Dynasty (sports)

A sports dynasty is a team or individual that dominates their sport or league for an extended length of time. The definition of dynasty by some academics implies a single leader over the bulk of that period. The designation should not automatically be used for a string of several dominant years in a row, unless the number of years that the league has existed is few, making several years of dominance a large percentage. It implies an extended length of time. Sometimes such dominance is often only realized in retrospect.

The most widely accepted sports dynasties are those with the majority of championships over a very long period of time, either consecutively and / or with interruptions, e.g. the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team's seven straight national championships from 1964 to 1975 and 10 national championships during the reign of coach John Wooden, or the Princeton University men's football team from the pre-NCAA football years of the 1890s (it was one of the two teams to play the first college football game) all the way until 1950, during which they won 28 national championships, or the Yale University men's football team, which won 27 recognized national football championships between 1872 and 1926.^[1] The Port Stephens Pythons in Australian limited-overs cricket have also forged their own Dynasty winning eleven Major Premierships from fifteen Grand Final appearances in their 19-year history in the top grade. They have even managed to secure "three-peat" premierships on three separate occasions which outshines that of the Chicago Bulls throughout the 90s and the LA Lakers in the start of the millennium.^[2]

Some leagues maintain official lists of dynasties, often as part of a hall of fame (e.g., National Hockey League), but in many cases, whether a team has achieved a dynasty is subjective. This can result in frequent topic of debate among sports fans due to lack of consensus and agreement in the many different variables and criteria that fans may use to define a sports dynasty.

Australian Rules Football

VFL/AFL

• Fitzroy from 1898 to 1906 (seven Grand Finals in nine years with four Premierships: 1898–1899, 1904–1905 and three runners-up: 1900, 1903, 1906)
• Carlton from 1906 to 1910 (five consecutive grand finals with three consecutive Premierships in 1906–1908)
• Collingwood from 1925 to 1930 (four consecutive Premierships: 1927–1930 and two runners-up: 1925–1926)
• Melbourne from 1939 to 1941 (three consecutive Premierships)
• Essendon from 1941 to 1951 (nine Grand Finals in eleven years with four Premierships: 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950 and five runners-up: 1941, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1951)
• Melbourne from 1954 to 1960 (seven consecutive Grand Finals; five Premierships: 1955–1957, 1959–1960; two runners up: 1954, 1958)
• Richmond from 1967 to 1974 (five Grand finals in eight years with four Premierships: 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974 and runners-up in 1972)
• Carlton from 1968 to 1973 (five Grand Finals in six years with three Premierships: 1968, 1970, 1972 and two runners-up: 1969, 1973)
• Hawthorn from 1983 to 1991 (8 Grand Finals in 9 years; 5 Premierships: 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991; 3 runners-up: 1984, 1985, 1987)
• Brisbane Lions from 2001 to 2004 (three consecutive Premierships: 2001–2003; runner-up 2004)
• Geelong from 2007 to 2011 (three Premierships: 2007, 2009, 2011 and runner-up in 2008 after losing only once before the Grand Final)
• Hawthorn from 2013 to present (three Premierships: 2013, 2014, 2015 and runner-up in 2012 after finishing as minor premiers)

SANFL

• Norwood from 1878 to 1883 (six consecutive Premierships)
• South Adelaide from 1892 to 1900 (six premierships and three second placings)
• Port Adelaide from 1909 to 1915 (seven consecutive grand finals including two perfect minor rounds in 1912 and 1914 and premierships in 1910 and 1913–14, the latter with 30 consecutive wins)
• Port Adelaide from 1951 to 1965 (ten premierships including six consecutive in 1951, 1954–59, 1962–63 and 1965, with runners-up in 1953 and 1964 and third in 1952 and 1960–61)
• Sturt from 1966 to 1970 (five consecutive Premierships)
• Port Adelaide from 1977 to 1981 (four premierships in five seasons including a hat-trick from 1979 to 1981)
• Port Adelaide from 1988 to 1999 (ten Grand Finals in twelve seasons for nine Premierships: 1988–1990, 1992, 1994–1996, 1998–1999; runner up in 1997)
• Central District from 2000 to 2011 (twelve consecutive Grand Finals; nine Premierships: 2000–2001, 2003–2005, 2007–2010; three runners-up: 2002, 2006, 2011)

WAFL

• East Fremantle from 1900 to 1911 (nine premierships in twelve seasons)
• East Perth from 1919 to 1927 (five consecutive premierships and seven in nine seasons)
• East Fremantle from 1928 to 1934 (seven successive minor premierships with five flags including four consecutive)
• Claremont from 1936 to 1940 (five consecutive grand finals finishing with a hat-trick of premierships)
• South Fremantle from 1947 to 1954 (six premierships in eight seasons)
• East Perth from 1956 to 1961 (six consecutive grand finals for three premierships)
• Claremont from 1987 to 1991 (five consecutive minor premierships with three flags)
• Subiaco from 2003 to 2009 (four premierships in five seasons followed by a losing Grand Final in 2009 including a hat-trick and a near-miss of a perfect season in 2008; four consecutive minor premierships 2003 to 2006)

VFA

• Essendon from 1891 to 1894 (four consecutive premierships and 56 consecutive unbeaten matches)
• North Melbourne from 1914 to 1919 (49 consecutive wins and three consecutive perfect home-and-away seasons; including three straight premierships)^[a]
• Footscray from 1920 to 1924 (five consecutive grand finals with premierships in 1920, 1923 and 1924)
• Coburg from 1925 to 1928 (four consecutive grand finals with a hat-trick of premierships and a perfect home-and-away season in 1927)
• Northcote 1929 to 1936 (seven grand finals in eight seasons for premierships in 1929, 1932–34 and 1936)
• Port Melbourne from 1950 to 1957 (five consecutive minor premierships and eight consecutive grand final appearances)
• Williamstown from 1954 to 1961 (six grand finals in eight seasons for five premierships in 1954 to 1956, 1958 and 1959, plus a perfect home-and-away season in 1957)
• Port Melbourne from 1973 to 1983 (eleven consecutive finals series, with six premierships in 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1980 to 1982)

Auto racing

NASCAR

• Chevrolet since 1958 won 35 of 54 (64.8%) NASCAR manufacturer championships.^[3]
• Hendrick Motorsports has had two streaks of four or more consecutive championships and has 15 NASCAR championships overall. The combined operations of the works and satellite teams have won six consecutive championships, since 2006.^[4]
• Richard Childress Racing eleven championships in NASCAR as a whole.
• Junior Johnson six championships in ten years as an owner
• Lee Petty (1954, 1958, 1959)
• Richard Petty (1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, and 1979) Seven championships including four in five years between 1971 and 1975
• David Pearson (1966, 1968, 1969) Three championships in four years
• Cale Yarborough (1976, 1977, 1978) clinched three consecutive Winston Cup championships.
• Dale Earnhardt (1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994) Seven championships including six in nine years, with back-to-back titles three times.
• Darrell Waltrip (1981, 1982, 1985) Three championships in five years
• Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001) Four championships in seven years
• Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2016) Seven Sprint Cup championships in eleven seasons including five straight from 2006 to 2010.

World Rally Championship

Drivers

• Sébastien Loeb from 2004 to 2012 won nine consecutive drivers’ championships; 78 race wins from 2002 to 2012.^[5]
• Tommi Mäkinen won four consecutive championships from 1996 to 1999.

Manufacturers

• Citroën won eight World Rally Championship Manufacturers' Championships between 2003 and 2012, including five consecutive from 2008 to 2012. Citroën driver Sébastien Loeb won nine consecutive WRC Drivers' Championships from 2004 to 2012.
• Lancia won six consecutive WRC Manufacturer's Championships between 1987 and 1992. Lancia drivers won four WRC Drivers' Championships between 1987 and 1991, including three consecutive from 1987 to 1991.
• Mitsubishi driver Tommi Mäkinen won four consecutive WRC Driver's Championships from 1996 to 1999.
• Toyota drivers won four WRC Drivers' Championships between 1990 and 1994, including three consecutive from 1992 to 1994.

