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Athletic Heritage
USC has a proud athletic heritage - and with good reason. Arguably, Troy could be the "Collegiate Athletic Program of the 20th Century." Consider:
• Trojan teams have won more national championships, 86 men's (including a national-best 73 NCAA titles) and 20 women's, than all but 2 other schools. Along with the great accomplishments on the playing fields, USC student-athletes have received 50 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships, in the Top 10 among all schools. In addition, USC has had 28 first team Academic All-Americans and 3 athletes who were Rhodes Scholars. Here's a closer look at the history of each of the 19 sports which USC currently offers on the intercollegiate level: FOOTBALL - Since starting football in 1888, USC has amassed an impressive all-time won-loss record of 743-300-54 (a .702 winning percentage). A December 1998 SPORT magazine ranking listed USC as the No. 4 all-time college football program of the 20th century. USC's record against Pac-10 opponents is a stellar 390-155-29 (.705). Since 1959, the Trojans have won the conference championship 16 times and tied for the title on 7 other occasions (in its history, USC has 36 league crowns). USC has the nation's sixth best bowl winning percentage (.644) among the 70 schools which have made at least 10 bowl appearances and its 31 Rose Bowl appearances is an all-time best. Troy's overall bowl mark is 29-16, including 22-9 in the Pasadena classic. The Trojans were a bowl participant every year they were eligible from 1972 to 1990. Think about college football and USC's tailback in the I-formation, one of the most glamorous positions in the sport, immediately comes to mind. Five Trojan tailbacks have won the coveted Heisman Trophy as college football's outstanding player: Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981) and Reggie Bush (2005). Other standout tailbacks have included Clarence Davis, Anthony Davis and Ricky Bell. Carson Palmer in 2002 and Matt Leinart in 2004 became the first USC quarterbacks to win the Heisman.' The Trojans have had other prominent award winners. Offensive tackle Ron Yary won the Outland Trophy in 1967, offensive guard Brad Budde won the Lombardi Award in 1979, safety Mark Carrier won the Thorpe Award in 1989 and linebacker Chris Claiborne won the Butkus Award in 1998. USC players have been named first team All-American 146 times, with 51 consensus selections and 24 unanimous choices. Many of those players have led USC to 11 national championships in football. Legendary coach Howard Jones (1925-40) guided Troy to 4 of those titles (1928-31-32-39). John McKay (1960-75) was responsible for 4 national championship teams (1962-67-72-74). John Robinson (1976-82), who captured 1 title (1978) in his first tenure, returned to Troy in 1993 and led USC to 3 more bowl wins. Pete Carroll was named head coach in 2001 and led Troy to its most recent national crowns in 2003 and 2004. Scores of Trojans have gone on to successful NFL careers (there have been 67 first round picks, with a record 5 No. 1 selections), including such greats as Frank Gifford, Lynn Swann, Anthony Munoz, Ronnie Lott, Junior Seau, Keyshawn Johnson, Bruce Matthews, Tony Boselli and Willie McGinest. BASEBALL - No school in the country can match the long tradition USC has in baseball. With 12 national championships in the sport, Troy is far and away the leader in that category (no other school has more than 6). Since starting baseball in 1889, the Trojans have compiled a record of 2,349-1,203-17 (.661) against college opponents, and have captured outright or tied for 38 conference championships. The incomparable Rod Dedeaux coached USC from 1942-86, leading the school to 11 of its NCAA crowns, including 5 straight from 1970-74 (no other school has strung together more than two in a row). Trojans have been named first team All-American 43 times, with Jay Roundy, Pat Harrison and Bill Bordley being 2-time selections. Mark Prior was the 2001 national Player of the Year. USC boasts many successful major leaguers such as Ron Fairly, Don Buford, Tom Seaver, Dave Kingman, Fred Lynn, Roy