Rancho Santiago Going Back to Original Name

Athletic Director Dave Dobos recently looked through a list of colleges that have changed their names and didn’t find one example of a college doing what Rancho Santiago is about to do.

Starting today, the college, which from 1915 to the spring of 1985 was called Santa Ana College, will revert to its original name.

The move is being made because the Orange campus of Rancho Santiago is breaking off and will be called Santiago Canyon College.

Both campuses will be members of the Rancho Santiago College District, much like Fullerton and Cypress are members of the North Orange County Community College District.

The move also paves the way for sports teams to be fielded eventually at Santiago Canyon, which already has selected the nickname “Hawks.” But because of the lack of permanent locker rooms and no athletic fields, it’s unlikely the college will field teams in the next few years. Cross-country and soccer could be the first two considered because of the relatively low start-up costs.

“We have a good relationship with them,” Dobos said, “and will cooperate in any way we can.”

Meanwhile, at Santa Ana, the task of switching names is being welcomed by most coaches even though everything from uniforms to the writing on the track hurdles must be changed.

The first name change in 1985 was an effort to give the campus a name more representative of its entire district, but the athletic department was against it. The complaints centered around the loss of identity and tradition.

Although the same case could be made now--especially by baseball Coach Don Sneddon and men’s basketball Coach Dana Pagett--it isn’t. Under the name Rancho Santiago, Sneddon has built one of the best programs in the state, winning three state titles.

“I don’t think it’s going to affect us much except that we’ll get new uniforms,” Sneddon said. “Maybe I can become the first coach to win state [baseball] titles at two different colleges.”

Pagett, who won two state titles as Rancho Santiago, also is in favor of the switch.

“I think everyone is looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s kind of exciting and it brings us back to the roots of the college. I think people will say that it’s great and everyone will know where the college is.”