| Arizona Wildcats | |
| University: | University of Arizona |
| Association: | NCAA |
| Conference: | Big 12 (primary) Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (indoor track & field) |
| Division: | Division I (FBS) |
| Director: | Desiree Reed-Francois |
| Location: | Tucson, Arizona |
| Teams: | 22 (9 Men's, 13 Women's) |
| Stadium: | Arizona Stadium |
| Basketballarena: | McKale Center |
| Baseballfield: | Hi Corbett Field |
| Mascot: | Wilbur and Wilma |
| Nickname: | Wildcats |
| Fightsong: | Fight! Wildcats! Fight! Bear Down |
| Pageurl: | http://www.arizonawildcats.com |
The Arizona Wildcats are the athletic teams that represent the University of Arizona, located in Tucson. The Wildcats compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for college football) level as a member of the Big 12 Conference.[1] Arizona's chief intercollegiate rival is the Arizona State Sun Devils, and the two universities' athletic departments compete against each other in multiple sports via the State Farm Territorial Cup Series.
Beginning on August 2, 2024, the University of Arizona will participate in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Big 12 Conference alongside former Pac-12 members Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah.[2] Arizona joined the Pac-8 in 1978 along with Arizona State University, bringing the conference to 10 teams and the new name of the Pac-10 (the conference became the Pac-12 with the additions of Colorado and Utah in 2011). The school colors are cardinal red and navy blue since 1900, though originally sage green and silver.[3] The official fight song is "Fight! Wildcats! Fight!", though "Bear Down, Arizona!" is more commonly used and "Bear Down" is the university's slogan. On August 4, 2023, Arizona accepted an invite to join the Big 12 Conference, effective August 2, 2024.[4]
The Wildcats name derived from a 1914 football game with then California champions Occidental College, where the Los Angeles Times asserted that Arizona "showed the fight of wildcats."[5]
The university mascots are anthropomorphized wildcats named Wilbur and Wilma. The identities of Wilbur and Wilma are kept secret through the year as the mascots appear only in costume, except typically until the last home basketball game of the year. Then, at halftime, Wilbur and Wilma are exposed. In 1986, Wilbur and Wilma, a longtime couple, were married. Together, Wilbur and Wilma appear along with the cheerleading squad at most Wildcat sporting events.
Arizona's first mascot was a real desert bobcat named "Rufus Arizona", introduced in 1915 and named after the university's president at the time, Rufus B. von KleinSmid.
A strong athletic rivalry exists between the University of Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State University Sun Devils, the state's only two Division I-FBS teams. The rivalry has been recognized as one of the most bitter rivalries in college sports.[7] Both schools compete in the State Farm Territorial Cup Series, a head-to-head competition in 18 different sports. The football rivalry, nicknamed "The Duel in the Desert," is the oldest rivalry game in college football that features a trophy. The trophy awarded after each football game is the Territorial Cup. The teams first played in 1899, while the Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States. The University of Arizona holds the all-time record (versus Arizona State) in all 3 major men's sports. Starting with basketball, they hold a record of 159–87 against ASU.[8] They also hold the all-time record in football 50–45–1.[9] Finally, Arizona holds the all-time record in baseball 260–227–1.[10]
Rivalries have also been created with other Pac-12 teams, especially University of California, Los Angeles which has been a consistent softball rival and was Arizona's main men's basketball rival from the late 1980s to the present.
Outside of the Pac-12, Arizona has two dormant rivalries with two other former Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association members, the New Mexico Lobos and Texas Tech Red Raiders. Although Arizona remained in the Border Conference until it folded in 1961, New Mexico and Texas Tech withdrew from the Border Conference in 1952 and 1956 respectively. Both football programs remained on Arizona's schedule annually until the late 1970s, even though Texas Tech was a member of the Southwest Conference and New Mexico was a member of the Skyline Eight. In 1962, Arizona and New Mexico once again became conference rivals as charter members of the Western Athletic Conference. The Kit Carson Rifle was a traveling trophy exchanged between the Wildcats and Lobos from 1938 though 1990. Prior to the 1997 Insight.com Bowl, two schools announced the Kit Carson Rifle would not be awarded to the bowl game's winner because the trophy may have been used against Native Americans.[11]
| Basketball | ||
| Beach volleyball | ||
| Cross country | ||
| Golf | ||
| Golf | Gymnastics | |
| Soccer | ||
| Tennis | Softball | |
| Track and field† | Swimming & diving | |
| Tennis | ||
| Track and field† | ||
| Triathlon | ||
| Volleyball | ||
See main article: Arizona Wildcats baseball.
The baseball team is consistently one of the top teams in the country and has captured four national championship titles in 1976, 1980, 1986, and 2012. Arizona's baseball teams have appeared in the NCAA College World Series more than fifteen times., the team is coached by Chip Hale.
See main article: Arizona Wildcats men's basketball.
The men's basketball team has been one of the nation's most successful programs since Lute Olson was hired as head coach in 1983 and was known as a national powerhouse in Division I men's basketball. From 1988 to 2007, the team amassed 20 consecutive 20-win seasons. Arizona reached the NCAA tournament in 25 consecutive years from 1985 to 2009. The Wildcats reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament in 1988, 1994, 1997, and 2001.
