Stanford Facts: Cardinal Athletics

Cardinal Athletics

Stanford promotes excellence in both academics and athletics. Stanford has won the Directors’ Cup, which honors the most successful program in NCAA Division I sports, the last 17 years. In 2010-11. Stanford won three national team championships, extending to 35 the number of years it has had at least one national championship. Three coaches were named national coach of the year. Stanford offers about 300 athletic scholarships. About 800 students participate in intercollegiate sports. All 35 programs exceeded the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate.

Stanford employs some 100 coaches and assistants. Ten current coaches have led their teams to one or more NCAA titles. Stanford maintains one million gross feet of indoor facilities and 94 acres of outdoor fields. Among Stanford’s facilities are the 50,000-seat Stanford Stadium; 6,786-yard Stanford Golf Course; the 7,329-seat Maples Pavilion; the 4,000-seat Sunken Diamond; the 14-court Taube Family Tennis Stadium; and the 2,500-seat, four-pool Avery Aquatic Complex.

The Department of Athletics offers 35 varsity sports—19 for women, 16 for men—plus 26 club sports. In addition, more than 9,000 students, faculty and staff participate each year in intramural sports. Each quarter, approximately 2,000 students enroll in 100 physical education courses, which include 30 different activities. Call (800) STANFORD.

Women's Varsity Sports Men's Varsity Sports
Basketball Baseball
Cross Country Basketball
Fencing Cross Country
Field Hockey Fencing
Golf Football
Gymnastics Golf
Lacrosse Gymnastics
Lightweight Rowing Rowing
Rowing Sailing
Sailing Soccer
Soccer Swimming and Diving
Softball Tennis
Squash Track and Field
Swimming and Diving Volleyball
Synchronized Swimming Water Polo
Tennis Wrestling
Track and Field  
Volleyball  
Water Polo  

Home of Champions

  • Total National Championships: 117
  • Total NCAA Championships: 102 (NCAA rank: No.2)
  • Total Men's NCAA Championships: 61 (No. 3)
  • Total Women's NCAA Championships: 41 (No. 1)
  • Total Individual NCAA Championships: 423 (No.1)
  • NCAA Team Championships Since 1990: 69 (No.1)
  • NCAA Team Championships Since 1980: 92 (No.1)
Olympic Medals 1976-2008
  Gold Silver Bronze
2008 8 13 4
2004 3 7 7
2000 4 3 3
1996 16 1 1
1992 10 4 5
1988 8 6 3
1984 5 8 1
1976 5 2 0

The Cardinal

Cardinal has been the color of Stanford athletic teams since 1892. In 1930, Stanford officially adopted the Indian symbol and nickname for its teams. In 1972, the Indian mascot was dropped at the request of Native American students. Stanford teams are called the Cardinal, in reference to the team color.