Arizona State University - Athletics

Athletics

Arizona State University's Division I athletic teams are called the Sun Devils, which is also the nickname used to refer to students and alumni of the university. They compete in the Pac-12 Conference in 20 varsity sports. Historically, the university has shown great athletic dominance in men's, women's, and mixed archery; men's, women's, and mixed badminton; women's golf; women's swimming and diving; and baseball. The Sun Devils have played in the Fiesta Bowl five times, and in 1987 the ASU football team won the Rose Bowl, defeating the University of Michigan 22–15. Arizona State also participated in the 1997 Rose Bowl, but lost 20-17 to The Ohio State University. Arizona State University's NCAA Division I-A program competes in 9 varsity sports for men and 11 for women. The Sun Devil mascot is named Sparky. The university is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference in all varsity sports. ASU's current athletic director is Steve Patterson. In 2012 he took over for Lisa Love, formerly senior associate athletic director at the University of Southern California. Love was responsible for the hiring of coaches Herb Sendek, the men's basketball coach, and Dennis Erickson, the men's football coach. Erickson was also fired in 2012, and replaced by Todd Graham.

ASU has won 23 national collegiate team championships in the following sports: baseball (5), men's golf (2), women's golf (7), men's gymnastics (1), softball (2), men's indoor track (1), women's indoor track (2), men's outdoor track (1), women's outdoor track (1), and wrestling (1).

In September 2009 criticism over the seven-figure salaries earned by various coaches at Arizona's public universities (including ASU) prompted the Arizona Board of Regents to re-evaluate the salary and benefit policy for athletic staff.

Arizona State Sun Devils football was founded in 1897 under coach Fred Irish. Currently, the team has played in the 2007 Holiday Bowl, 1997 Rose Bowl and also won the Rose Bowl in 1987 as well as the Fiesta Bowl in 1982, 1975, 1973, 1972, and 1971. In 1970 they were co-champions of the NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship. Additionally, the Sun Devils were Pac-10 Champions in 1986, 1996, and 2007.