In 1997, Arizona defeated the University of Kentucky, the defending national champions, to win the NCAA National Championship. Their championship team was led by future NBA players Mike Bibby and Michael Dickerson, as well as Final Four MVP Miles Simon. Bennett Davison and A. J. Bramlett rounded out the starting five. Other team members include Jason Terry, Eugene Edgerson and Josh Pastner. They defeated three number-one seeds in the same tournament: Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky in the Championship Game. They won a thriller game in the Elite Eight in double overtime to take them to the Final Four.
After 25 years of coaching Arizona, Lute Olson retired shortly before the 2008–2009 season, largely due to on-going health issues. After several years of coaching by interim head coaches, Arizona named Sean Miller, formerly the head coach of Xavier, as the next Wildcats head coach. In the NCAA Tournament, Sean Miller led the Wildcats to 3 Elite Eight appearances (2011, 2014, 2015).
After 12 years at the helm, Arizona and head coach Sean Miller parted ways.[13] In April 2021, it was announced that Tommy Lloyd, the longtime top assistant coach at Gonzaga under Mark Few, would become the next head coach of Arizona men's basketball.[14]
See main article: Arizona Wildcats women's basketball.
The women's basketball program began in its current form in 1972. Before that, it existed as an intramural sport. The team has twice been runner-up in the Pac-10 (forerunner of the Pac-12) Conference Tournament and has made seven appearances in NCAA tournaments, and gone abroad to play in four foreign countries. The program has had eight coaches in its forty-plus years, currently coached by former player Adia Barnes. The Wildcats have an all-time game record of 682–746.[15]
See main article: Arizona Wildcats football. The football team began at the University of Arizona in 1899 under the nickname "Varsity" (a name kept until the 1914 season when the team earned the name "Wildcats"). The football team was notably successful in the 1990s under head coach Dick Tomey and his "Desert Swarm" defense that was characterized by tough, hard-nosed tactics. In 1993, the team had its first 10-win season and drubbed the powerhouse Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl by a score of 29–0. In 1998, the team posted a school-record 12–1 season and made the Holiday Bowl in which it defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Arizona ended that season ranked 3rd nationally and 2nd in several publications. Despite a stellar season, Arizona's single loss to UCLA caused the team to finish second in the Pac-10. From 1999 to 2007, Arizona had a mix of unsuccessful seasons without any bowl appearances. Then in 2008 Arizona returned to prominence with a successful season and a bowl win against BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. Arizona has started to build up its old time success with a 6–2 record, and an appearance in the BCS standings ranked number 18. This is the first time they have been ranked in the BCS poll since 1998. After their win against Washington State, Arizona was bowl eligible for the third time in four years. After a win against USC, Arizona along with Nebraska was invited to the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. It was the first time since 1998 that Arizona had played in the Holiday Bowl and the second time both schools have met each other at the bowl game. From November 2003 until October 2011, the program was led by Mike Stoops, brother of Bob Stoops, the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma (the 2000 BCS national champions); Stoops was fired on October 10, 2011.
Former Michigan and West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez was hired on November 21, 2011, to lead the Wildcats. The announcement was made by UA athletic director Greg Byrne via Twitter. In his first season, Rodriguez took the Wildcats to the 2012 New Mexico Bowl, where they defeated the University of Nevada Wolfpack. The Wildcats finished the 2012 campaign with an 8–5 (4–5 Pac-12) record. In his second season, Rodriguez took the Wildcats to the 2013 AdvoCare V100 Bowl, where they defeated Boston College. The Wildcats finished the 2013 campaign with a (8–5, 4–5 Pac-12) record. In 2014, Rich Rodriguez led the Wildcats to a 10–3 regular season, behind generally solid team performance, including efforts from freshman QB Anu Solomon, sophomore LB Scooby Wright (who earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year among other honors), senior RB Terris Jones-Grigsby and freshman RB Nick Wilson. The Wildcats won the Pac-12 South Division, the first divisional championship in program history, advancing to the Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where they were defeated by the Oregon Ducks 51–13. The Wildcats then played in the first College Football Playoff appearance, netting a berth in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, the school's third major-bowl appearance, where they faced the Boise State Broncos. Arizona lost the game to Boise State, 38–30. The Wildcats finished the 2014 season with a record of 10–4 (7–2 Pac-12), achieving only the second 10-win regular season in program history; the Wildcats also finished the season ranked number 17 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and number 19 in the AP Poll. Jedd Fisch was hired on December 23, 2020, as the 30th head coach in school history, he finished his career at Arizona with a record of 16–21.[16]
Brent Brennan was hired on January 16, 2024, as the 31st head coach in school history.[17]
See main article: Arizona Wildcat men's golf.
The university's golf teams have also been notably successful. The men's team won a national championship in 1992. Jim Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open champion attended the University of Arizona prior to turning professional in 1992. The men's team has won three Pac-12 Conference championships (1987, 1991, 2004). Starting in 2023, the Arizona Men will use Tucson Country Club as their home course.
See main article: Arizona Wildcat women's golf.
