Stanford University’s Impressive Athletic Legacy
Dick Gould, a key figure in Stanford University’s athletics for an incredible 70 years, reflects on the challenging times faced by the university’s sports programs. He recalls the doubts expressed by coaches and athletes back then: “Winning at Stanford? It’s just not possible; you can’t be smart enough to compete.”
In light of this history, it’s particularly remarkable that Gould, a retired tennis coach, celebrates the university’s recent achievement: Stanford has secured its 50th consecutive NCAA championship.
“I think it’s vital not to take success for granted,” Gould shared. “People can get too comfortable, and that’s dangerous. Back in 1960, my last year playing tennis, our football team had a dismal record—zero wins and ten losses.”
He remembers a mix of frustration and determination among coaches and players alike. The men’s golf team had a championship win in 1953, and the men’s swimming team followed suit during the winter of ’67—when he began his own coaching journey. Prior to that, notable victories were scarce, with a basketball title coming only in the early ’40s.
Currently, Stanford’s women’s cross country and soccer teams have already made strides this academic year, and the men’s gymnastics team recently extended this impressive streak in Champaign, Illinois.
The dominance of Cardinal Athletics dates back to a men’s water polo victory against UCLA in 1976 and has accumulated a staggering 126 national championships in total. No other university comes close; the University of North Carolina follows with just seven titles.
Southern California notably dominated the NCAA Championship for 19 consecutive years from 1959-60 to 1977-78.
“Stanford has been incredibly successful. We have great coaches and student-athletes,” said Tara VanDerveer, a Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach whose team won three titles. “Being surrounded by such talented individuals is truly inspiring.”
During its impressive 50-year streak, Stanford has claimed 126 out of 138 overall NCAA team titles. The women’s tennis team stands out with 20 championships, followed by men’s tennis at 15, and 11 each in men’s water polo and women’s swimming and diving. The men’s gymnastics and women’s water polo teams each have ten titles as well.
Gould served as head coach for the Cardinal for an astounding 38 years, coaching legends like John McEnroe and Roscoe Tanner, boasting a record of 776 wins to 148 losses. His wife, Anne, led the first women’s team in Stanford’s history to a national title in 1978.
“What we’ve accomplished in tennis and soccer has opened the floodgates,” he noted.
Women’s basketball coach Kate Pay highlighted the role of Stanford University President Jonathan Levine and the new athletic director, John Donahoe, in fostering a “renewed commitment” to achieving excellence both academically and athletically.
“We have a unique identity as the top academic and athletic institution, both nationally and globally,” she stated, echoing the sentiment of unity among student-athletes. “We refer to ourselves as one team—36 strong. Stanford is a remarkable place with extraordinary student-athletes, and the momentum of Stanford Athletics is truly remarkable right now.”