Smalley, Steve Kemp, Mark McGwire, Randy Johnson, Bret Boone, Jeff Cirillo, Barry Zito, Geoff Jenkins, Aaron Boone, Jacque Jones and Mark Prior. In all, 93 Trojans have gone on to play in the major leagues and scores more in the minors. Dedeaux compiled a 45-year collegiate record of 1,332-571-11 (.699), making him the then-winningest coach in collegiate baseball history. He resigned after the 1986 season to become USC's director of baseball and was replaced by Mike Gillespie, whose 1998 squad won the College World Series while finishing as the CWS runnerup in 1995 and also advancing to Omaha in 2000 and 2001 (15 of his 20 teams advanced to the NCAA regionals). Gillespie retired after the 2006 season, replaced by ex-major league catcher Chad Kreuter. MEN'S BASKETBALL - Since starting basketball in 1907, USC has compiled a record of 1,411-1,019 (.581), winning 14 league championships. Bill Sharman, John Rudometkin, John Block, Paul Westphal, Gus Williams, Harold Miner and Sam Clancy are a few of USC's All-American selections. Overall, Trojans have earned All-American honors 22 times. Four Trojan men, Sharman, Jack Gardner, Alex Hannum and coach Sam Barry, are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Barry (1930-41, 1945-50) has the winningest record among USC basketball coaches, 260-138 (.653). Following him are Forrest Twogood (1951-66) at 255-180 (.586) and Bob Boyd (1967-79) at 216-131 (.622). George Raveling, an assistant for the 1984 and 1988 U.S. Olympic teams, took over the coaching helm in 1986-87 and led Troy into the post-season playoffs 4 times. Henry Bibby (1996-2005) led the Trojans into the NCAA tourney 3 times (including the Elite Eight in 2001) and the NIT once. Tim Floyd, who took over as coach in 2006, led his 2007 team to a school-record 25 wins and to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - USC first reached the pinnacle of women's basketball in 1983 and the Trojans have been near the top almost ever since, winning 2 national championships and playing in 4 Final Fours. USC's team became established when Linda Sharp took over as coach in 1977. By 1981, Troy had reached the Final Four. In 1983, Cheryl Miller joined Cynthia Cooper and twins Pam and Paula McGee to give the Trojans a formidable front line that led the squad to its first national championship. The next year, the team won the national title again. USC advanced to the NCAA title game in 1986. Miller finished her career in 1986 as the Trojans' all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She also won her third straight Naismith Award as the outstanding player in college basketball. She returned as coach of her alma mater in 1994 and led USC to a Pac-10 title and 2 NCAA playoff appearances. She was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995. Former USC player Chris Gobrecht succeeded her prior to the 1998 season and led her teams into the 2000 and 2002 WNIT. Longtime Pepperdine coach Mark Trakh took over for the 2005 season and led USC into the NCAA tourney in his first 2 years. The Women of Troy have made the NCAA tourney 8 of the past 17 years, including advancing to the regionals 3 times. Lisa Leslie, who became an Olympic and pro star, won the Naismith Award in 1994 (she was the MVP of the first WNBA All-Star Game). Tina Thompson was the No. 1 pick in the 1997 WNBA draft. Cooper was twice an Olympian and WNBA MVP. MEN'S GOLF - USC has one of the most successful golf programs in the nation, having produced 4 NCAA individual champions (Scott Simpson in 1976 and 1977, Ron Commans in 1981 and Jamie Lovemark in 2007), 21 Pac-10 individual champs, 20 All-American first teamers and numerous players who have gone on to successful professional careers, including $1 million winners like Al "Mr. 59" Geiberger, Dave Stockton, Craig Stadler and Simpson. Troy has also been dominant in the Pac-10, winning 18 of the 47 conference championships. Legendary coach Stan Wood (1955-79) compiled a career record of 462-37 (.926) and won 14 conference championships. He also guided the Trojans to an NCAA record 51 consecutive dual match wins from 1956-59. His teams finished third in the NCAA tourney 6 times. Under coach Randy