Native American Olympic Team
| Native American Olympic Team | |
|---|---|
| Native American Olympic Team logo | |
| Founded | March, 1997 |
| History | Santa Clara Itashans 1980–1997 Native American Olympic Team 1997–present |
| Location | Santa Cruz, California |
| Team colors | Red, Black, White |
| Head coach | Clinton Pilcher |
| Ownership | Spider Ledesma |
The Native American Olympic Team is a professional basketball team and international program representing the sovereignty of Native Americans tribes and athletes, located in Santa Cruz, California, United States of America. They have played in the National Indian Athletic Association Championships, several Native American and First Nations reservations throughout the USA and Canada, and have competed against the NCAA and the NAIA. They intend to develop their own arena when financially feasible. Native America was founded by Spider Ledesma, who is the current CEO & President of Basketball Operations.
The organization was formally founded in 1997 as the Native American Olympic Team, the first Native American sports organization to publicly declare its intent to play in the Summer Olympics based on Native American tribal sovereignty. Through much of its history before 1997, the team had established success within the Native American basketball community by dominating the NIAA Nationals tournament.
Native America's fortunes turned in late 2000 and early 2001 when it was formally recognized as an official Olympic team and program by both the NCAA, NAIA and Cisco Systems. On November 10, 2000, Native America made history as the first and only Native American sports organization to be formally recognized as an Olympic team and program by a Div. I member of the NCAA, UC Riverside, in a 106 - 90 loss. The game was carried live on Charter Cable TV and broadcast throughout the Southern California region. On December 30, 2000, Native America won its first game as a recognized Olympic team and program against the NAIA's Bethany University, with Santa Cruz Sentinel sports writer Josh Nagel describing Native America's furious and fast-paced fast-breaking style as "showtime." Local News affiliates in the Monterey Bay area carried highlights of Native America's blowout victory and player interviews against the Bruins on local TV. On January 9, 2001, Cisco Systems hosted a meeting at their corporate headquarters in San Jose, CA with the Native American Olympic Team to discuss Native America's proposal for sponsorship and financial support.
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