Started in 1984 by students with head coach Steve Gallant, the crew is a member of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA), whose participants are mostly non-Pac-10 schools on the West Coast.

In 2021, club transitioned to offer both men's and women's rowing within the program.

The team meets and rows at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center located at Lake Natoma, which is one of the top rowing facilities in the United States.

The entire lake is surrounded by state park property which keeps the rest of the world from infringing on its waters.

It is because of Lake Natoma that Sacramento State hosts most of the major rowing races in the Western US, and why the CSUS Men's Rowing Team has hosted the NCAA National Championships more than any other facility.