Long Beach City College Athletics

Athletic Home Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Soccer Swimming & Diving Tennis Track And Field Volleyball Water Polo

Athletic Home Basketball Cross Country Golf Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track And Field Volleyball Water Polo

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ATHLETICS’ HISTORY Championships

Since capturing its first state title in 1928, the Long Beach City College athletic program continues to make a name for itself both locally and nationally. While academics remain a constant emphasis at Long Beach City College, the institution is proud of its athletic program’s success. To date, Long Beach City College has won 16 national titles, seven runner-up national titles, 86 state titles, and 47 state runner-up titles
(See History of Champions page).

It was Bert C. Smith, Okla Smith, and Clifford Wright who were credited with starting the first varsity athletic program at Long Beach Junior College in 1927. Also it was Bert C. Smith who captured the school’s first state title in 1928-29 as head coach of the men’s basketball team. It is also believed that Smith developed the first junior college intramural program in the United States during those years.

Along with basketball, men competed in baseball, cross country, football, golf, swimming, track & field, tennis, water polo, and wrestling. It wasn’t until the early 1930’s that women’s intramural and intercollegiate teams began to form in field hockey, basketball, speedball, baseball, swimming, golf, tennis, and rowing. Today, Long Beach City College offers 21 intercollegiate athletic programs for its student-athletes to choose from, including: (Men’s) baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and water polo; (Women’s) basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and water polo.

While Long Beach City College teams enjoyed success within their conference and region, it wasn’t until the 1940’s that state and national titles were awarded to the majority of sports. John Fleitz won the first national title in tennis singles and teamed up with Don Menke to win doubles and claim the school’s second national title. Men’s gymnastics (no longer a competitive sport at LBCC) won the most national championships with six (1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1983) followed closely by football with five (1950, 1960, 1962, 1964, and 1995). Just last fall, LBCC’s women’s soccer team won its third straight state title and was named 2003 Junior College National Champions.

Athletics is an important part of a total college experience. It provides students many opportunities to develop skills such as teamwork, leadership, and dedication to a goal. These are concepts that can be used in the classroom, as well as in the workplace. Our 21 teams give hundreds of young men and women this opportunity each year.

The college has twice been honored by Student Sports magazine as the "National Community College of the Year." Long Beach City College was honored by the publication for its successes during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons. Since 1990, Long Beach City College has earned eight of the last 13 South Coast Conference Athletic Supremacy Awards, a recognition given to the South Coast Conference school with the highest overall finish in all men’s and women’s sports.