24 Hours of Le Mans

Drivers

• Tom Kristensen won nine 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1997 and 2013, including six consecutive from 2000 to 2005.^[6]

Constructors

• Bentley won four consecutive Le Mans races from 1927 to 1930.
• Alfa Romeo won four consecutive Le Mans races from 1931 to 1934.
• Ferrari won six consecutive Le Mans races from 1960 to 1965.
• Ford won four consecutive Le Mans races from 1966 to 1969.
• Porsche won 10 Le Mans races in 12 years from 1976 to 1987, including seven consecutive from 1981 to 1987.
• Audi has won 13 Le Mans races in 15 years from 2000 to 2014, including five consecutive on two occasions, from 2004 to 2008 and from 2010 to 2014.

Tire Manufacturers

• Dunlop won 23 Le Mans races from 1924 to 1964 (74%), including eight consecutive from 1924 to 1931.
• Dunlop won eight consecutive races from 1981 to 1988.
• Michelin has won seventeen consecutive Le Mans races from 1998 to 2014.

Formula 1

Drivers

• Juan Manuel Fangio won five Formula One World Drivers' Championships between 1951 and 1957, including four consecutive from 1954 to 1957.^[7]
• Michael Schumacher won seven championships between 1994 and 2004, including five consecutive with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004.^[8]
• Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive championships between 2010 and 2013.^[9]

Constructors

• Ferrari won six Constructors' Championships between 1975 and 1983, including three consecutive between 1975 and 1978; they won eight Constructors' Championships between 1999 and 2008, including six consecutive between 1999 and 2004. Ferrari drivers Michael Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen won six World Drivers’ Championships between 2000 and 2007, including Schumacher's five consecutive between 2000 and 2004.
• McLaren won six Formula One World Constructors’ Championships between 1984 and 1991, including four consecutive between 1988 and 1991. McLaren drivers Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna won seven World Drivers' Championships over that same eight-year span.
• Red Bull won four consecutive Constructors’ Championship between 2010 and 2013. Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the World Drivers' Championship each of those years.
• Williams won five Constructors’ Championships between 1992 and 1997, including three consecutive between 1992 and 1994. Williams drivers Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve each won World Drivers' Championship during that period.

Engine Manufacturers

• Ferrari-powered cars won six Constructors’ Championships between 1975 and 1983, including three consecutive between 1975 and 1978; they won eight Constructors' Championships between 1999 and 2008, including six consecutive between 1999 and 2004.
• Ford-powered cars won ten World Constructors' Championships between 1968 and 1981, including seven consecutive between 1968 and 1974. Drivers of Ford-powered cars won twelve World Drivers' Championships between 1968 and 1982, including seven consecutive between 1968 and 1974 and three consecutive between 1980 and 1982. All of these championship-winning cars and drivers used the venerable Cosworth DFV.
• Honda-powered cars won six consecutive World Constructors' Championships between 1986 and 1991. Drivers of Honda-powered cars won six consecutive World Drivers' Championships between 1987 and 1991.
• Renault-powered cars won six consecutive World Constructors' Championships between 1992 and 1997; they won six Constructors' Championships between 2005 and 2013, including four consecutive between 2010 and 2013. Drivers of Renault-powered cars won five World Drivers' Championships between 1992 and 1997.

Tire Manufacturers

• Cars with Bridgestone tires won eleven World Constructors' Championships between 1998 and 2010, including seven consecutive from 1998 to 2004. They won eleven World Drivers' Championships during this period. During 1999 and 2000, and from 2007 to 2010, they were the sole tire supplier for all constructors.
• Cars with Dunlop tires won eight consecutive World Constructors' Championships between 1958 and 1965; they won seven consecutive World Drivers' Championships between 1959 and 1965. Between 1961 and 1963, they were the sole tire supplier for all constructors.
• Cars with Goodyear tires won twenty-six World Constructors' Championships between 1966 and 1997, including six consecutive from 1973 to 1978, four consecutive from 1980 to 1983, and thirteen consecutive from 1985 to 1997; they won twenty-four drivers' championships during that period. During 1987 and 1988, and from 1992 to 1996, they were the sole tire supplier for all constructors.
• Drivers using Pirelli tires won five consecutive World Drivers' Championships from 1950 to 1954, and four consecutive championships from 2011 to 2014. Cars using Pirelli tires won four consecutive World Constructors' Championships from 2011 to 2014. Since 2011, Pirelli has been the sole tire supplier for all constructors.

Baja 1000

• Honda motorcycles have won seventeen consecutive Baja 1000 races from 1997 to 2013.^[10]

Dakar Rally

• KTM motorcycles have won fourteen consecutive Dakar Rallies from 2001 to 2015.^[11][12][13]

NHRA

• John Force (1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2013) sixteen championships in three decades,won ten in a row. Most in the funny car class and in the NHRA.
• Tony Schumacher (1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2014) eight championships, won six in a row. Most in the top fuel class.
• Bob Glidden (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989) ten championships, won five in a row from 1985-89. Most in the pro stock car class and had the record for most in the NHRA until broken by John Force in 2001.
• Kenny Bernstein (1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988) four championships in a row.

Baseball

Major League Baseball

• Boston Red Sox from 1903 to 1918 Dominated the sport for sixteen seasons during the "dead-ball era", with five World Series titles in 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918^[14]
• New York Yankees: From 1920 to 1964, the Yankees played in 29 of 45 Fall Classics (64.4%), winning twenty of them. Within this 45-year period, the Yankees had two dominant stretches:
  • From 1936 to 1943 the Yankees dominated baseball for eight years, capturing 7 AL pennants & 6 World Series Championships, including four World Series in a row from 1936–1939.^[15][16]
  • From 1947 to 1964 the Yankees won 15 of 18 AL pennants and 10 World Series, including five in a row from 1949–1953. (MLB record for most consecutive championships)^[15][17]
• St. Louis Cardinals from 1942 to 1946, led by superstars Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, and Enos Slaughter. They won four NL Pennants and three World Series titles in five-year span (1942, 1944, 1946)
• Cincinnati Reds from 1970 to 1976, Known as The Big Red Machine, they dominated the sport for 7 years (5 National League Western Division titles, four National League pennants in 1970, 1972, 1975 and 1976, plus two World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. The team's combined record from 1970 to 1976 was 683 wins and 443 losses, an average of nearly 98 wins per season).^[18][19][20]
• Oakland Athletics: From 1971 to 1975, known as The Mustache Gang. (World Series Championships in each of three consecutive years: 1972, 1973, 1974 and AL West Division titles in each season)^[21]
• New York Yankees: From 1996 to 2003. Led by manager Joe Torre, and The Core Four, the Yankees dominated the sport for 8 years (8 postseason appearances including 7 AL East division titles (All except 1997), 6 AL pennants in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 & 2003, & 4 World Series championships in 8 years in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000). With the Core Four the Yankees also added another World series title in 2009 to make 5 championships won by the Core four.^[22]
• San Francisco Giants: From 2010 to 2014. Led by manager Bruce Bochy, Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence. The Giants won three World Series Championships in a 5-year span (2010, 2012, and 2014). They are the first NL team since the 1940s St. Louis Cardinals to do so.^{[23][24][25][26]}

CPBL

• Brother Elephants, 1992–1994, 3 consecutive champions
• Wei Chuan Dragons, 1997–1999, 3 consecutive champions
• Brother Elephants, 2001–2003, 3 consecutive champions
• Uni-President Lions, 2007–2013, 3 consecutive champions from 2007–2009, and then 3 consecutive final series qualifying (only lost in 2012), 6 consecutive playoffs qualified from 2004 to 2009

Negro leagues

• Homestead Grays, 1937–1945^[15]

