Long Beach State athletics
Long Beach State athletics, or simply Beach athletics, are the athletic teams that represent California State University, Long Beach. Teams compete in 19 sports at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I level. Long Beach State is a founding member of the Big West Conference, and also competes in the Pacific Sports Federation">Pacific Tigers">Pacific Sports Federation and the Golden Coast Conference for sports not sponsored by the Big West.
Sports sponsored
Baseball
Unlike all other Long Beach State sports teams, the baseball team unofficially goes under the moniker "The Dirtbags." After the hiring of Dave Snow as head coach in 1989, the LBSU baseball team has become one of the most successful teams in the school's athletic history. From 1989 to 2008, the Dirtbags appeared in 17 of the 20 NCAA tournaments and were consistently ranked in the national top 35. Along the way, the team won 9 Big West conference championships, hosted 5 NCAA regionals, and appeared in 4 College World Series. The Dirtbags nickname refers to a gritty, team first style of play taught by Coach Snow and subsequent coaches.The school has also produced a number of prominent professional players over the years, including former American League MVP Jason Giambi, former American League Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby, and all-star and 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria. Many more ex-Dirtbags have participated in the prestigious MLB All-Star Futures game, including Jered Weaver, Troy Tulowitzki, Danny Espinosa, and Jarren Duran. As of 2024, 57 Long Beach State baseball alumni have played in the big leagues.
The baseball team plays off campus at 3,238-seat Blair Field in Recreation Park. Opened in 1956 and remodeled in 1992, Blair Field has been the full-time Long Beach State home field since 1993.
Basketball
Long Beach State men's and women's basketball teams compete in the Big West Conference. The teams play their home games at the Walter Pyramid.Men's basketball
On April 6, 2007, it was announced that Dan Monson would become Long Beach State's next head men's basketball coach, succeeding Larry Reynolds.Women's basketball
The women's basketball team had its greatest success during the 1980s when coached by Joan Bonvicini for 12 years. During that time the team went 325–71. The Beach won 10 Big West Conference titles, made 10 straight NCAA appearances, had 12 consecutive winning seasons, and never won fewer than 24 games in a season. Bonvicini guided the Beach to Final Four appearances in 1987 and 1988.Track & Field
Long Beach State has a long and storied history in Track & Field, particularly at the international level with 19 former Olympians among the alumni. These athletes include five former World Record holders, and six American Record holders. The university counts four Olympic medalists and numerous World and American Records produced by these individuals in their careers. This success has been most notable in the jumping and throwing events.In the high jump Dwight Stones, Joni Huntley and John Rambo all won Olympic bronze medals in 1964, 1972, 1976, and 1984, with Stones placing third back-to-back in 1972 and 1976 and a 4th place finish in 1984. Among the most accomplished of the university's athletes in any sport, Dwight Stones broke the World Record indoors and outdoors 8 times, the American Record countless times, and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice-once in a LBSU uniform. Stones is among the most decorated American Track and Field athletes in history, with an astounding 19 USA national titles to his record. He later went on to a long career as a Track & Field commentator in network television. Joni Huntley competed in the 1976 and 1984 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1984 and setting four American Records. John Rambo, a standout athlete in both basketball and Track & Field, won a bronze medal in 1964 and established an indoor American Record. He also played professional basketball.Pole vaulter Steve Smith competed in the 1972 Olympics, and broke the World Record twice indoors.
In the throws Kate Schmidt won the Olympic bronze medal in 1972 and 1976 in the javelin, setting a World Record. Hammer Thrower Bill Green set three American Records, three American Collegiate Records, and placed 5th in the Olympic Games in 1984. George Frenn was a two-sport champion, making the 1972 Olympic team in the hammer throw, breaking the World Record multiple times in the indoor weight throw, and holding the World Record for 13 years in the early days of the sport of powerlifting. His multi-sport success resulted in a cover photo and feature in Sports Illustrated in 1970.
Distance runner Francie Larrieu Smith had one of the longest international careers in Track and Field, making five Olympic teams between 1972 and 1992 with a best showing of 5th place in 1988 in the 10,000 meters. She set 13 World Records indoors, which included the mile.
