Colorado State Athletics - A Legacy of Champions

Colorado State University’s department of athletics continues to bask in the glow of a tradition of success that has spread throughout the entire program.

Never, since the school opened its doors in 1870 and began competing intercollegiately some 13 years later, has Colorado State enjoyed team and individual success that has become tradition in Fort Collins.

Colorado State’s rise to national prominence has been a combination of respected and acclaimed coaches and dedicated, diligent student-athletes achieving their potential.

Since 1993, when Sonny Lubick arrived to revive the Rams’ football fortunes, Colorado State’s entire program has elbowed its way into the company of the nation’s most recognized programs.

Along the way, the achievements by the school’s athletic programs have played a part in the evolution of the entire university’s reputation both nationally and internationally.

The university’s enrollment has now surpassed 23,000 full time students, the most ever. Applications for admission continue to escalate. Contributions by alumni members and friends of the university are also at record levels.

Athletics continues to be a vital part of campus and community life in Fort Collins and at Colorado State.

Sonny Lubick’s football squad is among the most successful in the nation. Lubick, who has been named conference coach of the year four times in his career at Colorado State, has guided the Rams to six bowl appearances including three in a row. Last season’s win in the first-ever New Orleans Bowl capped back-to-back bowl wins for the Rams for the first time ever.

Lubick has shepherded in the most successful era in the history of Colorado State’s football program. Since 1994, the Rams rank among the top 12 teams nationally in total victory. Over that span, the Rams have won or shared five conference titles, among the most in school history.

The popularity of the program has reached national proportions. Colorado State’s home attendance is at an all-time high, and the Rams have joined with instate Colorado the past four years to play their annual game in Denver, drawing the top crowds for college sporting events in state history, including last year’s event at the then-newly opened INVESCO FIELD at Mile High.

Popularity of the Rams’ program is also reflected by the team’s 77 regional and national television appearances since Lubick’s arrival - more than any other conference institution.

Colorado State’s volleyball program has mirrored the success of the football program’s success. Veteran coach Tom Hilbert - whose program has now made a school-record seven consecutive NCAA appearances - has guided his team to back-to-back-to-back appearances in the NCAA regionals.

Also for the past three seasons in a row, Colorado State has hosted and won the NCAA first- and second-round events in Moby Arena. Hilbert’s past three Rams’ teams have averaged nearly 30 wins per season, and boasted All-Americans in each of the past two seasons.

Colorado State volleyball has won either the Mountain West Conference regular-season or league tournament championship in each of the past three seasons.

Colorado State’s men’s and women’s cross country teams - like the entire track and field program - are under the direction of Del Hessel, a former All-American at the school and a member of the Rams athletic Hall of Fame.

Hessel in each of the past two seasons has guided the Rams men’s and women’s cross country teams to NCAA Championship berths, including 2001, when the women finished 22nd overall and the men 20th, respectively.

Colorado State’s men’s track and field team made history by winning the school’s first-ever indoor team championship in 2002, winning the MWC title. The women were second in that same meet. During the outdoor season the teams enjoyed similar success when both finished second in the respective team standings.

No one associated with Colorado State’s program will soon forget the performance of distance runner Bryan Berryhill in 2001. He won the mile run indoors - the first NCAA indoor title in school history - and capped a remarkable career by winning the 1,500 meters during the outdoor season. A nine-time All-American, Berryhill was honored as the school’s most outstanding male athlete in 2001.

Liz Toman, a cancer survivor before arriving at Colorado State to continue her athletic and academic career, finished second outdoors in 2001 in the discus, and was later named the school’s most outstanding female athlete and female student-athlete. Toman ended a brilliant career by being named the MWC’s top female athlete.

Colorado State’s swimming and diving program is recognized as one of the country’s finest under the direction of veteran coach John Mattos.

Mattos has been at Colorado State 23 years - longer than any other member of the school’s coaching staff. He has built one of the nation’s most successful programs. His teams have won more than 150 dual meets.

One of the top performers in school history in any sport is Amy Van Dyken, the first female athlete in history to win four gold medals in summer Olympic games in Atlanta in 1996. Four years later in Sydney, Australia, the former Rams All-American boosted her medals count again.

Four times in the past five years, including the 2001-02 season, Colorado State’s women’s basketball team has played in the NCAA Tournament, advancing at least to the second round each season. The 1999 team, led by All-Americans Becky Hammon and Katie Cronin, played in the regionals, the only such squad in school history with that accomplishment.

New coach Chris Denker takes over the coaching reins in 2002-03 and the tradition and success of the Rams’ women’s basketball program figures to continue.

Colorado State’s men’s basketball team is on the way toward regaining the national prominence that has been present in Fort Collins throughout the years.

Coach Dale Layer has worked diligently and tirelessly to build a foundation for consistent success at Colorado State. Colorado State features a youthful, enthusiastic squad that finished the 2001-02 season as one of the MWC’s most improved squads.

Colorado State’s men’s golf team is among the top programs in the nation. Coach Jamie Bermel continues to add to the program’s lengthy list of achievements, which includes seven consecutive NCAA Tournament invitations, tying the school record also held by volleyball for most consecutive NCAA appearances.

Sophomore Martin Laird won the MWC men’s golf individual title a year ago in impressive fashion, shooting a three-round four-under par total of 212.

The women’s golf team joined their men’s counterparts in post-season competition in both 2001 and ‘02. Colorado State competed in the NCAA Tournament in the past two seasons and the program’s talented student-athletes want to make post-season play an annual occurrence in Fort Collins. Lynette Duran became the first freshman in MWC history to win the individual title when she finished first in last spring’s championships.

Second-year coach Mary Yori, regarded as one of the nation’s premier softball mentors, has Colorado State’s program on the verge of national prominence.

A season ago, Colorado State caught fire during the conference tournament and finished third after losing in the semifinals. The team figures to continue its improved play in 2003.

Veteran coach Jon Messick has patiently built a successful women’s tennis program at Colorado State.

The past three seasons have provided Messick and his student-athletes with many rewards for their hard work and dedication.

In 2000, the team recorded the best record in school history. A year later, Colorado State’s program eclipsed that achievement by winning a first-round conference tournament match for the first time ever. Colorado State eventually finished fourth in the MWC Tournament, the highest finish in program history. The Rams continued their improvement gain in 2002.