Basketball

National Basketball Association

• Minneapolis Lakers 1948 to 1954 led by George Mikan. The Lakers officially won 5 NBA championships (in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954) in 6 years between the 1948–49 BAA season and 1953–54 NBA season. Minneapolis also achieved the NBA's first set of three consecutive championships winning the 1952 NBA Finals, the 1953 NBA Finals, and the 1954 NBA Finals. Minneapolis also won the 1948 NBL Championship, which is not recognized by the NBA. When including the 1948 NBL title, the championship count rises to a spectacular 6 championships in 7 years and also gives the Lakers another three-peat as they won the 1948 NBL Title, the 1949 BAA Championship, and the 1950 NBA Championship.^[27][28]
• Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969 led by superstar Bill Russell Boston won 11 NBA championships (in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) in the 13-year span of 1957–1969. Boston won an unprecedented eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. Boston also has the distinction of having played in 10 straight NBA Finals from 1957–1966.^[15][29][30]
• Los Angeles Lakers of 1979 to 1991 led by Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. They were known as Showtime Lakers for the highly entertaining flashy brand of basketball they played. The Lakers won 5 NBA championships (in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988) in 9 years, 10 Division titles, and advanced to the NBA Finals 9 times between 1980 and 1991 including 4 straight appearances from 1982–1985. In the 1988 NBA Finals the Lakers became the first team since the Boston Celtics of the 1960s to win back-to-back NBA titles, having beaten the Celtics the previous year.^[30]
• Boston Celtics of 1980 to 1987 led by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. The Celtics won 3 NBA Championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) in 6 years. The Celtics also advanced to the NBA Finals 5 times in between 1981 and 1987 (including 4 consecutive appearances from 1984–1987). The 1986 Boston Celtics also set the record for best home winning percentage going 40-1 (97.5%) while playing with home court advantage.
• Chicago Bulls of 1990 to 1998 led by superstar Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and head coach Phil Jackson. Chicago won 6 NBA championships in 8 seasons, including 2 sets of three consecutive championships, winning championships in 1991, 1992, and 1993, then subsequently winning the 1996, 1997, and 1998 titles. Also won 6 division titles in 8 seasons.^[15][30]
• San Antonio Spurs of 1999 to present. Led by Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and head coach Gregg Popovich. San Antonio has won 5 NBA championships (in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014) in 16 seasons, 6 Western Conference titles, 11 division championships, and 18 consecutive playoff appearances from 1998–2015. The Spurs have been able to sustain a high level of consistency in Duncan's tenure with the team. The Spurs won 50+ games every season from 1997–98 through 2015–16 (except the strike-shortened 1998–99 season), as well as a .707 win percentage during that span, the highest in any of the four major American sports). The Spurs, however, have never won NBA titles in consecutive years and thus have never successfully defended an NBA title.
• Los Angeles Lakers of 2000 to 2004, led by superstars Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and head coach Phil Jackson. Won 4 Western Conference titles in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004, accomplishing a three-peat (winning three consecutive NBA titles) in the process by winning championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. This Los Angeles team holds the best postseason record in NBA history (15–1) which was accomplished in 2001.

American Basketball Association

• Indiana Pacers from 1969 to 1975 led by star players such as Freddie Lewis, Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, and George McGinnis. The Pacers won 5 ABA Conference Championships in 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1975 and won the ABA Championship in 1970, 1972, and 1973. Other noteworthy accomplishments include 3 consecutive ABA division titles in 1969, 1970, and 1971, their playoff berths in every year of the ABA's existence, as well as their place as the winningest franchise in ABA history.^[31]

Women's National Basketball Association

• Houston Comets from 1997 to 2000 (4 consecutive WNBA championships)^[32]
• Detroit Shock from 2003 to 2008 (3 WNBA championships in 6 years)^[33]
• Minnesota Lynx from 2011 to 2015 (3 WNBA championships in 5 years)

NCAA basketball

Division I Men

• UCLA Bruins men's basketball from 1964 to 1975 under John Wooden (10 national championships in 12 seasons; 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975. They would also win 7 consecutive championships from 1967 to 1973, four undefeated seasons, and an NCAA record 88 consecutive wins).^[15][34]

Division I Women

• University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball under Pat Summit from 1987 to 1998 (six national championships in 12 seasons, including three consecutive championships from 1996 to 1998 (the first women's team to do so), one undefeated season setting the most wins ever with 39, and an over-all record of 314–38 (.877).^[35][36]
• University of Connecticut under Geno Auriemma from 1999 thru 2016 (11 championships in 17 seasons, including three consecutive championships from 2002–2004 and four consecutive from 2013–2016; five undefeated seasons in 2002, 2009, 2010, 2014 & 2016, and a record 90 consecutive wins from November 16, 2008 to December 30, 2010.

^[37][38]

Greek Basket League

• Panathinaikos BC, the most successful club in Greek basketball history, from 1998 to 2014 won the Greek Championship 15 times, plus 5 times the Euroleague competition.

Cheerleading

• University of Kentucky from 1985 to 2016 (21 championships in 29 years, including a run of 8 consecutive championships from 1995–2002)^[39]
• Morehead State University coed cheerleading team from 1988 to 2010 (19 championships in 22 years, including a run of 10 consecutive championships from 1991–2000) The All Girl and Co-ed Squads have combined for 26 national titles.^[40]

Collegiate wrestling

NCAA Division I

• University of Iowa Hawkeyes have 23 total NCAA championships. The dynasty runs from 1975 to 1986 (11 NCAA championships in 12 years), from 1991 to 2000 (9 NCAA championships in 10 years) and three consecutive national championships from 2008–2010. Iowa also had a dynasty run of 25 straight BigTen conference tournament championships from 1974–1998.^[15][41]
• Oklahoma State University have 34 total NCAA championships in wrestling, most national championships in one sport by any school. Dynasty runs from 1928 to 1949 (16 NCAA championships in 21 years), from 1954 to 1964 (8 NCAA championships in 10 years) and four consecutive national championships from 2003–2006.^[41]
• Pennsylvania State University's Nittany Lions won four consecutive NCAA team championships from 2011 to 2014 and then won the Championship again in 2016 to make it five titles in six years. They were led by head coach Cael Sanderson, three-time champion Ed Ruth, and two time champion plus two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor.

Collegiate swimming

NCAA Division I

• Indiana University won six consecutive NCAA championships from 1968–73 in men's swimming and diving. The Hoosiers also finished second at the NCAA's five times in 1964–66 and 1974–75, third in 1967, and fourth (twice) in 1976–77. This totals 14 straight years that Indiana finished in the top four teams in the nation. From 1961–85 the Hoosiers won 23 out of 25 Big Ten Championships (every year but 1981–82) including 20 straight from 1961–80. Olympic legend Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals and set seven world records at the 1972 Olympics, was a member of the 1969–72 NCAA Championship teams.
• Auburn University earned 13 total NCAA championships in swimming and diving, eight by the men's team and five by the women's team during a 12-year period. Dynasty runs from 1997 to 2009. During that stretch, the Auburn Tigers men won five consecutive national championships and the ladies won three consecutive national championships. And Auburn swimmers won more medals in the Olympic Games than did many countries (32 Olympic medals). At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Auburn swimmers representing more than a half-dozen nations won 13 medals, more than any other university. (If Auburn University were its own nation, it would have tied Canada and Spain for 14th place in medals won in those Games of the XXIX Olympiad with 18 medals across 13 events). In the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Auburn men earned 16 consecutive team titles between 1997–2012 while the women took five non-consecutive SEC championships.

^{[42] [43] [44]}

High School

• The Carmel, Indiana girls swim team has won a national record 30 straight state team titles from 1985 to 2015, making them the all-time best high school sports program in the country. Their 2015 win broke the tie with the Honolulu Punahou boys swimming team, who had won 29 straight from 1958 to 1986.^[45][46]

Cricket

• Australian national cricket team from 1945 through 1953.^[47]
• England cricket team in the 1950s.^[47]
• The West Indian cricket team dominated test cricket through the 1980s and early 1990s. The West Indian team was not beaten in a test series between March 1980 and May 1995, a fifteen-year span including twenty series wins and nine drawn series.^[47][48]
• Australian national cricket team from 1996 through 2007.^[47]

Handball

Women

• The Soviet Union women's national handball team was the first to dominate handball, doing so for fourteen years between 1976 and 1990. They won 63% of the gold medals in the process (5/8), 71% of entered tournaments considering the 1984 Summer Olympics boycott, including three consecutive world championships and being the first ever to win back to back Olympic gold in 1980.
• The Denmark women's national handball team became the first team, in 1997, to hold all three major titles: world, Olympic and continental. Led by coach Jan Pytlick Denmark won its third Olympic gold medal in a row in 2004, for the first time in the history of handball.^[49] From 1996 to 2004 the team had won 50% of all major titles (6/12) including 56% of major tournament wins (5/9) from 1996 to 2002.
• Led by line player Else-Marthe Sørlie Lybekk and goalkeeper Katrine Lunde Haraldsen, the Norway women's national handball team became the only team in handball history, on the women's and men's side, to have won the Euro championship in handball four times in a row. They have won a total of six European championship gold medals, an all-time record.^[50] In 2011 they became the third team in the world to have held all three titles at the same time.^[51] In 2015 they are back to back Olympic and European champions. From 2004 to present they have won 53% (8/15) of major titles including 58% (7/12) between 2004 and 2012.

