Santa Clara began play in 1883 and has enjoyed a long history of baseball excellence.

Santa Clara has won eleven conference titles and appeared in twelve NCAA Tournaments, including a runner-up finish in the 1962 College World Series.

Head Coach JR Payne signed a contract with the Santa Clara Bronco in the 2014 season.

The men's soccer team is led by coach Cameron Rast, who is in his 23rd season at Santa Clara.

Her husband Jerry Smith is the coach of the Santa Clara women's team, currently in his 36th season at the helm.

Other notable players include Olympian Aly Wagner, 2015 and 2019 Women's World Cup champion Julie Ertz, and United States women's national soccer team & OL Reign player, Sofia Huerta.

In Santa Clara's football heyday, they drew crowds of up to 60,000 to Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, where they played home games.

The Santa Clara Women's Lacrosse team has made it to nationals multiple years and placed 3rd in the 2011 season.

In 2008, the Santa Clara Paintball Team made it to the final rounds of the NCPA national competition in Florida.

The rugby team began in 1907, around the time that a number of California schools were dropping American football due to its violence.

[5] Santa Clara's Rudy Scholz was a member of the U.S. national rugby teams that won gold at the 1920 and 1924 Olympics.

[7] In 2012 Santa Clara men's rugby won the 2012 Nor Cal Conference Championship and advanced to the round of 16 of the D1 National Playoffs.

In 2014, Santa Clara finished second in the California conference, qualifying for the playoffs, beating Colorado State 49–12 in the round of 16, before losing to Saint Mary's in the quarterfinals.