The women's team is one of the most successful in all of collegiate golf. They have won three national championships in 1996, 2000, and 2018. Annika Sörenstam won an individual national title in 1991, and Lorena Ochoa was NCAA Women's Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002 before leaving UA early to turn pro. Erica Blasberg was the country's number 1 ranked college player as a freshman, compiling six victories before leaving in her sophomore year to turn pro, was an All-American golfer in 2003 and 2004, 2003 NCAA Freshman of the Year, 2003 Pac-10 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, and won the 2003 Golfstat Cup, awarded for having the NCAA women's lowest stroke average (72.36).[18]
See main article: Arizona Wildcats softball.
The Arizona softball program has arguably been the best college softball program over the last 20 years. The softball team has won eight NCAA Women's College World Series titles, in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2007 under head coach Mike Candrea (NCAA Softball Championship). The team has appeared in the NCAA National Championship in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2010, a feat second only to UCLA. Mike Candrea also led the 2004 U.S. Olympic softball team to a gold medal in Athens, Greece & 2008 led the team to a silver medal in Beijing, China. Following the 2021 season, Candrea announced his retirement after the 35th season as head coach. He retired as the 2nd most winningest coach in NCAA Softball history with an overall record of 1,859−505−2 and his 8 National Titles were the most & current in NCAA softball history at the time of his retirement.[19] Former National Champion & NCAA All-American Caitlin Lowe was hired as only the 6th coach in team history.[20]
National Champions 1991 | National Champions 1993 | National Champions 1994 | National Champions 1996 | National Champions 1997 | National Champions 2001 | National Champions 2006 | National Champions 2007 |
Jenny Dalton 16 | Nancy Evans 13 | Jennie Finch 27 | Susie Parra 1 | Julie Reitan 10 |
The women's and men's swimming & diving team won their first national championships in 2008.
In 2014–2015, women's team member Margo Geer was named the Pac-12 Conference Woman of the Year for the 2014–15 academic year.[21]
The synchronized swimming team won three championships in 1980, 1981, and 1984, in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.
Arizona has three sports in its "Cactus Tier", an elevated level of intercollegiate club competition: ice hockey, lacrosse, and rugby.[22] [23]
The men's ice hockey team was established in 1979 by head coach and general manager Leo Golembiewski as a Division-1 non-varsity hockey team, the team was originally known as the Arizona IceCats.[24] The team was one of the founding programs of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) in 1991; and competes as an independent program at the ACHA Division I level.[24]
The team has played at the 7,000-seat Tucson Convention Center, affectionately known as "The Madhouse on Main Street,"[24] since the 1980–81 season and are consistently one of the university's top draws with an average attendance of 3,000 fans per game.[25]
Coach Golembiewski retired after 32 seasons as coach and general manager of the team at the conclusion of the 2010–2011 season. Golembiewski compiled a record of 634–217–23, in addition the IceCats won a National Tournament in 1985 and appeared in the National Tournament twenty-one straight seasons prior to 2004, including in eight Final Fours ('84, '86, '87, '88, '91, '93, '94, '97).[24]
The program was reorganized in 2011 under new head coach Sean Hogan. The team changed its name to the university's official 'Wildcats' name and changed the managerial structure in the whole organization. The new Wildcat hockey team is organized under the auspices of the Campus Recreation Department and began receiving increased financial backing from the university, which they have never had in their history under former head coach and general manager Leo Golembiewski.[24]
For the majority of the program's existence, the ice hockey team has competed independent of a conference. The IceCats were originally part of the Intercollegiate Pacific Conference, and later Pacific Hockey Conference, from 1980 until the formation of the ACHA in 1991.[26] Beginning in the 2013–14 season, the team will join the newly formed Western Collegiate Hockey League (WCHL). The new conference will be made of six member teams, including rival Arizona State.[26]
The Wildcats won the 2018–2019 WCHL Championship.
Founded in 1969,[27] the University of Arizona rugby program plays in the PAC Rugby Conference against its conference rivals such as Arizona State and Utah. The Wildcats were led by head coach Dave Sitton from 1979 to 2013, who served as a board member of USA Rugby, and also worked as a rugby broadcaster for ESPN and Fox.[28]
The Wildcats have become one of the most successful college rugby programs in the country. The Wildcats reached the quarterfinals of the 2010 national collegiate rugby championships.[27] The Wildcats reached the playoffs in 2013, but lost in an upset to Long Beach. The Wildcats reached the D1-AA national playoffs in 2014, where they defeated Long Beach State, Stanford, and Bowling Green, but ultimately lost to Central Florida in the final.[29]
The Wildcats have a successful rugby sevens program. Arizona has regularly reached the quarterfinals of the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), the highest profile college rugby competition in the U.S., and the Wildcats finished second at the 2012 CRC. The CRC is played every June in Philadelphia and is broadcast live on NBC. Arizona's best known rugby players include Trevor Brady, who holds the record for the longest successful kick and most points in school history, Peter Tiberio and Brett Thompson, who play for the U.S. national rugby team.
Developed in 2014 and founded in 2015, the CO-ED competition cheerleading team was created to give individuals who participated in 4 person stunt groups and competitions a chance to represent the school. The team competes at national levels at the NCA national college competition in Daytona Florida, the USA national college competition in Anaheim California, and more. In 2020, the team placed 2nd in the Virtual Daytona competition and won 1st in the virtual national college classic competition. They have also won the club sport of the year award for the UofA two years in a row, as well as their coach Nicole Dudas receiving the club sports coach of the year award in 2021. The group does many fundraising activities and community service as well.
