Gonzaga Bulldogs
Encyclopedia
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are the athletic teams at Gonzaga University; the term applies to any of the school's varsity teams. Gonzaga University is a member of the West Coast Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I. The athletic program comprises 8 women's sports: volleyball, basketball, soccer, tennis, cross country, track, crew and golf; and 8 men's sports: basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, cross country, track and crew. The school also offers various intramural sports.
At one time, Gonzaga went by the nickname of Fighting Irish in the 1910s to early 1920s. This name was dropped in 1921 favor of the current "Bulldogs" mascot. Although the school's official mascot is the Bulldog, marketing materials, fans and television announcers often use the term "Zags" as a mascot, which puts the school in the unique position of having a mascot sharing a name with the school, hence the "Gonzaga Zags."
Gonzaga was an NAIA school from 1947 to 1957 when they moved to the NCAA and played as an independent school. They were a charter member of the Big Sky Conference in 1963 and moved over to the West Coast Conference in 1979 (swapping conference affiliations with the University of Nevada's Reno campus
, now in the Western Athletic Conference
and preparing to move to the Mountain West Conference
).
since 2004. The Bulldogs opened the arena with a 38-game win streak, the longest at the time in the NCAA, eventually snapped in February 2007 by the Santa Clara
Broncos.
Despite playing in a mid-major
conference, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are generally considered to be a major program. Gonzaga is one of only nine schools to have reached each of the past ten NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournaments
, and is the only school not from a major conference to do so.
Notable alumni of Gonzaga basketball include J. P. Batista, Dan Dickau
, Richie Frahm
, Adam Morrison
, Paul Rogers
, Blake Stepp
, John Stockton
, Ronny Turiaf
, and Austin Daye
.
WCC Regular Season Titles - (15) -
2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1994
WCC Tournament Titles - (11) -
2011,2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1995
WCC Tournament Championship Games - (15) -
2011,2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1992
2011 was their 14th appearance in the NCAA tournament, in addition they have played in 3 NIT tournaments and 2 NAIA tournaments.
At one time, Gonzaga went by the nickname of Fighting Irish in the 1910s to early 1920s. This name was dropped in 1921 favor of the current "Bulldogs" mascot. Although the school's official mascot is the Bulldog, marketing materials, fans and television announcers often use the term "Zags" as a mascot, which puts the school in the unique position of having a mascot sharing a name with the school, hence the "Gonzaga Zags."
Gonzaga was an NAIA school from 1947 to 1957 when they moved to the NCAA and played as an independent school. They were a charter member of the Big Sky Conference in 1963 and moved over to the West Coast Conference in 1979 (swapping conference affiliations with the University of Nevada's Reno campus
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
, now in the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
and preparing to move to the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
).
Men's basketball
Men's basketball has been the most successful sport for the Bulldogs. Gonzaga home games have been played at the McCarthey Athletic CenterMcCarthey Athletic Center
McCarthey Athletic Center or "MAC" is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Spokane, Washington. The arena opened in 2004. It is home to the Gonzaga University Bulldogs basketball program, and is often called "The New Kennel". This nickname was inherited from the school's former basketball arena,...
since 2004. The Bulldogs opened the arena with a 38-game win streak, the longest at the time in the NCAA, eventually snapped in February 2007 by the Santa Clara
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
Broncos.
Despite playing in a mid-major
Mid-major
Mid-major is a term used in American Division I college sports, to refer to athletic conferences that are not among the major six conferences...
conference, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are generally considered to be a major program. Gonzaga is one of only nine schools to have reached each of the past ten NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournaments
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
, and is the only school not from a major conference to do so.
Notable alumni of Gonzaga basketball include J. P. Batista, Dan Dickau
Dan Dickau
Daniel David "Dan" Dickau is an American professional basketball player.-Early life and college:Born in Portland, Oregon, Dickau graduated from Prairie High School in Brush Prairie, Washington. He played for the University of Washington Huskies prior to transferring to, and becoming a standout...
, Richie Frahm
Richie Frahm
Richie Frahm is an American professional basketball player.After he went undrafted following a college career at Gonzaga University and brief overseas stints, among others in the Philippine Basketball Association, and in Turkey, the 6'5" shooting guard signed with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2003,...
, Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison
Adam John Morrison is an American basketball player who is currently free agent after being released from KK Crvena zvezda....
, Paul Rogers
Paul Rogers (basketball)
Paul Andrew Rogers is a retired Australian basketball player who played in the National Basketball League...
, Blake Stepp
Blake Stepp
Blake Roy Stepp is a retired American professional basketball player.Stepp attended South Eugene High School in Eugene. He graduated from Gonzaga University and was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2004 NBA Draft. He appeared in a handful of 2004–05 pre-season games with the Wolves,...
, John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
, Ronny Turiaf
Ronny Turiaf
Ronny Turiaf is a French professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the NBA. Turiaf has been a member of the French national basketball team....
, and Austin Daye
Austin Daye
Austin Darren Daye is an American professional basketball player from Irvine, California who currently plays for BC Khimki Moscow in Russia. He was drafted 15th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association , and is still under contract with the...
.
WCC Regular Season Titles - (15) -
2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1994
WCC Tournament Titles - (11) -
2011,2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1995
WCC Tournament Championship Games - (15) -
2011,2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1992
2011 was their 14th appearance in the NCAA tournament, in addition they have played in 3 NIT tournaments and 2 NAIA tournaments.