Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2008
A graduate of Santa Barbara High School and Santa Barbara City College, Steve Yoneda attended the University of Hawaii for one year. He earned his Bachelor of Science at Cal Poly in 1970, and Master’s in 1972, both in physical education.
After 32 years as head athletic trainer, Yoneda retired on July 1, 2002, with emeritus status. He began at Cal Poly as athletic trainer in 1970, 1971 amd 1972 as a temporary-leave replacement. In 1972 he became full-time, then was offered 30 more one-year contracts.
He spent one season as athletic trainer with the Dodgers’ organization in Santa Barbara, and one season with California Angels’ organization in Shreveport, Louisiana. During his Cal Poly service, he saw teams win 30 national championships along with a multitude of individual champions and All-Americans.
A member of the National Athletic Trainers Association since 1968, Yoneda single-handedly oversaw an undergraduate athletic training internship program within the Physical Education department for 23 years. That program continued after getting Cal Poly’s first full-time assistant in 1992, and continued until phased out by NATA changes in athletic training education guidelines.
Numerous successful professionals at all levels of competitive athletics came out of that program. He has volunteered with what is now the PEACH Workshop Committee (physical education, athletic coaching, and health) since 1968. Elected an official committee member in 1976, he was its director in 1985-86. In 2008 he was voted emeritus status.