The team is separate from the sideline team seen at football games, as they focus more on competing at a national level. In a very short amount of time, the organization has grown from being a tier 3 club sport, to a tier one team, an NCA affiliated cheer team, and a national placing team in competitions.
Arizona has won 19 NCAA team national championships.[30]
Results
| 1976 | Baseball | 7–1 | ||
| 1980 | Baseball | 5–3 | ||
| 1986 | Baseball | 10–2 | ||
| 1991 | Softball | 5–1 | ||
| 1992 | Men's golf | 1,129–1,136 | ||
| 1993 | Softball | UCLA | 1–0 | |
| 1994 | Softball | 4–0 | ||
| 1996 | Women's golf | 1,240–1,240† | ||
| 1996 | Softball | 6–4 | ||
| 1997 | Men's basketball | 84–79OT | ||
| 1997 | Softball | UCLA | 10–2 | |
| 2000 | Women's golf | 1,175–1,196 | ||
| 2001 | Softball | UCLA | 1–0 | |
| 2006 | Softball | 2–0 | ||
| 2007 | Softball | 2–1 | ||
| 2008 | Women's swimming & diving | 484–348 | ||
| 2008 | Men's swimming & diving | 500.5–406 | ||
| 2012 | Baseball | 2–0 | ||
| 2018 | Women's golf | 3–2 |
The Arizona Wildcats competed in the NCAA tournament across 22 active sports (9 men's and 13 women's) 525 times at the Division I FBS level.[31]
Arizona has won 177 NCAA individual national championships.[32]
| NCAA individual championships | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Athlete(s) | Sport | Event | Source | |
| 1964 | Men's outdoor track and field | Long jump | [33] [34] | ||
| 1965 | John Tushaus | Men's outdoor track and field | Javelin | ||
| 1968 | Pat Arnold | Men's gymnastics | Rings | [35] | |
| 1970 | Doug Boger | Men's gymnastics | Vault | ||
| 1981 | Doug Towne | Men's swimming | 500 freestyle | [36] | |
| 1982 | Men's outdoor track and field | Long jump | |||
| 1983 | Women's indoor track and field | Shot put | [37] | ||
| 1983 | Men's swimming | 500 freestyle | |||
| 1984 | George DiCarlo | Men's swimming | 500 freestyle | ||
| 1984 | Women's outdoor track and field | 400-meter dash | [38] | ||
| 1985 | Katrina Johnson | Women's outdoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 1986 | Katrina Johnson | Women's indoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 1986 | Men's cross country | [39] | |||
| 1988 | Matt Guisto | Men's outdoor track and field | 5,000-meter run | ||
| 1989 | Women's indoor track and field | Shot put | |||
| 1989 | Mariusz Podkoschielny | Men's swimming | 1,650 freestyle | ||
| 1989 | Carla Garrett | Women's outdoor track and field | Discus | ||
| 1989 | Carla Garrett | Women's outdoor track and field | Shot put | ||
| 1989 | Men's outdoor track and field | 5,000-meter run | |||
| 1989 | Derek Huff | Men's outdoor track and field | Decathlon | ||
| 1990 | Susan Slaughter | Women's golf | |||
| 1991 | Crissy Ahmann | Women's swimming | 100 butterfly | [40] | |
| 1991 | Anna Basaldua | Women's gymnastics | Vault | [41] | |
| 1991 | Women's golf | ||||
| 1991 | Women's indoor track and field | High jump | |||
| 1991 | Tanya Hughes | Women's outdoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 1992 | Crissy Ahmann | Women's swimming | 100 butterfly | ||
| 1992 | Mark Davis | Men's outdoor track and field | Steeplechase | ||
| 1992 | Tanya Hughes | Women's outdoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 1993 | J.C. Broughton | Women's indoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 1993 | Seth Pepper | Men's swimming | 100 butterfly | ||
| 1993 | Todd Newman Robert Abernethy Seth Pepper Mike McQuitty | Men's swimming | 200 medley relay | ||
| 1993 | Tanya Hughes | Women's outdoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 1993 | Women's tennis | Doubles | [42] | ||
| 1994 | Brenda Sleeuwenhoek | Women's indoor track & field | 5,000-meter run | ||
| 1994 | Martin Keino | Men's cross country | |||
| 1994 | Men's swimming | 500 freestyle | |||
| 1994 | Chad Carvin | Men's swimming | 1,650 freestyle | ||
| 1995 | Women's swimming | 50 freestyle | |||
| 1995 | Ashley Tappin | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle | ||
| 1995 | Martin Keino | Men's outdoor track & field | 5,000-meter run | ||
| 1996 | Women's cross country | ||||
| 1996 | Martin Pepper | Men's swimming | 100 butterfly | ||
| 1996 | Shannon Hosack Liesl Kolbisen Casey Legler Ashley Tappin | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle relay | ||
| 1996 | Heidi Hornbeek | Women's gymnastics | Floor exercise | ||
| 1996 | Marisa Baena | Women's golf | |||
| 1997 | Women's indoor track and field | 5,000-meter run | |||
| 1997 | Women's swimming | 1,650 freestyle | |||
| 1997 | Shannon Hosack Liesl Kolbisen Denali Knapp Ashley Tappin | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle relay | ||
| 1997 | Men's swimming | 1,650 freestyle | |||
| 1997 | Women's outdoor track & field | 10,000-meter run | |||
| 1997 | Women's outdoor track & field | 5,000-meter run | |||
| 1998 | Trina Jackson | Women's swimming | 1,650 freestyle | ||