The Track and Field program has won eight Big West Men's Track and Field Championships and three Women's Championships in the last 35 years, and has had 77 All-American athletes, won 32 conference Athlete of the Year awards, and achieved 24 Track and Field Athlete of the Year accolades.
Cross country
The Long Beach State Beach men's cross country team appeared in the NCAA tournament six times, with their highest finish being 10th place in the 1971–72 school year.| 1969 | No. 17 | 430 | Defeated Tennessee, Pomona Broncos|Cal Poly Pomona], Princeton, Kansas, Missouri, Georgetown, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, St. John's, Murray State, Harvard, and Florida Lost to UTEP, Villanova, Oregon, Washington State, Illinois, Michigan Broncos|Western Michigan], Minnesota, Penn, Bowling Green, Penn State, Connecticut, Houston, Miami (OH), Manhattan, Nebraska, and Providence |
| 1970 | No. 23 | 548 | Defeated Lehigh, Illinois, Cornell, Alabama, Cincinnati, Harvard, Texas, Kentucky, North Carolina, SMU, West Chester, Virginia Tech, Furman, East Carolina, Virginia, and The Citadel Lost to Villanova, Oregon, UTEP, Indiana, Western Michigan, Missouri, Michigan State, Bowling Green, San Diego State, William & Mary, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Penn State, Oklahoma State, Colorado, BYU, Duke, Manhattan, Houston, Kansas State, Tennessee State Buccaneers|East Tennessee State], and Penn |
| 1971 | No. 10 | 323 | Defeated Miami, Duke, Michigan State, Wichita State, Cornell, Indiana, William & Mary, Ball State, American, Murray State, Tennessee, Kentucky, Air Force, Princeton, North Carolina, Colorado, Providence, Texas, Florida, and Louisiana Lost to Oregon, Washington State, Penn, Villanova, East Tennessee State, Kansas State, Bowling Green, Penn State, and Arizona Lumberjacks|Northern Arizona] |
| 1972 | No. 23 | 614 | Defeated Alabama, Rice, Arkansas, and Houston Lost to Tennessee, East Tennessee State, Oregon, Washington State, Miami, Bowling Green, Oklahoma State, BYU, Manhattan, Indiana, William & Mary, Penn State, Eastern Michigan, Kansas, Wisconsin, Oregon State, Maryland, Princeton, Montana, Arizona, Navy, and Kentucky |
| Division I Cross Country Championships|1974] | No. 26 | 660 | Defeated Arkansas and Syracuse Lost to Oregon, Western Kentucky, UTEP, Washington State, Providence, Eastern Michigan, Georgetown, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Penn State, Duke, Michigan, BYU, Iowa State, Navy, Kentucky, Wichita State, Maryland, Missouri, Minnesota, East Tennessee State, Montana, Kent State, Florida, and Kansas State |
| 1975 | No. 30 | 737 | Defeated Dartmouth and Florida Lost to UTEP, Washington State, Providence, Penn State, East Tennessee State, Western Kentucky, BYU, Colorado State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Oregon, Kansas State, Arkansas, New Mexico, Princeton, Tennessee, Indiana, Northeastern, Georgetown, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, William & Mary, Pittsburgh, Navy, Navy, Wichita State, Penn, Kent State, and Rice |
The Long Beach State Beach women's cross country team has never made the NCAA tournament.
Women's soccer
The Long Beach State women's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 3–7 through seven appearances.| 2008 | First round | San Diego | L 0–1 |
| 2010 | First round | Santa Clara | L 0–1 |
| 2011 | First round Second Round Third round Quarterfinals | Pepperdine Miami (FL) San Diego Duke | W 1–0 W 1–0 W 1–0 L 0–2 |
| 2012 | First round | Santa Clara | L 1–2 |
| 2015 | First round | Santa Clara | L 0–1 |
| 2016 | First round | Santa Clara | L 0–3 |
| 2018 | First round | USC | L 0–6 |
Women's tennis
Long Beach State women's tennis team competes in the Big West Conference. As of the end of the 2018–19 season, the team has won thirteen Big West tennis titles since 2002 and qualified for thirteen NCAA tournament championships since 2002; advancing to the Round of 32 three times.Head Coach Jenny Hilt-Costello has won a league record eight Big West Conference Coach of the Year awards and was named the ITA West Region Coach of the Year and a finalist for the national award in 2004.