Men

• In the 50's/60's, the men's Sweden national handball team was unbeaten for 10 years, becoming the first ever team to win back to back world championships (8 year domination) and collecting consecutive medals for 24 years. At the time the world championship was the only major competition being played (continental championships first took place in the 1990s and handball was not an Olympic sport until 1972 except for the 1936 Olympics).^[49][52]
• For thirteen years the Romania men's national handball team was virtually unbeatable, led by Gheorghe Gruia they won four out of five world championships between 1961 and 1974, first ever team to land two back to back championships. Recorded an all-time best 80% of wins in major tournaments for a period of ten plus years.^[52]
• The Sweden national handball team dominated the game of handball in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Led by coach Bengt Johansson and key players Magnus Wislander and Staffan Olsson, they have won three European championships in a row from 1998 to 2002, winning 60% of the major tournaments held in this period of time (3/5), clinching silver or gold medals in eight consecutive major tournaments between 1996 and 2002 (four times winner, four times runner up).
• Led by coach Claude Onesta, goalie Thierry Omeyer and key playmaker Nikola Karabatić, the men's France national handball team was the first ever to win five world championships in 2015, five out of ten world championships between 1995 and 2015. France is also the first men's team to have won back to back Olympic titles (2008 and 2012).^[49] In 2010 it became the first men's team to simultaneously hold Olympic, world and continental titles.^[52][53] In 2011 after another world championship title France men's team also clinched four consecutive major titles for the first time in the history of the game, women's included. In 2015 France holds all major titles for the third time in 5 years, three of the last five European championships and three of the last four world championships in play whilst being back to back Olympic champion. From 2008 to 2015 they have won seven out of nine major titles (78%) as well as 67% of wins for 9 years from 2006 to present (8/12).

Clubs

• The HC Spartak Kyiv, Kiev women's handball team, won thirteen out of 18 Champions' league titles from 1970 to 1988 (72% of titles) including two lines of four titles in a row.^[54]
• FC Barcelona Handbol, the men's Barcelona professional handball team, won an all-time best five consecutive Champions' League from 1995 to 2000.^[55]

Association football

Professional

Brazilian Campeonato Brasileiro

• Santos FC of the late 1950s, the whole of the 1960s and early 1970s. During that period, the team, led by the likes of Pelé, Pepe, Zito and Gilmar, became known as Os Santásticos ("The Santastics"). They won the Taça Brasil and the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa (forerunners of the Brazilian Championship) six times in eight seasons between 1961 and 1968, back-to-back Copas Libertadores and Intercontinental Cups in 1962 and 1963 and 12 São Paulo state championships between 1955 and 1973. The club was also a major contributor of players to the Brazilian squads that won three World Cup titles won in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
• Cruzeiro of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The club won one Brazilian championship (1966) and one Copa Libertadores (1976), appearing on three straight Libertadores semifinals and four national championship finals, also winning 9 Minas Gerais state championships.
• CR Flamengo of the 1980s. Led by Zico and featuring players such as Júnior, Andrade and Leandro, the team won four Brazilian Championships, one Copa Libertadores and one Intercontinental Cup between 1980 and 1987.
• SE Palmeiras of the 1960s and early 1970s. During that period, the club became known as "The Football Academy", for the two great squads it assembled. The First Academy, in the 1960s, won four Brazilian Championships, three São Paulo state championships, one Rio-São Paulo regional championship and became the first Brazilian side to reach a Copa Libertadores final, in 1961 (losing to Peñarol. The Second Academy, in the early 1970s, won consecutive Brazilian Championships in 1972 and 1973 and two São Paulo state championships. Notable players that were part of those teams included Ademir da Guia, Djalma Santos, Émerson Leão, Luís Pereira and Júlio Botelho.
• São Paulo FC of the 2000s. The team won the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005 and went on to become the first club of the Brazilian Championship era to win the national title for three seasons in a row (2006, 2007 and 2008). Aside from that, São Paulo qualified for the Libertadores through the Brazilian Championship for seven straight seasons (2004–2010), also a national record. During that period, the team was captained by goalkeeper Rogério Ceni and featured players such as Diego Lugano, Miranda and Hernanes.
• SC Internacional of the 1970s. The team won the Brazilian Championship in 1975, 1976 and 1979, the latter without a single defeat – the first and, so far, only unbeaten season in the Brazilian Championship era. The club also reached the 1980 Copa Libertadores final and won 13 of 16 Rio Grande do Sul state championships between 1969 and 1984. Great players from that period included Paulo Roberto Falcão, Elías Figueroa, Paulo César Carpegiani and Valdomiro.

Colombian Categoría Primera A

• Millonarios Fútbol Club of the 1950s won four league championships three of which were back to back. They also won four back to back in the 1960s, and a Copa Colombia in 1962 and 1963. One of the World's greatest footballers Alfredo Di Stéfano won three league titles, 1949–1952. A Copa Bodas de Oro del Real Madrid in 1952, as well as a Copa Colombia, Pequeña Copa del Mundo in 1953.
• América de Cali Between 1979–1986 won six league championships, five of them being back to back from 1982–1986. During these years they fielded Willington Ortiz, Alexander Escobar Gañán, Antony de Ávila, Roberto Cabañas, Ricardo Gareca, and Julio César Falcioni. In the early 2000s they won three more league championships back to back from 2000–2002, a Copa Ciudad Viña del Mar in 2000, and a Copa Sky in 2001. During these years they had some of the best young Colombian talent on their team, which included, Fabián Andrés Vargas, Róbinson Zapata, David Ferreira, Jersson González, and Jairo Castillo. In 2008 they won their latest league championship and a Copa Cafam. Internationally, they were the runner-up of the Copa Libertadores for three consecutive years from 1985–1987. In 1996 IFFHS ranked América de Cali as the second best club side in the world, only beaten by Italian champions Juventus.^[56]
• Atlético Nacional Between 2005–2007, after the league decided to split the year into two semesters, Atlético Nacional won three championships. Two of them being back to back in 2007.

Dutch Eredivisie

• AFC Ajax and PSV Eindhoven dominated the Dutch league from 1970 to 2008 with a few exceptions. Ajax won three European Cups in a row from 1971 to 1973, and won a fourth title in 1995. PSV won the European Cup in 1988.

English Football League

• Arsenal F.C. from 1930 through to the late 1940s under the initial guidance of Herbert Chapman. In this time Arsenal won the first division title in 1930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38 and 1947–48. Despite the Second World War breaking their official run of titles,^[b] Arsenal won three further regional leagues whilst national competitions were in recess.^[57]
• Liverpool F.C. between 1972 and 1990. During those eighteen years, the club became English champions on eleven occasions, under the successive guidance of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish. Other domestic honours won during the period were the FA Cup in 1974, 1986 and 1989 and the Football League Cup, won on four consecutive occasions from 1981 to 1984. This dominance was extended to the European continent starting in 1972–73 when the club won the UEFA Cup. Further success in this competition arrived in 1975–76, before Liverpool embarked on a run of four European Cup wins between 1976–77 and 1983–84. No other English club has since then achieved such success in the premier club competition of European football. The Reds reached their finest hour in 1983–84 when, with Joe Fagan at the helm, they became English champions while also winning the Football League Cup and the European Cup against A.S. Roma.
• Manchester United F.C. from the start of the Premier League (1992–93) to 2012–13. After six seasons with Sir Alex Ferguson's rebuilding of the club, the team won the first ever Premier League title, which was also their eighth top-tier league title. This victory was only the beginning of dominance as the club won the League title 12 more times, setting a new English record of 20 top-tier titles for one club. Manchester United also lifted the FA Cup during this period with victories in 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99 and 2003–04. They have also won the UEFA Champions League in 1998–99 (completing a "treble" of league title, FA Cup and European Cup), and another in 2007–08. During this time, the club finished no lower than third in the Premier League.^[58]

French Ligue 1

• Olympique Lyonnais from 2001–02 to the 2007–08 seasons in Ligue 1. Lyon became the first French club to win a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles, including six consecutive Trophée des Champions. It also managed to win a Coupe de France in 2008.