| 1998 | Ryk Neethling | Men's swimming | 200 freestyle | ||
| 1998 | Ryk Neethling | Men's swimming | 500 freestyle | ||
| 1998 | Ryk Neethling | Men's swimming | 1,650 freestyle | ||
| 1998 | Women's indoor track and field | 5,000-meter run | |||
| 1998 | Men's outdoor track and field | Decathlon | |||
| 1998 | Men's outdoor track and field | Javelin | |||
| 1998 | Women's outdoor track and field | 10,000-meter run | |||
| 1998 | Women's outdoor track and field | 5,000-meter run | |||
| 1998 | Shannon Hosack Liesl Kolbisen Denali Knapp Lindsey Farella | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle relay | ||
| 1998 | Shannon Hosack Liesl Kolbisen Lindsey Farella Denali Knapp | Women's swimming | 400 freestyle relay | ||
| 1998 | Trina Jackson Laurie Kline Maureen Phillips Lindsey Farella | Women's swimming | 800 freestyle relay | ||
| 1999 | Ryk Neethling | Men's swimming | 200 freestyle | ||
| 1999 | Ryk Neethling | Men's swimming | 500 freestyle | ||
| 1999 | Ryk Neethling | Men's swimming | 1,650 freestyle | ||
| 1999 | Lindsey Farella Denali Knapp Emily Mastin Sarah Tolar | Women's swimming | 400 freestyle relay | ||
| 2000 | Women's swimming | 200 backstroke | |||
| 2000 | Trina Jackson Sarah Tolar Jenny Vanker Emily Mastin | Women's swimming | 800 freestyle relay | ||
| 2000 | Ryk Neethling | Men's swimming | 200 freestyle | ||
| 2000 | Ryk Neethling | Men's swimming | 500 freestyle | ||
| 2000 | Jenna Daniels | Women's golf | |||
| 2000 | Esko Mikkola | Men's outdoor track and field | Javelin | ||
| 2000 | Men's outdoor track and field | 800-meter dash | |||
| 2001 | Patrick Nduwimana | Men's indoor track and field | 800-meter dash | [43] | |
| 2001 | Women's swimming | 200 breaststroke | |||
| 2001 | Sarah Tolar | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle | ||
| 2001 | Andrea Dutoit | Women's outdoor track and field | Pole vault | ||
| 2001 | Women's outdoor track and field | Long jump | |||
| 2001 | Brianna Glenn | Women's outdoor track and field | 200-meter dash | ||
| 2001 | Tara Chaplin | Women's cross country | |||
| 2002 | Amy Linnen | Women's indoor track and field | Pole vault | ||
| 2002 | Men's swimming | 50 freestyle | |||
| 2002 | Sarah Tolar | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle | ||
| 2002 | Emily Mason Jenny Vanker Jessica Hayes Sarah Tolar | Women's swimming | 800 freestyle relay | ||
| 2003 | Men's swimming | 200 freestyle | |||
| 2004 | Emily Mason | Women's swimming | 400 freestyle | ||
| 2004 | Men's outdoor track and field | 5,000-meters | |||
| 2005 | Simon Burnett | Men's swimming | 200-yard freestyle | ||
| 2005 | Emily Mason | Women's swimming | 500-yard freestyle | ||
| 2005 | Marshi Smith | Women's swimming | 100-yard backstroke | ||
| 2005 | Robert Cheseret | Men's outdoor track and field | 10,000-meters | ||
| 2006 | Men's swimming | 100-yard butterfly | |||
| 2006 | Simon Burnett | Men's swimming | 200-yard freestyle | ||
| 2006 | Nick Thoman Ivan Barnes Albert Subirats Adam Ritter | Men's swimming | 400 Medley Relay | ||
| 2006 | Albert Subirats Dave Rollins Lyndon Ferns Simon Burnett | Men's swimming | 200 medley relay | ||
| 2006 | Simon Burnett Lyndon Ferns Tyler DeBerry Adam Ritter | Men's swimming | 800 freestyle relay | ||
| 2006 | Simon Burnett Lyndon Ferns Albert Subirats Adam Ritter | Men's swimming | 400 freestyle relay | ||
| 2006 | Women's swimming | 200 individual medley | |||
| 2006 | Whitney Myers | Women's swimming | 400 individual medley | ||
| 2006 | Courtney Cashion Jenna Gresdal Anna Turner Lindsey Kelly | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle relay | ||
| 2006 | Courtney Cashion Jenna Gresdal Whitney Myers Lacey Nymeyer | Women's swimming | 400 freestyle relay | ||
| 2006 | Jenna Gresdal Erin Sieper Whitney Myers Lacey Nymeyer | Women's swimming | 400 medley relay | ||
| 2006 | Men's outdoor track and field | Decathlon | |||
| 2007 | Nicolas Nilo Jean Basson Darian Townsend Adam Ritter | Men's swimming | 200 individual medley | ||
| 2007 | Adam Ritter | Men's swimming | 200 individual medley | ||
| 2007 | Men's swimming | 100 butterfly | |||
| 2007 | Albert Subirats | Men's swimming | 100 backstroke | ||
| 2007 | Men's swimming | 200 freestyle | |||
| 2007 | Hailey DeGolia Annie Chandler Lara Jackson Lindsey Kelly | Women's swimming | 200 medley relay | ||
| 2007 | Lara Jackson Lacey Nymeyer Anna Turner Lindsey Kelly | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle relay | ||
| 2007 | Jake Arnold | Men's outdoor track and field | Decathlon | ||
| 2008 | Albert Subirats | Men's swimming | 100 butterfly | ||
| 2008 | Darian Townsend | Men's swimming | 200 individual medley | ||
| 2008 | Albert Subirats Darian Townsend Nicolas Nilo Joel Greenshields | Men's swimming | 400 freestyle relay | ||
| 2008 | Jean Basson Darian Townsend Joel Greenshields Nicolas Nilo | Men's swimming | 800 freestyle relay | ||