The women's tennis team plays at the Terry L. Rhodes Tennis Center, which opened on campus Fall 2008. The tennis center is named after 49er alumnus Terry Rhodes following his $1.25 million gift to the women's tennis program. Rhodes' gift is the largest single sport donation in university history. The new facility also includes The Gloria and Bob Hendricks Family Scoreboard, a high electronic display of all matches donated by the family of the former 49er women's tennis head coach.
Volleyball
Men's volleyball
The men's volleyball competed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and now in the Big West Conference. They won the MPSF regular season title in 2008 and 2017 and the Big West regular season titles in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023*, 2024, 2025. While winning the Big West Conference Tournament Championship in 2018 and 2024. They won the 1991, 2018, 2019. and 2025 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship and have placed second seven times.- * Co-Champion
| 1970 | Pools Pools Pools Semifinals National Championship | Ball State UC Santa Barbara UCLA Ball State UCLA | W 2–0 W 2–0 L 1–2 W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 1973 | Pools Pools Pools Semifinals National Championship | Ball State Army San Diego State Army San Diego State | W 2–0 W 2–0 W 2–1 W 3–0 L 1–3 |
| 1990 | Semifinals National Championship | Rutgers–Newark USC | W 3–0 L 1–3 |
| 1991 | Semifinals National Championship | Penn State USC | W 3–0 W 3–1 |
| 1999 | Semifinals National Championship | Purdue Fort Wayne BYU | W 3–2 L 0–3 |
| 2004 | Semifinals National Championship | Penn State BYU | W 3–0 L 2–3 |
| 2008 | Semifinals | Pepperdine | L 0–3 |
| 2016 | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Erskine BYU | W 3–0 L 1–3 |
| 2017 | Semifinals | BYU | L 0–3 |
| 2018 | Semifinals National Championship | Ohio State UCLA | W 3–1 W 3–2 |
| 2019 | Semifinals National Championship | Pepperdine Hawai'i | W 3–1 W 3–1 |
| 2022 | Semifinals National Championship | UCLA Hawai'i | W 3–2 L 0–3 |
| 2023 | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Grand Canyon UCLA | W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 2024 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Belmont Abbey Grand Canyon UCLA | W 3–0 W 3–2 L 1–3 |
| 2025 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Fort Valley State Pepperdine UCLA | W 3–0 W 3–1 W 3–0 |
Women's volleyball
Long Beach State is home to one of the top women's volleyball teams in the nation. LBSU alumnus Brian Gimmillaro has coached the team since 1985 and his tenure is the second-longest of any Long Beach State coach with one team. Long Beach State has appeared in the NCAA tournament 25 consecutive times under Gimmillaro from 1987 to 2011, only missing the tournament under his tenure in 1986 and 2012.Long Beach State has won five national titles in women's volleyball, in 1972, 1973, 1989, 1993 and 1998, the first two being AIAW championships. The 1998 women's team was the first team in NCAA Division I history to have an undefeated season. The team's most famous alumna is Misty May, who won three Olympic gold medals in Beach Volleyball in 2004, 2008, and 2012.
The Long Beach State Beach women's volleyball team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of through twenty-seven appearances.