German Bundesliga

• Bayern Munich from 1971 to present. Bayern have won the Bundesliga a record 26 times, more than twice its closest Bundesliga contender. Bayern also won the European Cup three times in a row from 1974 to 1976, and won the Champions League a fourth time in 2001 and a fifth time in 2013. Bayern became the first German club to win the quadraple in 2013 season, winning Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup

Greek Superleague

• Olympiacos are the most successful club in Greek football history,^[59] with 43 Greek League titles,^[60] 27 Greek Cups,^[61]

Italian Football Championship and Serie A league

• Genoa C.F.C. from 1898 to 1904 in Italian football having won six Italian championship titles in seven years.
• U.S. Pro Vercelli from 1908 to 1913 in Italian football having won five Italian championship titles in six years. Also, the Vercelli's club players during that period constituted the backbone of the nascent national team.^[62]
• Juventus F.C. from 1930–31 to 1934–35 in Italian football. With the technic guidance of Carlo Carcano, the club dominated the 1930s getting a record of five consecutive national championships titles won, which allowed it to form the core of the Italy national team during the Vittorio Pozzo's era, including the 1933–1935 Central European International Cup winner team and the 1934 world champion squad.^[63]

A second golden era was in the late 1950s and early 1960s, having won three national league titles and two Coppa Italia in four years (1957–1961) with a squad led by Giampiero Boniperti, John Charles and the 1961 European Footballer of the Year Omar Sívori.^[64]

From the 1971–72 to the 1985–86 seasons the club, led by their president Giampiero Boniperti and under the successive management of former footballers Čestmír Vycpálek, Carlo Parola and Giovanni Trapattoni, became Italian champions nine times and won the Italian Cup twice, establishing the most enduring dynasty in Italian association football history. Such success allowed it to form the backbone of the Italian national team during Enzo Bearzot's era, including the 1978 FIFA World Cup semifinalist and 1982 world champion squads.^[65][66][67] This dominance was extended to the international spotlight starting in 1977 when the club won the UEFA Cup without foreign footballers, an unprecedented achievement for any country's team.^[68] Subsequently, the club lifted the Cup Winners' Cup and the European Champions Cup becoming the first club in the history of European football to have won all three seasonal UEFA competitions.^[69][70] Finally, after their triumph in the 1984 UEFA Super Cup and the 1985 Intercontinental Cup, the first title for a European side since the restructuring of the tournament occurred five years beforehand, the club also became the first in association football history—and remain the world's only one at present—to have won all possible official continental competitions and the world title.^[71][72][73]

A fourth triumphs era for the club was established in the late 1990s and early 2000s (decade) when Juventus won seven titles in twelve years from 1995 to 2006. In that period, the Torinese club also won one Coppa Italia, four Supercoppa Italiana, one Intercontinental Cup, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup and one UEFA Intertoto Cup.^[74]

• Torino F.C. during the 1940s in Italian football due of their success in the league championships in 1942–43 and from 1945–46^[c] to 1948–49.^[75]
• A.C. Milan in the second mid of the 1950s, having won three league titles in five years,^[64] and from the 1987–88 to the 1993–94 seasons in the Italian league Milan were able to win four Serie A titles. Also they were able to secure four Supercoppa Italiana in 1988, 1992, 1993 and 1994. In the international spotlight Milan added three UEFA Champions Leagues in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1993–94 seasons, three UEFA Super Cup titles (1989, 1990 and 1994) and two Intercontinental Cups (1989 and 1990).^[64]
• Inter Milan During the "Grande Inter" era of the mid-1960s, Inter, managed by Helenio Herrera, won three Serie A titles, 1962–63, 1964–65 and 1965–66, as well as back-to-back European Cups (1963–64 and 1964–65) and Intercontinental Cups (1964 & 1965).

A second golden era was from 2005–06 to 2009–10 getting a record of five consecutive national championships titles won, four Coppa Italia (2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11), four Supercoppa Italiana (2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010) and one UEFA Champions League (2009–2010). Inter was managed by Roberto Mancini (2005–08) and José Mourinho (2008–10) with a squad led by Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Marco Materazzi and Iván Córdoba.

Japanese J.League

• Kashima Antlers from 1996 to 2002, won the J.League title four times, the J.League Cup three times and the Emperor's Cup two times. In 2000 Kashima became the first J.League team to achieve the "treble", by winning all three major titles: J.League, J.League Cup, and Emperor's Cup in the same year.
• Kashima Antlers from 2007 to 2012, won the 2007 J.League title they became the first and only team in Japan to have won ten domestic titles in the professional era. In 2008 they became the first and only club to successfully defend the J.League title on two separate occasions. In 2009 they became the first and only club to win three consecutive J.League titles. With victories in back to back J.League Cups in 2011, 2012 and most recently followed by their 2015 victory, Kashima extended their unmatched record of major domestic titles in the professional era to seventeen.

Scottish Football League

• Celtic F.C.—eleven titles from 1966 to 1979 and the first British European champions in 1967 as part of a quadruple of trophies. Celtic also won eight Scottish Cups and six League Cups, besides losing the 1970 European Cup final.
• Rangers F.C.—eighteen titles from 1987 to 2011, including nine in a row from 1989 to 1997.

Spanish La Liga

• Real Madrid C.F. from the 1953–54 to the 1971–72 seasons in La Liga and the European Cup. Real Madrid won six European Cups, including five in a row from 1956–60, and 13 La Liga titles, including five in a row from 1961–65.^[76][77]
• FC Barcelona from the 2004–05 to present. Barcelona won eight La Liga championships, four Champions League titles, four Copa del Rey titles, six Spanish Super Cups, three European Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups. Barcelona won an unprecedented six major trophies in 2009, and became the first Spanish team to win the Treble and the first European Treble-winning team to also capture the European Super Cup and Club World Cup.^{[78][79][80][81][82]} They also became the first team to win the Treble twice in European football in the 2014–15 season.

National teams

• Uruguay of the 1920s, winners of three South American Championship titles, two Olympics gold medals and the inaugural FIFA World Cup, in 1930.
• Italy of the 1930s, the first national team to win back-to-back World Cups (1934 and 1938), coached by Vittorio Pozzo and led by Giuseppe Meazza.
• West Germany/Germany from 1966 to 1996, as an era of German domination in European and international football, in the beginning led by players like Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier, Gerd Müller, and Paul Breitner. Coached by the great Helmut Schön, they were runners-up in 1966 FIFA World Cup, third in 1970 FIFA World Cup winners in UEFA Euro 1972 and making the double in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. After a consecutive success, they finished runners-up in 1976 against Czechoslovakia in penalties. After 1978 disappointment, Schön retired from football and was replaced by Jupp Derwall, his assistant coach. And in the UEFA Euro 1980 Germany got back to the glory by winning the tournament by the hand of players like Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Horst Hrubesch, Harald Schumacher, Bernd Schuster and the youngster Lothar Matthäus. And two years later they reached the 1982 FIFA World Cup Final against Italy, losing it 3-1. The UEFA Euro 1984 was another surprise by the early elimination of the tournament, later Franz Beckenbauer was appointed as the new manager, and reached the 1986 FIFA World Cup Final losing against Argentina; hosts of the UEFA Euro 1988 tournament West Germany got to the semi-final. In the 1990 FIFA World Cup edition, they revived the 1986 FIFA World Cup final rematch as the new Germany and this time won the final after sixteen years of their last World Cup title. This time players like Jürgen Klinsmann, Rudi Völler, Andreas Brehme, and now captain Lothar Matthäus. With this victory, they were favorites to win the UEFA Euro 1992 in Sweden, which they lost the final against the Danish revelation team. After the 1994 FIFA World Cup in United States, Germany beat the Czech Republic in the UEFA Euro 1996 Final played in England by 1-2 in extra time. This would be the last time Germany won an international tournament until the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
• Brazil from 1958 to 1970, with three World Cup titles (1958, 1962 and 1970) in 4 tournaments, featuring players like Pelé, Garrincha, Didi, Carlos Alberto Torres and Jairzinho.
• Brazil from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, with three straight World Cup finals appearances, winning two (1994, 2002) of them, featuring players like Ronaldo, Romario, Bebeto, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo.
• Spain of the late 2000s and 2010s, the first national team to win back-to-back UEFA Euros (2008 and 2012) with a World Cup win between them (2010), fielding players like Iker Casillas, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, David Villa and Fernando Torres.
• Japan from 1992 and 2011, won four (4) of the six (6) AFC Asian Cups, the second oldest continental football championship in the world after the Copa América that awards the winning team the title of Champions of Asia and automatically qualifies them for the FIFA Confederations Cup. This reign included back to back consecutive Asian Cups from 2000 and 2004.