| 2008 | Albert Subirats Ivan Barnes Darian Townsend Joel Greenshields | Men's swimming | 400 medley relay | ||
| 2008 | Women's swimming | 50 freestyle | |||
| 2008 | Women's swimming | 100 freestyle | |||
| 2008 | Lara Jackson Lacey Nymeyer Anna Turner Taylor Baughman | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle relay | ||
| 2008 | Lacey Nymeyer Anna Turner Lara Jackson Taylor Baughman | Women's swimming | 400 freestyle relay | ||
| 2008 | Justine Schluntz Lacey Nymeyer Leone Vorster Taylor Baughman | Women's swimming | 800 freestyle relay | ||
| 2008 | Hailey DeGolia Annie Chandler Lara Jackson Anna Turner | Women's swimming | 200 medley relay | ||
| 2008 | Hailey DeGolia Annie Chandler Ana Agy Lacey Nymeyer | Women's swimming | 400 medley relay | ||
| 2008 | Liz Patterson | Women's outdoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 2009 | Men's swimming | 500 freestyle | |||
| 2009 | Lara Jackson | Women's swimming | 50 freestyle | ||
| 2009 | Lara Jackson Lindsey Kelly Justine Schluntz Taylor Baughman | Women's swimming | 200 freestyle relay | ||
| 2009 | Ana Agy Annie Chandler Lara Jackson Justine Schluntz | Women's swimming | 400 medley relay | ||
| 2010 | Liz Patterson | Women's indoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 2010 | Women's swimming | 100 breaststroke | |||
| 2010 | Ana Agy Ann Chandler Erin Campbell Justine Schluntz | Women's swimming | 200 medley relay | ||
| 2010 | Ana Agy Ann Chandler Whitney Lopus Justine Schluntz | Women's swimming | 400 medley relay | ||
| 2010 | Cory Chitwood | Men's swimming | 200 backstroke | ||
| 2010 | Men's swimming | 200 breaststroke | |||
| 2011 | Women's indoor track and field | Shot put | |||
| 2011 | Women's indoor track and field | High jump | |||
| 2011 | Cory Chitwood | Men's swimming | 200 backstroke | ||
| 2011 | Julie Labonte | Women's outdoor track and field | Shot put | ||
| 2011 | Brigetta Barrett | Women's outdoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 2011 | Men's cross country | ||||
| 2012 | Brigetta Barrett | Women's indoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 2012 | Lawi Lalang | Men's indoor track and field | 3,000-meter run | ||
| 2012 | Lawi Lalang | Men's indoor track and field | 5,000-meter run | ||
| 2012 | Nick Ross | Men's indoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 2012 | Cory Chitwood | Men's swimming | 200 backstroke | ||
| 2012 | Men's swimming | 100 breaststroke | |||
| 2012 | Austen Thompson | Men's swimming | 400 individual medley | ||
| 2012 | Mitchell Friedemann Kevin Cordes Giles Smith Adam Small | Men's swimming | 200 medley relay | ||
| 2012 | Ben Grado | Men's diving | Platform | ||
| 2012 | Brigetta Barrett | Women's outdoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 2013 | Lawi Lalang | Men's indoor track and field | Mile run | ||
| 2013 | Lawi Lalang | Men's indoor track and field | 3,000-meter run | ||
| 2013 | Brigetta Barrett | Women's indoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 2013 | Kevin Cordes | Men's swimming | 100 breaststroke | ||
| 2013 | Kevin Cordes | Men's swimming | 200 breaststroke | ||
| 2013 | Mitchell Friedemann Kevin Cordes Giles Smith Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or | Men's swimming | 400 medley relay | ||
| 2013 | Women's swimming | 50 freestyle | |||
| 2013 | Margo Geer | Women's swimming | 100 freestyle | ||
| 2013 | Samantha Pickens | Women's diving | 1-meter springboard | ||
| 2013 | Lawi Lalang | Men's outdoor track and field | 5,000-meter run | ||
| 2013 | Lawi Lalang | Men's outdoor track and field | 10,000-meter run | ||
| 2013 | Brigetta Barrett | Women's outdoor track and field | High jump | ||
| 2014 | Kevin Cordes | Men's swimming | 100 breaststroke | ||
| 2014 | Kevin Cordes | Men's swimming | 200 breaststroke | ||
| 2014 | Men's swimming | 50 freestyle | |||
| 2014 | Margo Geer | Women's swimming | 100 freestyle | ||
| 2014 | Lawi Lalang | Men's outdoor track and field | 5,000-meter run | ||
| 2015 | Samantha Pickens | Women's diving | 1-meter springboard | ||
| 2015 | Kevin Cordes | Men's swimming | 100 breaststroke | ||
| 2017 | Women's outdoor track and field | 400-meter hurdles | |||
| 2023 | Men's indoor track and field | Shot put | [44] | ||
| 2023 | Women's diving | Platform | [45] | ||
| 2023 | Jordan Geist | Men's outdoor track and field | Shot put | [46] |
In addition to the successful athletic program, Arizona has produced 122 Olympians making 187 appearances between 1952 through 2021.[47]
Notable Wildcat Olympians include Delaney Schnell (women's diving, silver), Amy Van Dyken (women's swimming, gold), Josh Green (men's basketball, bronze), Jennie Finch (softball, gold and silver), Andre Iguodala (men's basketball, gold), Amanda Beard (women's swimming, multiple medals), and Richard Jefferson (men's basketball, bronze).