Lein (1984-92), USC continued its success, winning the conference championship in 1986. The 1991 Trojans finished seventh at the NCAAs. U.S. Amateur champion Sam Randolph, who finished as low amateur at the Masters golf tournament in 1985 and 1986, was a first team All-American for the third straight year in 1986 and was named college golf's Player of the Year. ,p> Former team captain Jim Empey took over as coach in 1993. Kurt Schuette became coach in 1995 and guided USC to an impressive fifth place finish at the NCAA tourney that season, Troy's best placing in 18 years, and then ninth in 1996, 14th in both 1997 and 2003 and sixth in 2005. His 2001 squad won the Pac-10 title, USC's first since 1986, and Troy repeated in 2002. Kevin Stadler, Craig's son, was the 2002 Pac-10 Golfer of the Year (USC's first honoree since 1986). Ex-Trojan Chris Zambri became head coach in 2007 (Schuette remained as Director of Golf), as USC won the Pac-10 crown that year. WOMEN'S GOLF - The USC women's golf team is one of college's finest, as witnessed by the program's first-ever NCAA team title in 2003. USC also has placed second (twice), third, fourth (3 times), fifth, seventh (3 times), ninth, 11th, 12th and 14th at the NCAA tourney in the past 22 years. The Women of Troy won the Pac-10 tourney in 1989 and the NCAA Regional in 1999, 2006 and 2007. Cathy Bright led USC to 5 Top 10 NCAA finishes in her 12 years as head coach (1982-93). Former Trojan player Renee (Mack) Baumgartner returned as head coach in 1994 and led USC to second place at the NCAAs in her first year. Andrea Gaston took over in 1997 (with Kurt Schuette serving as Director of Golf) and guided USC to 7 NCAA Top 10 finishes, including the 2003 NCAA title. Jennifer Rosales won the 1998 NCAA individual title as a freshman, Mikaela Parmlid won as a senior in 2003 and Dewi-Claire Schreefel as a sophomore in 2006. Other top individuals have included Marta Figueras-Dotti, Denise Strebig, Kim Saiki, Tracy Nakamura, Jill McGill (the 1993 U.S. Amateur champion), Heidi Voorhees (the 1993 U.S. Amateur medalist), Jennifer Biehn (the 1994 Pac-10 champ), Candie Kung (the 2000 Pac-10 champ), Becky Lucidi (the 2002 U.S. Amateur and 2003 Mexican Amateur champion), Irene Cho and Paola Moreno. WOMEN'S ROWING - The women's rowing team has been active since the early 1970s, but scholarships were first awarded in 1998 and USC has emerged as one of the nation's top programs. The varsity, junior varsity and novice eight teams train all year long for regattas from coast to coast. George Jenkins guided USC to national prominence during his 9 years as head coach (1994-2002). Kelly Babraj took over as head coach for the 2003 season, with husband Zenon Babraj serving as director of rowing and now sole head coach in 2008. At the 1998 NCAA meet, the Women of Troy rowers captured their first-ever national championship race (the varsity fours). In 2005, USC made its first-ever NCAA Championships appearance as a team, placing 11th. USC was ranked No. 1 nationally for part of the 2007 season when it finished fifth at the NCAAs. WOMEN'S SOCCER - The women's soccer team began competing in 1993. Karen Stanley coached the team for the first 3 seasons. Jim Millinder took over in 1996 and guided 7 of his squads (1998-2003) into the NCAA tourney (USC won the 1998 Pac-10 title). Ali Khosroshahin makes his USC coaching debut in 2007. Isabelle Harvey, the 1998 Pac-10 Player of the Year, was USC's first All-American first teamer (in 2000). MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING - The type of dominance USC has had in this sport was best exemplified by Troy's performance in the 1976 Olympic Games, when Trojan swimmers won more golds and more total medals than any country in swimming except the United States. Over the years, USC men's swimmers have made Olympic teams 122 times, winning 38 gold, 23 silver and 18 bronze medals. Gold medal winners have included Lenny Krayzelburg, John Naber, Bruce Furniss and Murray Rose. Since beginning swimming in 1929, the Trojans have captured 9 NCAA championships, all under coach Peter Daland, who retired in 1992 after 35 years at Troy. USC swimmers and divers have won 112 