. He was a two-time Big West Player of the Year and led the Gauchos to two consecutive Big West regular-season championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010 and 2011. Johnson was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft and played ...
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 Gauchos
The Gauchos joined the NCAA in 1967 as an independent team but quickly succeeded within the Big West Conference. Over time they would win numerous conference titles across multiple sports, including basketball (1986-87), soccer (1988-89), and baseball (1989). During this period, they also appeared in various postseason tournaments, such as March Madness and College World Series.
In 2001 UCSB won its most prestigious title yet: The National Championship for men’s volleyball – making them one of only five universities ever to do so! This momentous achievement was followed by many other successes over subsequent years, with teams winning regular season championships or tournament titles every year until 2019.
Today UCSB continues its tradition of excellence both academically and athletically, with student-athletes competing at all levels from Division I down to Division III while representing some 30 varsity teams across 13 different sports programs! With such a strong legacy behind them, there is no doubt that these dedicated young people will continue striving for greatness on behalf of their beloved school well into future generations too!
Sports Fan Products