| 1985 | First round | San Jose State | L 0–3 |
| 1987 | First round | Pacific | L 0–3 |
| 1988 | First round Regional semifinals | UC Irvine Pacific | W 3–2 L 1–3 |
| 1989 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals National Championship | San Diego State Pacific Hawaii UT Arlington Nebraska | W 3–0 W 3–1 W 3–2 W 3–1 W 3–0 |
| 1990 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals | San Jose State Hawaii Pacific | W 3–0 W 3–1 L 1–3 |
| 1991 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals National Championship | Northern Iowa UC Santa Barbara Hawaii LSU UCLA | W 3–0 W 3–1 W 3–2 W 3–1 L 2–3 |
| 1992 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals | Arkansas State Illinois State Pacific Stanford | W 3–1 W 3–0 W 3–1 L 1–3 |
| 1993 | Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals National Championship | George Washington Ohio State Hawaii Florida Penn State | W 3–0 W 3–1 W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–1 |
| 1994 | Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Montana Hawaii Ohio State | W 3–0 W 3–2 L 1–3 |
| 1995 | First round Second Round | Colorado State San Diego State | W 3–0 L 1–3 |
| 1996 | Second Round Regional semifinals | Minnesota Michigan State | W 3–0 L 1–3 |
| 1997 | Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals | Loyola Marymount Washington Nebraska Stanford | W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 L 1–3 |
| 1998 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals National Championship | Southern Arizona Illinois Texas Florida Penn State | W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–2 |
| 1999 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals | Florida A&M Arkansas Colorado State Texas A&M Stanford | W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–1 W 3–0 L 0–3 |
| 2000 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals | San Jose State Santa Clara Hawaii | W 3–1 W 3–2 L 2–3 |
| 2001 | First round Second Round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Semifinals National Championship | San Diego State San Diego Northern Iowa UCLA Arizona Stanford | W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 W 3–0 L 0–3 |
| 2002 | First round | UCLA | L 0–3 |
| 2003 | First round | Kansas | L 0–3 |
| 2004 | First round Second Round | Utah UCLA | W 3–0 L 0–3 |
| 2005 | First round | San Diego | L 1–3 |
| 2006 | First round Second Round | Pepperdine Hawaii | W 3–1 L 1–3 |
| 2007 | First round Second Round | UNLV USC | W 3–2 L 2–3 |
| 2008 | First round Second Round | Pepperdine Stanford | W 3–1 L 0–3 |
| 2009 | First round | UCLA | L 0–3 |
| 2010 | First round | San Diego | L 0–3 |
| 2011 | First round | San Diego | L 1–3 |
| 2014 | First round Second Round | San Diego UCLA | W 3–0 L 0–3 |
Water polo
The Long Beach State men's water polo team competes in the Golden Coast Conference.The men's team has an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 7–12 through twelve appearances.
| 1969 | First round Semifinals | Yale UCLA | W 17–1 L 6–9 |
| 1970 | First round Semifinals | Colorado State UC Irvine | W 9–7 L 6–9 |
| 1971 | First round Semifinals | New Mexico UCLA | W 13–8 L 1–10 |
| 1973 | First round | UC Irvine | L 5–7 |
| 1975 | First round | California | L 6–9 |
| 1981 | First round Semifinals National Championship | Air Force California Stanford | W 15–6 W 11–9 L 6–17 |
| 1983 | First round Semifinals | UCLA California | W 10–8 L 5–8 |
| 1985 | First round | UC Santa Barbara | L 6–7 |
| 1988 | First round | Stanford | L 4–5 |
| 1989 | First round | Pepperdine | L 8–13 |
| 1991 | First round | UC Irvine | L 8–11 |
| 2018 | First round Quarterfinals | Pomona–Pitzer UC San Diego | W 12–5 L 9–14 |
The Long Beach State women's water polo team competes in the Big West Conference.
Former varsity sports
Football
Long Beach State competed in Division I football for a number of years, producing a number of professional players, including Terrell Davis and Mike Horan, among others. George Allen, the famed Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins coach, had a short one-year tenure at Long Beach State. Long Beach State discontinued its football program after the 1991 season due to budget constraints. Prior to going Division I in 1969 the football team competed in the old "College Division" of the NCAA from 1955 through 1968.Rowing (Crew)
Long Beach State Rowing, also known as Beach Crew, was initially a varsity sport but has since become a club sport following nationwide changes to the organization of collegiate rowing following the introduction of Title IX.Despite its status as a club sport Beach Crew continues to uphold a storied legacy and remains a highly competitive program on the West Coast.
Non-varsity sports
In addition to NCAA-sanctioned sports, Long Beach State also fields numerous competitive club sports teams, such as rugby, ice hockey, ultimate, soccer, crew, skiing and many others.Rowing (crew)
Long Beach State Rowing, more popularly known as "Beach Crew," was founded in the fall semester of 1957, and continues to be one of the oldest, continuous, collegiate sports on campus. The team is currently run through the office of Club Sports & Recreation, but has been a part of the CSULB athletic department in past years. The team was co-founded by Bill Lockyer, a local businessman of Long Beach, and Dr. Ludwig Spolyar, a campus activities adviser. Lockyer, who coached for over a decade, was succeeded by Ed Graham in 1970.Long Beach State Rowing is a member of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association, whose participants are mostly non-Pac-10 schools on the West Coast. The team is a founding member of the American Collegiate Rowing Association, the national collegiate organization whose members are not eligible to compete in the National NCAA Championships or the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.