Major League Soccer

• D.C. United, 1996 to 1999 (3 MLS championships in 4 years and 2 Supporters' Shields).
• LA Galaxy, 2009 to present (3 MLS championships in 5 years and 2 Supporters Shields as first place team in the regular season. Additionally, the team has 4 Western Conference titles and has had great players such as David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane.

NCAA

Division I (Women)

• North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer, 1979–2012 (22 national championships in 34 years, 21 of those are NCAA Tournament Championships) This also includes 9 consecutive NCAA Tournament Championships from 1986–1994, and 15 consecutive ACC Tournament Championships from 1989–2003. Also, they boast a 90% win rate, having won 704 games and lost or tied only 78 games.^[15]

Gridiron football

American football

National Football League

• Green Bay Packers 1929–1931 (three straight NFL Championships) ^[83]
• Chicago Bears of the 1940s ("Monsters of the Midway") (four championships in seven seasons; 1940, 1941, 1943, and 1946)^[84][85]
• Cleveland Browns of the early 1950s (three NFL championships and six consecutive title game appearances from 1950 to 1955)^[15][84]
• Green Bay Packers of the 1960s. Led by Vince Lombardi (five championships in seven years; including Super Bowls I and II)^{[83][84][86][87][88][15][89]}
• Miami Dolphins of the 1970s. Led by Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, and head coach Don Shula. Won two Super Bowls back-to-back (1972, 1973). First team to go to the Super Bowl three years in a row. The only team to have a perfect season in the NFL in 1972.
• Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s. Led by Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris and the Steel Curtain (only team in NFL history to win four Super Bowl titles in six years ('74, '75, '78, '79), 6 straight division titles, 7 total)^{[15][84][87][88][89][90]}
• San Francisco 49ers of the 1980s. Led by Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Steve Young. This dynasty is usually considered to cover 1981 through 1989, a period in which the team won four Super Bowl championships (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989) and 8 division titles,^{[84][87][88][89]} but sometimes the 1994 Super Bowl championship is also included.^[90]
• Dallas Cowboys 1991–1997 Led by Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irvin aka "The Triplets", (First team to win three Super Bowls in four years (1992, 1993, 1995), 3 conference championships in 4 straight appearances, 5 straight division titles, 6 total.)^{[84][87][88][89][90]}
• New England Patriots 2001–present Led by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Three Super Bowl titles in four years (2001, 2003, 2004) and a fourth in 2014, two other Super Bowl appearances (2007, 2011), ten AFC title game appearances (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011–2015), and 13 AFC East Division titles (2001, 2003–2007, and 2009–2015). The 2007 season also saw the Patriots become only the second team in NFL history to record a perfect regular season and the first to do so in a 16-game season. During this time, the Patriots set the NFL's #1 and #2 record for most consecutive games won; 21 from 2003–2004, and 18 from 2007–2008. From 2001–2014 the Patriots have averaged over 12 wins per season and a .759 win percentage, the highest in any of the four major American sports.^[84][87]

American Football League

• Houston Oilers, 3 straight AFL Championship game appearances and two titles from 1960–1962.
• Buffalo Bills of the mid-1960s, three straight AFL Championship game appearances and two titles from 1964–1966.^[84]

All-America Football Conference

• Cleveland Browns of the late 1940s. Won the AAFC championship in all four years of its existence (1946–49) including an undefeated season in 1948.^[84]

NCAA Football

Division I

Football Bowl Subdivision (Formerly I-A)

The problems inherent in identifying sports dynasties are exacerbated in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, where the national champion is determined, at least in part, by poll rather than through a tournament. These polls, however, are largely based on win-loss records, thereby relying on minimal subjectivity. When fans of a sport cannot agree on which team within a league or other organization should be considered as holding that organization's championship, discussing whether a team has become a dynasty is more difficult. Because of these problems, teams that consistently win their conference championship and are frequently in contention for national championships are termed dynasties more often than a similarly performing team in another sport or division might.

• Yale – nineteen championships between 1874 and 1909 ^[91]
• Michigan – four championships in four years, 5 straight undefeated seasons between 1901–1905.
• Pittsburgh, 1910–1918 – five championships in nine seasons (1910, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918)
• Notre Dame, 1919–1930 – six championships in 1919, 1920, 1924, 1927, 1929, 1930 and an .892 winning percentage over 12 years.^[91]
• Pittsburgh, 1925–1938 – nine championships in fourteen seasons (1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938)
• Minnesota, 1934–1941 – five championships in eight seasons (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941)^[92]
• Army, 1944–46^[93]
• Notre Dame, 1946–1949^[15][94]
• Oklahoma, 1948–1951^[95]
• Oklahoma, 1953–58^[15][96]
• Alabama, 1961–66 Led by Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, and Ken Stabler– three national championships. In '61, '64' and 65 and going unbeaten in '66, and had a record of 60-5-1 over six-year span.^[97]
• University of Southern California, 1962–1979 Led by John McKay and John Robinson. 5 national championships in '62, '67, '72, '74, and '78.
• Michigan State, 1951–66, Won 6 national championships in years '51, '52, '55, '57, '65, and '66 under coaches Biggie Munn and Duffy Daugherty.
• Texas, 1963–72 Led by coach Darrell Royal. Texas won 3 national championships in 7 years in '63, '69, and '70.
• Oklahoma, 1971–75. Led by Barry Switzer winning back to back championships in '74, '75.^[98]
• Alabama, 1973–80 Led by Bear Bryant winning national titles in '73, '78, and '79^[99]
• Miami, 1983–94 – Led by coaches Howard Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson (American football coach), and Dennis Erickson. In 12 seasons, Miami won four national championships (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991), played for 7 national championships (1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994), finished in the top 3 of the AP Poll for 7 consecutive seasons (1986–92), and set an NCAA-record with 58 straight home victories. They also had 2 Heisman Trophy winners in Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Torretta in 1992.^[100][101]
• Florida State, 1987–2000 – At the height of Bobby Bowden's dominance, the Florida State Seminoles went 152–19–1, won nine ACC championships (1992–2000), two national championships (1993 and 1999), played for three more national championships (1996, 1998 and 2000), were ranked #1 in the pre-season AP poll 5 times (1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1999), never lost the #1 AP ranking during 1999, produced 20 1st round NFL draft picks (including the 1997 offensive and defensive rookies of the year), won at least 10 games every year, and never finished a season ranked lower than fourth in the AP poll. Quarterbacks Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke won Heisman Trophies.^[102]
• Nebraska, 1993–97 – Led by head coach Tom Osborne, defensive coordinator Charlie McBride, and players Tommie Frazier, Scott Frost, Ahman Green, Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter and the Blackshirts. They played for 4 national championships in '93, '94, '95, and '97. They won 3 national championships in four years (1994, 1995, 1997), 60–3 cumulative record and went unbeaten in '94, '95, and '97 and won the national title in the same years. The 1995 Nebraska Cornhusker Football Team is regarded as one of The Greatest College Football Teams of all time. They won 26 straight games from 1994–1996.^[103]
• USC from 2002–2005. Led by head coach Pete Carroll, and players Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and Lendale White. They were one of the most flashy and attention getter teams in the history of college football. They won two consecutive AP national championships (2003 and 2004), appearance in the 2005 National Championship Game, seven straight Pac-10 titles, six major bowl wins in seven years (Rose: 2003 and 2007–2009, Orange: 2004 and 2005), and maintained a 34-game winning streak from 2003–2005. They also produced 3 Heisman Trophy winners in Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush in 2002, 2004, and 2005 respectively. Even though their 2005 USC Trojans football team lost in one of the best national championship games in history in the 2006 Rose Bowl, they are still considered one of the best teams in college football history.
• Alabama, 2008–present. Led by head coach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. Alabama won 4 National Championships in 7 years (2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015). Since the 2008 season, Alabama has averaged 12 wins per season and have a record as of the 2015 season of 98-12. Alabama is known for their more traditional style of play with hard hitting, and relentless attacks under Saban. Since 2008, Nick Saban has had the number one recruiting classes every year since then. In 2009 and 2015, Alabama got its first and second Heisman Trophy winners ever in their storied history, when RBs Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry accomplished this feat and both won the national championship in the same year as well.^{[104][105][106]}

Dynasty status is subjective, and is not recognized by any official organization, including the NCAA.

