Since 1961, Pioneer Athletics has been exciting the CSU East Bay campus and in its first official year in the CCAA Division II, their 50th Anniversary celebration couldn’t have come at a better time.

Since their humble beginnings, the Pioneers have won a total of six national championships. CSUEB has produced over 160 All-Americans and has won 77 conference championships in NCAA Divisions II and III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

This year, CSUEB officially embarks on a new journey with Pioneer Athletics Director Debby DeAngelis continuing to lead the way.

“This year marks a really important and much anticipated year for us,” said DeAngelis.

“We’ve been competing in Division II for two years without being eligible for championships. That’s a difficult thing to recruit to because even though we can offer you a scholarship, we can’t offer you the opportunity for post-season play. Now we have both, but that really means that this is still the bottom step that we’re going to be climbing. Over the next four to five years I think the level of recruiting will change significantly and the level of the athletic play will change significantly.”

Although the Pioneers are new to the CCAA Division II, they have found success despite not having the opportunity to compete in post-season games for the past two seasons.

“Volleyball finished fifth in the conference, that’s absolutely respectable for where we are at this point. They had some bumps in the road and they overcame those and I’m really proud of how they played and how they finished,” said DeAngelis.

“Clearly some of the excitement for the fall was women’s cross-country winning two regular season meets, which even in Division III we weren’t doing that. New coach Ralph Jones and assistant coach Ron Davis are doing a great job.”

With the fall season of sports having officially wrapped up last month, the Pioneers are anticipating the winter season of athletics with water polo and track set to open their seasons in early February, and swimming and men’s and women’s basketball looking to carry over their success from December into the winter months.

On Feb. 10, CSUEB will host its homecoming where they plan to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Pioneer Athletics in the Battle of the Bay men’s and women’s basketball games against San Francisco State University.

Fifteen of the 17 players of the 1961-62 Pioneers men’s basketball team, which was the first team on the Hayward campus, are expected to be at Homecoming along with many more former Pioneer athletes and alumni.

“It’s certainly an exciting time for athletics,” said DeAngelis.

“I am really proud to be part of this department. We have a great a great staff of coaches and athletes and we’re anticipating a successful year.”