In the 2022 spring season Long Beach State’s double sculls placed first in WIRA. The team overall would later place 9th in small boats at ACRA and became the 2nd best small boats program on the west coast.
In 2025 the Women’s crew became national champions in the coxed four
The team is currently coached by former US National Team member Scott Erwin, John O’Donnell, and former Russian National Team member Aleksei Ivanov.
Beach Crew rows in Alamitos Bay and Marine Stadium in Long Beach. The boathouse, The Pete Archer Rowing Center, was established in 1932. Marine Stadium was built for the 1932 Olympics and is listed as a historic landmark by the State of California. In 2020 it was announced that Marine Stadium will once again host Olympic Rowing in 2028.
Rugby
Founded in 1974, the Long Beach State Rugby Club plays college rugby at the rugby field">College rugby">rugby field. The rugby team moved up from playing as a Division I-AA member of the Golden Coast Conference of Intercollegiate Rugby and became a Division I-A member of the California Collegiate Conference in 2022, which also means moving from American College Rugby to the College Rugby Association of America, the top level of college rugby recognized by USA Rugby. Long Beach has had a strong history winning 16 League Championships, 21 tournament championships, 1 National Championship appearance, 13 All-Americans and 3 US Eagles. In 1995 Chris Rohrbach received the Woodley Award as the Collegiate player of the year. More recently Long Beach has been successful, Winning conference championships in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. Long Beach has also reached the national playoffs in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015. Long Beach is led by Head Coach Jason Reynolds.Facilities
- Blair Field: opened in 1956 and home to the baseball team. It was renamed "Bohl Diamond at Blair Field" after Marilyn Bohl, supporter and donator.
- George Allen Field: home to the women's soccer team. It was opened in 1991 and dedicated to NFL coach George Allen.
- Jack Rose Track: athletics track, named after Long Beach track and field coach Jack Rose.
- Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center: an olympic-sized swimming pool, home to the men's and women's water polo teams.
- Rhodes Tennis Center: Inaugurated in 2008 as home to the women's tennis program. It was named after Terry Rhodes, contributor.
- Walter Pyramid: a pyramid-shaped indoor arena, home to the basketball and volleyball teams of the University.
Championships
Appearances
The Long Beach State Beach competed in the NCAA tournament across 16 active sports 207 times at the Division I level.- Baseball : 1970, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017
- Men's basketball : 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1993, 1995, 2007, 2012, 2024
- Women's basketball : 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2017
- Beach volleyball : 2017
- Men's cross country : 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975
- Men's golf : 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982
- Women's soccer : 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018
- Softball : 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018
- Women's tennis : 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019
- Men's indoor track and field : 1965, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2009, 2017
- Women's indoor track and field : 1998, 2000
- Men's outdoor track and field : 1964, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2019
- Women's outdoor track and field : 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011
- Men's volleyball : 1970, 1973, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Women's volleyball : 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
- Men's water polo : 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2018
Team
- Men's
- * Volleyball : 1991, 2018, 2019, 2025
- Women's
- * Volleyball : 1989, 1993, 1998
| 1989–90 | Women's volleyball | Nebraska | 3–0 |
| 1990–91 | Men's volleyball | Southern California|USC] | 3–1 |
| 1993–94 | Women's volleyball | Penn State | 3–1 |
| 1998–99 | Women's volleyball | Penn State | 3–2 |
| 2017–18 | Men's volleyball | UCLA | 3–2 |
| 2018–19 | Men's volleyball | Hawai'i | 3–1 |
| 2024–25 | Men's volleyball | UCLA | 3–0 |
Long Beach State won 3 national championships at the NCAA Division II level.
- Men's swimming and diving: 1968
- Men's tennis: 1967
- Men's outdoor track and field: 1967
- Women
- *Badminton : 1970, 1974
- *Field hockey : 1979
- *Volleyball : 1972–73 season, 1973
- *Beach volleyball : 2013
- Archery : 2015
- Roller hockey : 2011
- Sailing : 1966 match race, 1981 team race
- Surfing : 2001
Individual
At the NCAA Division II level, Long Beach State garnered 29 individual championships.