Meet Cody the Coyote

Through the 1960s, physics professor Russ DeRemer brought his pet St. Bernard to campus events and activities. Students long considered the dog, named Hamilcar Barca, as the unofficial mascot to campus.

The CSUSB student body votes on the future mascot and colors of the fledgling campus. Among the ballot options for school colors were: brown and blue, burnt orange and gold, purple and silver, crimson and light blue, burnt orange and white, and green and black. Candidates for the campus mascot included the badger, golden condor, conquistador, jaguar, owl, phoenix, puma, vaquero, and the St. Bernard. Communique, March 1966 

A run-off election is held. The St. Bernard and colors brown and light blue are determined as the new representation for California State College San Bernardino (CSCSB). Fun fact: had founding President John M. Pfau gotten his way, we’d have been the badger instead!  CSCSB Bulletin, April 1966 

Following suit after the new mascot on campus, The PawPrint, the student newspaper, makes its debut. The paper was formerly called The Communique. The PawPrint, October 1966 

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A special, impromptu, student referendum vote was held on campus to allow students the opportunity to vote to change the mascot. For years, students had been commenting and suggesting that the St. Bernard was not an appropriate fit for the campus, but that the coyote instead would be more representative of the campus and its surrounding areas. Though the coyote won overwhelmingly, the administration at the time discounted the results because the vote was not officially sponsored by student government.

Joe Long joins CSCSB as the new intramural sports coordinator. Joe decided the intramurals program needed a mascot to identify itself with. After a number of students told Joe the campus mascot was the coyote, he began to design shirts using a drawn-up coyote logo. Long later learned from Associate Dean of Students DeRemer that CSCSB had actually selected the St. Bernard as its mascot. When Joe went back to ask students why they had told him the coyote was the mascot, they said the St. Bernard “wasn’t officially the mascot” and that they liked the coyote better anyway. Coyote Chronicle, December 1989 

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Students vote to bring intercollegiate sports to CSCSB, beginning in the fall of 1985.

After years of debate over the coyote versus the St. Bernard, an ad hoc committee on the campus mascot is created by President Evans. Students voted during winter quarter registration; faculty, staff and alumni were polled via their respective newsletters. 57% of votes were in favor of changing to the coyote mascot while only 30% defended the St. Bernard. Cal State Chronicle, January 1984 

President Anthony H. Evans gives the stamp of approval to officially name the Coyote the official mascot for the college. After extensive surveys and a committee was put together, students, staff, faculty, and alumni weighed in with their opinions on their favored symbol for the school. Cal State Chronicle, February 1984, March 1984 

California State University, San Bernardino is ratified as the new name for the growing San Bernardino campus, after approval from the student body in May and the California State University system in June. 

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CSUSB's school colors were changed from blue, brown and white to Columbia blue, white, and black, after a campus-wide collaboration from Associated Students, Alumni Affairs, Public Affairs, Athletics and the bookstore. The color changed was voted in unanimously by all the groups involved. Coyote Chronicle, January 1997

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Despite the mascot being officially changed early in 1984, our coyote remained nameless until 1998! CSUSB Athletics approached Associated Students, Inc., in April to host a contest to name the coyote that had begun appearing at athletic events. The winner would receive a $250 cash prize. Nominations are accepted for two weeks from campus faculty, staff, and students, to be reviewed and judged by a committee. The entrant who submits the winning nomination will receive a $250 cash prize for their winning name. Coyote Chronicle, April 1998 

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Cody was revealed as the winning name for the mascot. Over 160 names were submitted to ASI. Twelve different individuals submitted the name Cody, but the prize was award to the first person to turn in the suggestion. Martha Kazlo, a counselor in the Psychological Counseling Center, was the victor. Happy birthday, Cody the Coyote! Coyote Chronicle, May 1998 

The official school colors are re-visited, especially as there are varying degrees of “Columbia blue.” In an effort to create a standard visual concept for CSUSB’s new logo and design, it is determined that a medium shade of blue would be the official school colors, followed by black, white, and gray (or silver) as acceptable secondary colors. Read more on our color history! 

The Cody you see today made his debut at New Student Orientation in 2012, retiring the old costume and bringing a new spirited, blue Coyote! Fun fact: Cody had a companion named Cadee who could be seen at campus activities and athletic events for a short time! Cadee was never actually installed as an official mascot. 

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Today, you can catch Cody at special events all over campus – admissions days, student organization fairs, orientation and other school-spirited celebrations on campus! Cheer on the Coyotes at Coussoulis Arena next to him, or be sure to share a high five as you see him in the Student Union.