Football Championship Subdivision (Formerly Division I-AA)

• Youngstown State from 1991–1999. Led by head coach Jim Tressel. YSU won four national championships (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997) and appeared in six National Championship Games in nine years.
• North Dakota State University 2011–present. Led by coaches Craig Bohl and Chris Klieman, North Dakota State has won five straight NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision National Championships from 2011–2015. During this period they've accumulated a record so far of 71-5. This is a feat that has never been accomplished prior in FCS/I-AA history. The 2014–15 senior class will graduate with more Championship wins than losses over that 4-year period.

^[107]

Division II

• Northwest Missouri State from 1996–present Led by coaches Mel Tjeerdsma and coach Adam Dorrel. They went to the playoffs every year and played in 9 NCAA Division II national football championship games in '98, '99, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '13 and '15 and won five in '98, '99, '09, '13, and '15. They are one of the most successive Division II programs in the country sending numerous players to professional football leagues that are NFL, CFL, UFL and Arena Football Leagues.
• Grand Valley State University, 2001–2009, led by coaches Brian Kelly and Chuck Martin; Champions in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, runners up in 2001 and 2009, 102–8 record over this span.^[108]

Division III

• Augustana (IL), 1983–1986 – Augustana won 4 consecutive titles from 1983 to 1986^[109]
• Mount Union, 1993–present – Mount Union won 110 consecutive regular-season games between 1994 and 2005, posted 14 undefeated regular seasons, won 16 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships, and had the best overall record in the 1990s (120–7–1 .941). They won Division III championships in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2015 and have appeared in 19 national championship games since 1993.^[110]
• Wisconsin–Whitewater, 2005–present – UW–Whitewater appeared in seven consecutive Division III championship games between 2005 and 2011. They won Division III championships in 2007, 2009, 2010 2011, 2013, and 2014.^[111]

NAIA Football

• Carroll College (Montana) of the 2000s (decade) – 8 straight Frontier Conference Championships (2000 to 2007), six straight national semi-final appearances (2000–2005), and six NAIA National Football Championships in nine years (2002–2005,2007,2010).^[109]
• Texas A&I 7 NAIA National Championships in 11 years, 1968–1979. 3 consecutive and 5 in the decade of the 1970s: 1970-74-75-76-70. Lost only 1 NAIA Playoff Game (1968 National Championship Game—to Boise State, now a Bowl Subdivision team.^[109]
• Carson-Newman 5 NAIA National Championships in 7 years, 1983–89. Winning the title in 1983-86-88-89 outright and tied the 1984 title with Central Arkansas.^[109]
• Linfield 3 NAIA National Championships in 6 years, 1982–86; winning it in 1982-84-86.^[109]
• Westminster College (Pennsylvania) 3 NAIA National Championships in 8 years, 1970–78; winning it in 1970-77-78. Also was NAIA Champions in 1988-89-94.^[109]

Canadian football

• Toronto Argonauts from 1945 to 1952 (five championships in eight years)^[112]
• Edmonton Eskimos from 1954 to 1956 (three championships in three years)^[112]
• Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1958 to 1962 (four championships in five years)^[112]
• Edmonton Eskimos from 1975 to 1982 (six championships in eight years, including five consecutive)^[112]

Indoor American football

Arena Football League

• Detroit Drive from 1988 to 1993 (four championships and six ArenaBowl appearances in six seasons)^[113]
• Arizona Rattlers 2011 to present (three championships and four ArenaBowl appearances in four seasons)^[114]

Horseshoes

• Alan Francis, 1993–present; won 14 out of 17 world championships,^[115] only player to pitch over 90%^[116][117]

Horse racing

Thoroughbred racing

• Calumet Farm, 1941–1958. Bred and raced two Triple Crown winners and five other Kentucky Derby winners.^[15]
• AP McCoy, 1996–2015. 20-time Champion Jockey in Britain. Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. Won Grand National in 2010 aboard Don't Push It. In 2010, he became the only jockey to ever be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Ice hockey

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League and the Hockey Hall of Fame officially recognize nine dynasty teams:^[118][119]

• Ottawa Senators of 1919–27 (4 championships in 8 years) 1920, 1921, 1923, 1927 ^[118][119]
• Toronto Maple Leafs of 1946–51 (4 championships in 5 years) 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951 ^[118][119]
• Detroit Red Wings of 1949–55 (4 championships in 6 years) 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955 ^[118][119]
• Montreal Canadiens of 1955–60 (5 consecutive championships) 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 ^[118][119]
• Toronto Maple Leafs of 1962–67 (4 championships in 6 years) 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967 ^[118][119]
• Montreal Canadiens of 1964–69 (4 championships in 5 years) 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 ^[118][119]
• Montreal Canadiens of 1975–79 (4 consecutive championships) ^[118][119]
• New York Islanders of 1980–83 (4 consecutive championships) ^[118][119]
• Edmonton Oilers of 1983–90 (5 championships in 7 years) 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990 ^[118][119]

Ice Hockey World Championships

• Canada 1920–1961. Canada won 19 (68%) of the Ice Hockey World Championships from 1920–1961 and were silver medalists at another 5 (18%) during the same time period. Canada won either gold or silver at nearly 90% of all tournaments during this stretch.
• Soviet Union 1963–1990. This stretch is the most dominant stretch of all-time in international play, with the Soviets winning nearly every world championship and Olympic tournament between 1963 and 1990 and never failing to medal in any International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) tournament they competed.
• Czechoslovakia 1976–1985. The Czechs won 3 gold and 4 silver medals in 8 tournaments.
• Sweden 1986–1998. Sweden won 4 gold and 5 silver medals in 12 tournaments.
• Czech Republic 1999–2001. Three consecutive world championships.
• Canada 2003–2009. Canada had another dynasty stretch from 2003–2009 having won 3 gold and 3 silver medals in 7 tournaments.
• Russia 2008–present. Russia is recognized by the IIHF as the successor to the Soviet Union and have passed its ranking on to Russia. The Russian team has been competing internationally since 1993, and has been far less dominant. However, many analysts consider the Russians to be in another dynasty stretch starting in 2008, having won 4 golds and 2 silvers in 8 tournaments (as of 2015).

Kontinental Hockey League

The Soviet Championship League is now known as the Kontinental Hockey League.

• HC CSKA Moscow: 32 Soviet Championship League titles from 1946–47 to 1988–89, including all but six from 1955 to 1989 and 13 in a row from 1977 to 1989.
• HC Dynamo Moscow: 1990–1993. Four consecutive championships.

NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey

• Michigan Wolverines: 1948–1957, 6 championships and 1 runner-up in 10 tournaments.
• Denver Pioneers: 1958–1964, 3 championships and 2 runners-up in 7 tournaments.
• Cornell Big Red: 1967–1972, 2 championships and 2 runners-up in 6 tournaments.
• Minnesota Golden Gophers: 1974–1981, 3 championships and 2 runners-up in 8 tournaments. The majority of players during this stretch hailed from the state of Minnesota and eight players were members of the 1980 U.S. Miracle on Ice team.
• Boston College Eagles: 2006–2012, 3 championships and 2 runners-up in 7 tournaments. This dynasty has produced many NHL players, including: Cam Atkinson, Brian Boyle, Benn Ferriero, Nathan Gerbe, Chris Kreider, Nick Petrecki, Cory Schneider and Ben Smith.

