Sports and Recreation Overview

A Brief History of Athletics at
Central Oregon Community College (COCC)

Athletics have been part of the Central Oregon Community College experience since the institution's early years. Founded in 1949, COCC began offering organized sports opportunities in the 1950s, when basketball was the college's primary intercollegiate sport. Early teams competed against junior varsity programs from four-year colleges throughout Oregon, playing home games in Bend before COCC established its current campus on Awbrey Butte in 1964.

When the college moved to its present campus, students adopted the Bobcat as the school mascot, replacing the earlier Nighthawk mascot that reflected COCC's origins as a night school. The Bobcat identity would become closely associated with the college's athletic success and competitive spirit.

One of the most notable achievements in COCC athletics came in 1976, when the Bobcats' ski team captured the National Junior College Athletic Association Ski Championship at Smuggler's Notch, Vermont. The team won both alpine and Nordic events and earned a national title in the college's first appearance at a national championship competition.

Over the years, COCC expanded its athletic offerings to include sports such as golf, wrestling, track and field, rodeo, baseball, cross-country, and skiing. The Bobcats enjoyed additional success, including a cross-country team victory at the 1988 Nike Cup and strong performances at national track and field championships in the 1990s.

Today, COCC's sports program focuses primarily on club sports, intramural competition, recreation, and fitness activities. Students can participate in a variety of competitive and recreational opportunities, including rugby, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, tennis, and annual community running events, continuing a tradition of athletics that spans more than seven decades.