San José State University

San José State University

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San José State
Location San Jose, CA
Conference WAC
Division NCAA Div I
Nickname Spartans
Head Coach Augie Argabright
Men's Asst. Jeff Argabright, Angela Stearns
Championships 1962 and 1963 NCAA Men's XC Championship Team

San José State University (SJSU) is the founding campus of what became the California State University system. San José State was founded as the California State Normal School by the California Legislature on May 2, 1862, and is the oldest public university in the West Coast.

The historic track team known as "Speed City" was coached by "Bud" Winter and produced Olympic medalists and social activists Lee Evans, John Carlos and Tommie Smith. A statue commemorating Carlos and Smith giving a "black power" salute during the 1968 Summer Olympics stands on the campus. Although SJSU abolished its track program, it currently offers men's and women's cross country. The men's cross country program was reinstated in 1997.

Statute commemorating "black power" salute. Photo by Bobak Ha'Eri

In 2008, SJSU was the primary processing center for all Team USA members bound for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. All team members stayed on the SJSU campus during at least two days of document checks, health exams, cultural briefings, portrait sittings, uniform fittings, and last-minute workout sessions.

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