school was referred to as the "California State Normal School, San Jose." Sports sponsored All varsity teams representing San José State University compete in the Mountain West Conference except beach volleyball (Southland Conference), gymnastics and women's water polo (Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), men's soccer (Western Athletic Conference), and men's water polo (Golden Coast Conference). Baseball The Spartan baseball team made NCAA tournament appearances in 1955, 1971, 2000 and 2002. In 2000, the team advanced to the College World Series. From 1997–2013, the SJSU baseball team competed in the Western Athletic Conference, earning three WAC pennants in 1997, 2000 and 2009. Under head coach and SJSU alumnus Sam Piraro (1987–2012), the SJSU baseball team reached the 30-win mark 17 times (including five 40+ wins seasons) and appeared in the national rankings 47 times. The SJSU baseball team has fielded sixteen All-Americans including four first-team selections. Over 95 Spartans have been taken in the Major League Baseball draft since 1965. As of 2018, two former Spartans are active professional baseball players in both major and minor leagues. Basketball The SJSU men's basketball team has garnered 10 conference championship titles beginning with a California Coast Conference championship victory in 1925. The Spartans' most recent conference championship victory occurred in 1996 when SJSU defeated Utah State in overtime to win the Big West championship tournament. The SJSU men's basketball team has made three NCAA tournament appearances (1951, 1980 and 1996). SJSU was defeated in the first round all three times. The SJSU men's basketball team has made one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance (1981), but was defeated in the first round. The SJSU men's basketball team has made one College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament appearance (2011), but was defeated in the first round. Eleven former SJSU men's basketball players have been drafted into the NBA. San Jose State began fielding a varsity women's basketball team in 1974. Cross country In 1962, the San José State University cross country team became the first racially integrated team to win the NCAA national championship. The San Jose State men's cross country team has appeared in the NCAA tournament six times, finishing first in 1962 and 1963. The team has compiled an unofficial record of 84–19 (). The San Jose State women's cross country team never made the NCAA tournament. Football San Jose State first fielded a football team in 1893 and has won 17 conference championships dating