Olympics

• Canada women's national ice hockey team: 2002–present, four Straight Gold Medals in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014.

Ice skating

• Russian pairs skaters, 1965–1999^[15]

Lacrosse

National Lacrosse League

• Toronto Rock of 1999–2005 (five championships in seven years) 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005

NCAA Men

• Hobart Statesmen won thirteen national titles from 1980–1993, including twelve straight titles from 1980–1991.^[120]

NCAA Women

• Maryland Terrapins won eight national titles from 1992–2001, capturing seven consecutive titles from 1995–2001 and completing four undefeated seasons.^[121]
• Northwestern Wildcats won seven national titles from 2005–2012, capturing five consecutive titles from 2005–2009, national runner-up in 2010, and two more titles in 2011 and 2012. Northwestern completed two undefeated seasons in 2005 and 2009.

League of Legends

• South Korea's SK Telecom T1 has won three world championships in four years: the 2013 season, 2015 season, and 2016 season in addition to several titles in the League of Legends Champions Korea league of South Korea. SK Telecom T1 has been considered the strongest team in the world since 2013 by League of Legends analysts.^[122]

Rugby league

International

• Australia national rugby league team, 1972–2005.^[123] Rugby League World Cup champions in 7 consecutive tournaments from 1975 to 2000, never lost a test series for 33 consecutive years.

National Rugby League

• Balmain from 1915 to 1920 (five Premierships in six years: 1915–1917, 1919–1920)
• South Sydney from 1923 to 1932 (seven premierships in eight seasons 1925–1929, 1931–1932; runners-up: 1923–1924)
• Eastern Suburbs from 1934 to 1938 (five consecutive Grand Finals; three consecutive Premierships: 1935–1937)
• South Sydney from 1949 to 1955 (seven consecutive Grand Finals; five Premierships: 1950–1951, 1953–1955)
• St. George from 1956 to 1966 (eleven consecutive Premierships)

English Rugby League and Super League

• Leeds from 2007 to 2012 (five League Championships in six years: 2007–2009, 2011–2012)
• Wigan from 1984–85 to 1995–96 (seven consecutive League Championships, eight overall: 1986–87, 1989–90 to 1995–96; eight consecutive Challenge Cups, nine overall: 1984–85, 1987–88 to 1994–95; seven Regal Trophies; three World Club Challenge Cups: 1987, 1991, 1994)

Rugby union

• Crusaders 1998–2006, they reached eight Super Rugby finals, of which they won 6.^[124]
• Leinster 2008–present, 2008 Magners League winners, 2010 & 2011 Magners League Runners Up, 2012 RaboDirect Pro12 finalist, 2013 RaboDirect Pro12 winners, Heineken Cup Champions 2009, 2011, 2012, Amlin Challenge Cup champions 2013
• All Blacks 2010–present, ranked #1 in the world, won the 2011 World Cup, won 3 Rugby Championships in 4 years.
• Toulon (2013–2015), first club ever to win three consecutive European club championships—the last two Heineken Cups in 2013 and 2014, and the inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup in 2015.^[125]

College Rugby Union

• Bowling Green State University Men's Rugby Team has won 34 consecutive Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship since 1982 (two were won in one year when the season switched from spring to fall)

Tennis

• Australian Davis Cup team, 1950–1967^[15]
• Kalamazoo College men's tennis team has won 77 consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships (1936–2015) with a record of 426-2 in the MIAA from 1935–2007.^[126] Kalamazoo has won seven NCAA Division III national championships and has made 25 consecutive NCAA III tournament appearances.^[127]
• Roger Federer, 2004–2007, Spent 237 consecutive weeks as the World Number 1. Won 11 of 17 Major titles during the period.

Track and Cross Country

• United States Men's Olympic 4 × 100 meter team, 1916–1992^[15]
• Kenyan runners, 1968–1999^[15]
• University High School Normal Illinois 2010–2015 Men's and Women's Intercity Cross Country Championships ^[128]

Collegiate Volleyball

• The NCAA Division I Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball team won four consecutive National Championships from 2007 to 2010, including two perfect seasons in 2008 and 2009, and then the Nittany Lions repeated in 2013 & 2014, to make it six Championships in eight years and seven overall titles with the first title coming in 1999; and Big 10 Conference Championships from 2003 to 2010, 2013 and 2014.
• The Concordia University (Saint Paul) women's volleyball team have captured NCAA Division II Championships in seven consecutive seasons – the only NCAA volleyball program to accomplish the feat at the Division I or II levels. Their seven total volleyball titles is more than any program as well, with the sport dating back to 1980, at the women's Division II level. Their head coach, Brady Starkey, boasts a 306-26 overall record (.926) making him the winningest active NCAA volleyball coach in any division by overall percentage. They have also mounted 9 consecutive conference Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championships (from 2003 to 2011) including 6-undefeated conference campaigns.^[129]
• The NCAA Division III Washington University in St. Louis women's volleyball team were the first volleyball team to win six consecutive national championships, from 1991 to 1996. They have won a total of 10 NCAA championships, including 26 consecutive appearances in the championship tournament dating back to 1987, the most of any program at any level.^[130]

Dynasties in question

Most disputes about dynasties relate to teams that dominated within a conference or division, but either failed to win championships or infrequently won championships. This is exacerbated in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A), where the national champion is determined, at least in part, by poll rather than through a tournament.

• Buffalo Bills won 4 AFC Championships in a row from 1990–1993 (three times by a spread of greater than 14 points), the only team ever to do so, and for this they are sometimes considered a dynasty.^[84][131] However, they went on to lose the Super Bowl all four times.
• Boise State Broncos football from 1998 to present. At 113–26, their 81.29% win rate is the highest in the nation.^[132] Won ten of twelve conference championships from 1999 to 2009, undefeated in conference play in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009, perfect seasons in 2006 and 2009, but has never selected to play in the Division I-A national championship.
• Detroit Red Wings of the mid-1990s through the late 2000s. Although not officially listed by the NHL as a dynasty, the Red Wings won 4 Stanley Cups in 11 seasons (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008) and went to the Stanley Cup Finals six times in fourteen seasons (1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008, and 2009). The Red Wings had the best team record during both the 1990s and 2000s, accumulating the most points of any franchise during each decade. Detroit won the Presidents" Trophy for the best regular season record in the NHL in 1995, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, in all winning their division thirteen times during this span.^[133] The Red Wings have also qualified for the playoffs the last 24 seasons (since 1991), excluding 2005 that had no playoffs due to a lockout.
• San Antonio Spurs of 1999 to 2014 led by Tim Duncan. (five NBA championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) in sixteen seasons, six Western Conference titles, eleven division championships, and seventeen consecutive playoff appearances from 1998 to 2014, with a .705 win percentage during that span, the highest in any of the four major American sports) are considered a dynasty by some,^[134][135] but not by others ^[136][137] because they did not win consecutive titles.
• University of Southern California football, 2002–2005 – two consecutive AP national championships (2003 and 2004), appearance in the 2005 National Championship Game, seven straight Pac-10 titles, six major bowl wins in seven years (Rose: 2003 and 2007–2009, Orange: 2004 and 2005), and maintained a 34-game winning streak from 2003–2005.^[138] However, USC was forced to two wins from the 2004 season including the Orange Bowl win and BCS national Championship, all wins from the 2005 season, and the Pac-10 titles from both of those seasons as the result of rules violations involving star running back Reggie Bush.
• Marshall University Thundering Herd Football

Notes

^a The 1916 and 1917 VFA seasons were cancelled due to World War I
^b The Football League suspended operations between 1939–40 and 1945–46 inclusive due to World War II and planning difficulties in its aftermath.
^c The Allied conquest of Italy caused normal Serie A football to be suspended between 1943–44 and 1945–46, though the 1946 scudetto is considered official.

References