In 1952, Jack K. Lee, an applicant for the UA's band directorship, departed Tucson by air following an interview with UA administration. From his airplane window, Lee observed the huge letters on the roof of the UA gymnasium reading "BEAR DOWN". Inspired, Lee scribbled down what was at first a poem, but later turned into a song. By the time his plane landed, he had virtually finished it. A few weeks later Lee was named the UA band director, and in September 1952, the UA band performed "Bear Down, Arizona!" in public for the first time. Soon thereafter, "Bear Down, Arizona!" became accepted as UA's fight song despite the fact that the Chicago Bears fight song, "Bear Down, Chicago Bears", was introduced in 1941.
The battle cry was created by a popular student athlete, John "Button" Salmon, who was the student body president, as well as the starting quarterback for the Wildcat football team and the catcher for the Wildcat baseball team.
The day before the first game of the 1926 football season, Salmon and three friends were involved in an automobile accident and their vehicle flipped over a ravine. Although Salmon's friends were not injured, Salmon incurred a severe spinal cord injury.
In the aftermath of the accident, football coach Pop McKale visited him in the hospital every day. During McKale's last visit, Salmon's last message to his teammates was, "Tell them...tell the team to bear down." John Salmon died on October 18, 1926.
The following year, the University of Arizona student body approved that "Bear Down" would be the new slogan for all Wildcat athletic teams. In 1939, the Arizona state legislature issued a decree that "Bear Down" would be the exclusive property of the University of Arizona.
A heritage committee, organized by current and former longtime athletics department staff, manages these through reviews and makes recommendations based on all available information, resources, and considerations.[48]
Ring of Honor criteria:
| Hank Leiber | 1930 | |
| Robert Murray | 1947–1950 | |
| Don Lee | 1954–1956 | |
| Carl Thomas | 1954–1956 | |
| Dick Griesser | 1954–1958 | |
| Tom Clarkson | 1955–1957 | |
| Matt Encinas | 1957–1959 | |
| Alan Hall | 1958–1960 | |
| C. Shoemaker | 1959–1961 | |
| Dan Schneider | 1961–1962 | |
| Eddie Leon | 1965–1967 | |
| Pat O'Brien | 1966–1968 | |
| Jerry Stitt | 1966–1968 | |
| Tim Plodinec | 1967–1968 | |
| Steve Miklulic | 1970–1971 | |
| John Glenn | 1970–1972 | |
| Dennis Haines | 1971–1974 | |
| Dave Stegman | 1973–1976 | |
| Ron Hassey | 1974–1976 | |
| Steve Powers | 1974–1976 | |
| Les Pearsey | 1975–1978 | |
| Terry Francona | 1978–1980 | |
| Craig Leffery | 1978–1980 | |
| Wes Clements | 1979–1980 | |
| John Moses | 1979–1980 | |
| Ed Vosberg | 1980–1983 | |
| Jack Howell | 1983 | |
| Bob Ralston | 1983–1984 | |
| Joe Magrane | 1983–1985 | |
| Chip Hale | 1984–1987 | |
| Gil Heredia | 1986–1987 | |
| Kenny Lofton | 1988 | |
| JT Snow | 1987–1989 | |
| Alan Zinter | 1987–1989 | |
| Trevor Hoffman | 1988–1989 | |
| Robbie Moen | 1990–1993 | |
| George Arias | 1992–1993 | |
| Scott Erickson | 1989 | |
| Ben Diggins | 1999–2000 | |
| Shelley Duncan | 1999–2001 | |
| Trevor Crowe | 2003–2005 | |
| Keoni DeRenne | 1998–2000 | |
| Brian Anderson | 2001–2003 | |
| Nick Hundley | 2003–2005 | |
| Brad Boyer | 2003–2006 | |
| Derek Decater | 2003–2006 | |
| Jason Donald | 2004–2006 | |
| Eric Berger | 2005–2008 | |
