Saddleback College will celebrate its 40th year of intercollegiate athletic competition during the 2007-08 school year and plans to continue its excellence in both athletics and academics when it continues on into its fifth decade of existence.
The college has enjoyed one of the most successful athletic heritages in California Community College history during its previous years, winning at least one conference title each year. The college is known throughout the state as one of the best overall community college athletic programs, providing excellent coaches and facilities and fielding highly competitive teams in all 19 sports.
The Gauchos compete in the Mission Conference in football and in the Orange Empire Conference in all other sports. These are well known as the toughest conferences in the state and, possibly, the nation.
Saddleback teams have captured over 140 conference titles, 21 Southern California Regional titles, 21 state championships and three national championships.
Saddleback is one of California's 108 community colleges, located in Mission Viejo at the southern end of Orange County in Southern California. The campus is nestled into the foothills, five minutes away from the ocean. Major metropolitan areas include Los Angeles one hour to the north and San Diego one hour to the south. The attractions associated with Anaheim are just 20 minutes away.
The college enrolls about 9,000 full-time day students and 16,000 part-time and evening students for a campus population of 25,000 students.