NCAA meet individual and relay titles (including Larsen Jensen, who won 3 individual titles in the 2005 and 2007 meets) and have earned All-American honors an amazing 569 times. Under Daland, USC won 17 Pac-10 championships and amassed an impressive dual meet record of 318-31-1 (.917). Three of his last 6 squads had runner-up finishes at the NCAA meet. Four-time U.S. Olympic coach Mark Schubert, winner of 2 NCAA titles with the Texas women, succeeded Daland (he also served as the head coach of the Women of Troy). His men's teams placed in the Top 10 at the NCAAs 12 times in his 14 years at USC. Dave Salo took over for Schubert in both roles in 2007. WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING - USC has likewise built a successful swimming program on the women's side. In fact, the Women of Troy have finished in the top 10 nationally 25 of the last 31 years - including winning the NCAA title in 1997 - and have produced 234 All-Americans in that span. They have won conference championships in 1979, 1980, 1982 and 1985. Among USC's more famous women's swimmers are Michelle Ford, Sue Habernigg, Cynthia Woodhead, Sue Hinderaker, Debbie Rudd, Kristine Quance (she won 9 NCAA titles), Lindsay Benko (who won 5 NCAA titles), Kaitlin Sandeno (she won 2 races at the 2003 NCAAs) and diver Blythe Hartley (she won 5 NCAA titles). MEN'S TENNIS - USC's men's tennis legacy has produced numerous national titlists, including 16 team champions (second most in the country), 13 singles champions (tied for second most in the country), and 20 doubles champs (more than any other school). Cecil Mamiit won the 1996 NCAA singles crown as a freshman. George Toley (1954-80) guided the Trojans for 26 years before resigning during the 1980 season. His career record was 430-92-4 (.821) with 10 NCAA titles. Dick Leach succeeded Toley and posted a 535-133 (.801) mark in 23 years. His 1991, 1993, 1994 and 2002 teams won the NCAA tourney (his 2002 No. 11-seeded Cinderella team was the lowest seed ever to win the NCAA title and did so a month after Leach announced his retirement) and 8 of his other teams finished fourth or better. He was succeeded by ex-Pepperdine, Fresno State and Long Beach State coach Peter Smith for the 2003 season. Overall, USC players have been named to All-American teams 137 times, with many also enjoying successful pro careers, including Stan Smith, Bob Lutz, Raul Ramirez and Dennis Ralston. WOMEN'S TENNIS - The most successful women's program at USC, in terms of national titles, is the tennis team. The Women of Troy have won 7 national championships. Those national crowns all came under Dave Borelli, who coached USC from 1974 to 1988. In duals, Borelli's record was phenomenal: his teams went 300-43 (.875). Five times Trojans have won national singles titles, along with a doubles champ and 76 All-Americans. Prominent USC stars include Barbara Hallquist, Diane Desfor, Lea Antonopolis, Leslie Allen, Sheila McInerney, Stacy Margolin, Trey Lewis, the Fernandez sisters, Kelly Henry, Beth Herr, Caroline Kuhlman, Trisha Laux, Jewel Peterson and Lindsey Nelson. Cheryl Woods, a former Trojan player, took over for Borelli in 1989. Richard Gallien, a successful player and coach at Pepperdine, became head coach in 1996. His 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005 teams advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals and he got to the NCAA semifinals in 2006. MEN'S TRACK & FIELD - The Trojans have won an unprecedented 26 NCAA titles (including 9 straight, 1935-43) in the 86-year history of NCAA outdoor track, plus 2 indoor NCAA titles and 35 Pacific Coast or Pac-10 crowns, including a string of 15 straight (1936-55). They have had 40 unbeaten and untied seasons, including a string of 16 in a row (1946-61). Since starting track and field in 1900, USC has compiled a dual-meet record of 411-116-4 (.777). Outstanding coaches include Dean Cromwell (1909-48), who won a record 12 NCAA titles and had a dual meet mark of 109-48-1; Jess Mortensen, who never lost a dual meet (64-0) in 11 years and won 7 NCAA titles; and Vern Wolfe, who retired after the 1984 season with 7 national titles and a dual meet record of 106-17-1 (.859). Jim Bush, who won 5 NCAA titles while at crosstown rival UCLA, became USC's head coach in 1991. His 1992 Trojans finished third at the NCAAs with only a 6-man team. Ron Allice, who won 11 state titles at Long Beach City College, took over the combined men's and women's programs in 1995 (the men were fourth at the 1995 NCAA meet, 10th in 1996, third in 1997 while winning the Pac-10 title, seventh in 1998, fifth in 1999 while winning the Pac-10 crown, tied for seventh in 2000 while winning the Pac-10 title, tied for 12th in 2001, tied for 11th in 2002, third in 2003 while winning the Pac-10 title, sixth in 2005 while winning the NCAA West Regional crown, tied for ninth in 2006 while winning the Pac-10 and NCAA West Regional meets and fifth in 2007 while repeating as NCAA West Regonal champs). Sixty USC tracksters have won 88 places on U.S. Olympic teams over the years. Trojans have won 26 individual Olympic titles and shared in 8 relay wins. Gold medal winners include long jumper Randy Williams, pole vaulter Bob Seagren, sprinter Charles Paddock and hurdler Felix Sanchez. Since 1912, 61 USC trackmen have equalled or bettered world records, and there have been 111 NCAA outdoor individual or relay winners from Troy--including 2005 and 2006 NCAA high jump champ Jesse Williams (he also won indoors both years) and 2007 outdoor/indoor shot put champ Noah Bryant. The Trojans also have a long history of successful distance running, including 9 Olympians and NCAA champions Julio Marin and Ole Oleson. WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD, CROSS COUNTRY - The women's track program at USC has developed into one of the nation's finest. The Trojans have placed in the Top 10 of the NCAA Championships 13 times, including winning the program's first-ever NCAA team title in 2001. The Women of Troy also finished third in 1987, seventh in 1996 (while winning the Pac-10 title), fifth in 1998, third in 1999 (just 4 points from first place), second in 2000 (again just 4 points out of first place), third in 2002, seventh in 2005, second in 2006 (while winning the NCAA West Regional title) and seventh in 2007. The women's track and field heritage begins with Sherry Calvert, the former head coach. Calvert, a 4-time All-American javelin thrower at USC who participated in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, started the program as an undergraduate and coached through 1983. Fred LaPlante succeeded her from 1984 through 1988. Barbara Edmonson was coach in 1992 through 1994. In 1995, Ron Allice took over as the combined men's and women's coach. Troy has had many other successful track and field athletes. Patty Van Wolvelaere won a pair of national titles in the 100-meter hurdles. Kerry Bell was an All-American heptathlete for 3 years. 1988 NCAA heptathlon champion Wendy Brown and Yvette Bates set world bests in the triple jump during their USC careers. Ashley Selman won the 1990 NCAA javelin title. Angela Williams became the first athlete, male or female, at any level to win 4 consecutive NCAA 100-meter dashes when she did so in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. Natasha Danvers won the 2000 NCAA 400-meter intermediate hurdles. The Women of Troy won the NCAA 1600-meter relay in 1987 and the 400-meter relay in 2000. Brigita Langerholc took the 800 meters and Inga Stasiulionyte captured the javelin, both in the 2001 NCAAs. Natasha Mayers won the NCAA 200 meters in 2002. Virginia Powell won the 2005 and 2006 NCAA indoor and outdoor high hurdles (she also set the collegiate record in the outdoor race). The Women of Troy also compete in cross country in the fall under coach Tom Walsh. MEN'S VOLLEYBALL - The USC men's volleyball team has made 11 NCAA Final Four appearances since scholarships were first awarded by Troy in the sport in 1977. The Trojans have won 4 NCAA titles (1977, 1980, 1988 and 1990) and have finished second on 6 other occasions (1979-81-85-86-87-91). Ernie Hix, who retired as head coach after the 1981 season, turned USC into one of the top volleyball powers in the nation. Hix's 8-year record was an impressive 146-47 (.756) with 2 national crowns. Twenty-four Trojans have played on the