| Preston Guilmet | 2006–2009 |
| Bob Elliott | 1973–1977 | |
| 1983–1988 | ||
| 1985–1989 | ||
| Jud Buechler | 1986–1990 | |
| Sean Rooks | 1989–1992 | |
| Chris Mills | 1990–1993 | |
| Khalid Reeves | 1990–1994 | |
| Damon Stoudamire | 1991–1995 | |
| Miles Simon | 1994–1998 | |
| 1995–1999 | ||
| Mike Bibby | 1996–1998 | |
| Michael Wright | 1998–2001 | |
| 1999–2001 | ||
| Jason Gardner | 1999–2003 | |
| 1998–2003 | ||
| Salim Stoudamire | 2002–2005 | |
| Gilbert Arenas | 1999–2001 | |
| Chase Budinger | 2006–2009 | |
| Jerryd Bayless | 2007–2008 | |
| Derrick Williams | 2009–2011 | |
| 2002–2004 | ||
| Nick Johnson | 2011–2014 | |
| 2013–2014 | ||
| 2001–2005 | ||
| Stanley Johnson | 2014–2015 | |
| 2017–2018 | ||
| Albert "Al" Fleming | 1972–1976 | |
| Ernie McCray | 1957–1960 | |
| 2019–2020 | ||
| 2019–2020 | ||
| 2021–2022 | ||
| Christian Koloko | 2019–2022 | |
| Kenny Lofton | 1985–1989 |
| 1995–1998 | ||
| Shawtinice Polk | 2001–2005 | |
| Dee Dee Wheeler | 2002–2005 | |
| Ifunanya "Ify" Ibekwe | 2007–2011 | |
| Davellyn Whyte | 2009–2013 | |
| 2017–2021 | ||
| Kirsten Smith | 1982–1986 |
| Dave Hibbert | 1958 | |
| Hank Stanton | 1939–1941 | |
| Walt Nielsen | 1936–1938 | |
| Tony Bouie | 1991–1994 | |
| Allan Durden | 1982–1985 | |
| Harold McClellan | 1920–1922 | |
| Eddie Wilson | 1959–1961 | |
| Ted Bland | 1933–1935 | |
| Tom Greenfield | 1936–1938 | |
| Fred W. Enke | 1946–1947 | |
| Art Luppino | 1953–1956 | |
| Jackie Wallace | 1970–1972 | |
| Chris McAlister | 1996–1998 | |
| Theopolis Bell | 1972–1975 | |
| 1991–1994 | ||
| Josh Miller | 1990–1992 | |
| 1984–1987 | ||
| Mark Arneson | 1969–1971 | |
| Ricky Hunley | 1980–1983 | |
| 1992–1995 | ||
| Darryll Lewis | 1987–1990 | |
| Joe Tofflemire | 1985–1988 | |
| Dennis Northcutt | 1996–1999 | |
| Rob Waldrop | 1990–1993 | |
| Tom Tunnicliffe | 1980–1983 | |
| Byron Evans | 1983–1986 | |
| Glenn Parker | 1988–1989 | |
| Brant Boyer | 1992–1993 | |
| Michael Bates | 1989–1990 | |
| John Fina | 1988–1991 | |
| Dana Wells | 1985–1988 | |
| Max Zendejas | 1982–1985 | |
| Lance Briggs | 1999–2002 | |
| Antonio Pierce | 1999–2000 | |
| Mike Dawson | 1972–1975 | |
| Antoine Cason | 2004–2007 | |
| Edwin Mulitalo | 1997–1998 | |
| 2003–2006 | ||
| Mike Thomas | 2005–2008 | |
| 2009–2010 | ||
| Ka'Deem Carey | 2011–2013 | |
| Bobby Wade | 1999–2002 | |
| 2007–2009 | ||
| 2013–2015 | ||
| Trung Canidate | 1996–1999 | |
| Brandon Manumaleuna | 1997–2000 | |
| Keith Smith | 1996–1999 | |
| Earl Mitchell | 2006–2009 | |
| Brooks Reed | 2007–2010 |
| Mary-Kay Brown | 1984–1988 | |
| Kelly Chaplin | 1984–1988 | |
| Caroline Wood | 1986–1989 | |
| Diane Monty | 1998–1991 | |
| Anna Basaldua | 1990–1993 | |
| Kristi Gunning | 1991–1994 | |
| Stacy Fowlkes | 1992–1993 | |
| Jenna Karadbil | 1992–1995 | |
| Shane Allbritton | 1993–1996 | |
| Tenli Poggemeyer | 1994–1998 | |
| Maureen Kealey | 1996–1999 | |
| Kristin McDermott | 1996–1999 | |
| Heidi Hornbeek | 1996–2000 | |
| Kara Fry | 1998–2001 | |
| Monica Bisordi | 2002–2005 | |
| Randi Liljenquist | 1999–2003 | |
| Katie Johnson | 2002–2005 | |
| Karin Wurm | 2005–2008 | |
| Katie Matusik | 2009–2012 |
| 1982–1985 | ||
| 1983–1984 | ||
| Terry Lauchner | 1987–1990 | |
| Barb Bell | 1993–1996 | |
| Dana Burkholder | 1998–2001 | |
| Jill Talbot | 1998–2001 | |
| 2002–2005 | ||
| Penina Snuka | 2013–2016 | |
| 2006–2009 |