U.S. National team and USC volleyballers have been named first team All-Americans 27 times. In the 1984 Olympics, Steve Timmons, Dusty Dvorak and Pat Powers all helped lead the United States to its first gold medal ever in the sport, while Timmons repeated with the 1988 U.S. squad. Timmons, Bryan Ivie, Nick Becker and Dan Greenbaum won bronze medals with the U.S. in 1992. Tim Hovland, Celso Kalache, Adam Johnson, former coach Bob Yoder (a 3-time All-American who coached Troy to an NCAA title in 1988), Donald Suxho and Brook Billings also are key figures in USC's volleyball heritage. Jim McLaughlin took over for Yoder in 1990 and led Troy to an NCAA title in his initial year. Powers became head coach in 1997, Turhan Douglas succeeded him in 2003 and Bill Ferguson took over for 2007. WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL - USC has won 6 national crowns in women's volleyball, the first 4 under coach Chuck Erbe. Erbe, who dominated the sport during his 12-year USC coaching tenure which began in 1976, posted a career record of 310-121-3 (.718). He coached the 1976, 1977 and 1980 AIAW champions and the 1981 NCAA titlists. His 1976 team registered the first perfect season (38-0) in women's volleyball history. Lisa Love, who coached at Texas-Arlington for 7 years, took over for Erbe in 1989 and guided USC into the NCAAs in 9 of her 10 seasons before retiring after the 1998 season. Jerritt Elliott served as interim head coach in 1999 and 2000, guiding the 2000 club to the NCAA Final Four. Mick Haley, head coach of the 2000 U.S. women's Olympic team who won 2 national crowns in the 1980s while at Texas, took over in 2001 and advanced to that season's NCAA regional final. Then, in 2002 and 2003, his teams won the NCAA crown, with the 2003 club going 35-0. USC got to the NCAA Final Four in 2004. In 1978, Debbie Green won the prestigious Broderick Award in volleyball. Trojans have been named All-American 54 times and 12 have been members of the U.S. Olympic team (including Green, Sue Woodstra, Paula Weishoff, Carolyn Becker and Kim Ruddins). MEN'S WATER POLO - Since starting water polo in 1922, the Trojans have compiled a 1,010-494-7 (.671) record, winning 15 conference championships along the way. Longtime coach John Williams led the Trojans to national prominence since during his tenure from 1973 to 1998. Nineteen of his last 22 teams finished the season in the top 7 nationally, including the 1998 NCAA championship team and the 1987, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997 squads which placed second in the NCAA tourney. Jovan Vavic, who joined as co-head coach in 1995, took over as head coach in 1999. His 2003 and 2005 teams won the NCAA championship. Seventeen USC poloists have participated in the Olympics and Trojans have made All-American teams 147 times. Some of the prominent names in USC water polo history are Ron Severa, Wally Wolf, Charles Bittick, Greg Fults, Zach Stimson, Craig Furniss, Charles Harris, Robert Lynn, Drew Netherton, Hrvoje Cizmic, Marko Zagar, Simun Cimerman, Marko Pintaric, George Csaszar, Pedraj Damjanov, Bozidar Damjanovic, Juraj Zatovic (who in 2005 was USC's first male winner of the Peter J. Cutino Award as the National Player of the Year) and Juan Delgadillo. WOMEN'S WATER POLO - USC's newest sport, the women's water polo team began play in 1995 under head coach Jovan Vavic. In 1999, in just their fifth year of existence, the Women of Troy--led by National Player of the Year and 2000 U.S. Olympic goalie Bernice Orwig--won the national championship in an exciting 5-overtime sudden death victory over Stanford. USC was second in the national tourney in 2000. Then in 2004, USC--behind National Player of the Year Moriah Van Norman--turned in the sport's first undefeated season (29-0) in winning the NCAA title. USC was third in the 2005 and 2007 NCAAs and second in 2006. Besides Orwig and Van Norman, other top players have included Aniko Pelle (the 2000 National Player of the Year), Nina Wengst, Olympian Sofia Konoukh, Katrin Dierolf, Kelly Graff, Lauren Wenger (the 2006 National Player of the Year), Brittany Hayes and Erika Figge.
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