The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the western United States with member institutions located in Arizona, California, Texas, Utah and Washington.
 | |
| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 27, 1962 |
| Commissioner | Brian Thornton (since 2021) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division I |
| Subdivision | Non-football |
| No. of teams | 9 (7 in 2025) |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Texas |
| Region | Southwestern United States Pacific Northwest |
| Official website | www |
| Locations | |
 | |
Due to most of the conference's football-playing members leaving the WAC for other affiliations, the conference discontinued football as a sponsored sport after the 2012–13 season, left the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) and became one of the NCAA's eleven Division I non-football conferences.[1] The WAC thus became the first Division I conference to drop football since the Big West in 2000. The WAC then added men's soccer. The WAC underwent a major expansion on July 1, 2021, with four schools joining. The conference reinstated football at that time, competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). One year later, on July 1, 2022, one FCS football school (Lamar) and one non-football school (Chicago State) left, and one FCS football school (Southern Utah) and one non-football school (UT Arlington) joined.[2][3][4][5][6] The WAC again became a non-football conference in 2023, when the WAC and the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) merged their FCS football leagues as the United Athletic Conference.
Members
editExisting full members
editThese institutions are the existing full members of the Western Athletic Conference:
Members departing for the West Coast Conference in 2025.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Type | Enrollment | Endowment
(Millions) |
Nickname | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian University | Abilene, Texas | 1906 | 2021 | Private (Churches of Christ) |
6,730[7] | $824 | Wildcats | |
| California Baptist University | Riverside, California | 1950 | 2018 | Private (Baptist) |
11,491[8] | $119.1 | Lancers | |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, Arizona | 1949 | 2013 | Private For-Profit (Non-denominational) |
103,427[a] | $21.6 | Antelopes | |
| Seattle University | Seattle, Washington | 1891 | 2012 | Private (Jesuit) |
7,755 | $241.2 | Redhawks | |
| Southern Utah University | Cedar City, Utah | 1897 | 2022 | Public | 15,000[9] | $29.9[10] | Thunderbirds | |
| Tarleton State University (Tarleton) |
Stephenville, Texas | 1899 | 2020 | Public (TAMUS) |
13,996[11] | $42 | Texans | |
| University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington) |
Arlington, Texas | 1895 | 2012; 2022[b] | Public (UTS) |
42,863[12] | $218[13] | Mavericks | |
| Utah Tech University[c] | St. George, Utah | 1911 | 2020 | Public | 12,650 | $16.3 | Trailblazers | |
| Utah Valley University | Orem, Utah | 1941 | 2013 | Public | 41,728 | $84.1 | Wolverines |
- Notes
Affiliate members
editThese nine schools field programs in the WAC for sports not sponsored by their primary conferences:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Primary conference |
WAC sport(s) |
Joined | Former full member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Air Force Academy (Air Force)[a][b] |
USAF Academy, Colorado[c] | 1955 | Federal | 4,413 | Falcons | Mountain West | Men's soccer, men's swimming |
2013–14m.soc 2013–14m.sw |
Yes |
| California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State)[d] |
Sacramento, California | 1947 | Public | 27,972 | Hornets | Big Sky | Baseball | 2005–06 | No |
| University of Idaho | Moscow, Idaho | 1889 | Public | 12,312 | Vandals | Big Sky | Women's swimming | 2014–15 | Yes |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)[a][b] |
Las Vegas, Nevada[e] | 1957 | Public | 29,069 | Rebels | Mountain West | Men's soccer, men's swimming |
2013–14m.soc 2013–14m.sw |
Yes |
| New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, New Mexico | 1888 | Public | 21,694 | Aggies | Conference USA | Women's swimming | 2023–24[17] | Yes |
| Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, Arizona | 1899 | Public | 18,824 | Lumberjacks | Big Sky | Women's swimming | 2004–05 | No |
| University of Northern Colorado[f] | Greeley, Colorado | 1889 | Public | 10,097 | Bears | Big Sky | Women's swimming | 2012–13 | No |
| San Diego State University | San Diego, California | 1897 | Public | 28,789 | Aztecs | Mountain West (Pac-12 in 2026) |
Men's soccer | 2024–25 | Yes |
| San Jose State University[a] | San Jose, California | 1857 | Public | 30,448 | Spartans | Mountain West | Men's soccer | 2013–14 | Yes |
| University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Edinburg, Texas | 2013[g] | Public (UTS) |
32,419[20] | Vaqueros | Southland | Men's soccer, women's swimming |
2024–25 | Yes |
| University of Wyoming[b] | Laramie, Wyoming | 1886 | Public | 12,496 | Cowboys | Mountain West | Men's swimming | 2013–14 | Yes |
- Notes
- ^ a b c Four schools became affiliate members in men's soccer in July 2013; the WAC announced on January 9, 2013 that it would reinstate the sport, which it had sponsored from 1996 to 1999. Because the conference previously dropped football, it was necessary to add a new men's team sport to maintain its Division I status. It chose men's soccer because three of the confirmed members for 2013–14 (CSU Bakersfield, Grand Canyon, and Seattle) already sponsored the sport, and filled out its soccer ranks by attracting four schools from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Three of these schools have past WAC connections—former full members Air Force, UNLV, and San Jose State.[15] After the WAC announced it would add men's soccer, the conference gained an eighth soccer school for the 2013 season when UMKC, which already sponsored the sport, joined. In addition, Utah Valley added the sport for 2014, UT-Pan American (later known as UT Rio Grande Valley) added it for 2015, and Chicago State was slated to add it for 2016 but did not do so until 2020 (by which time UMKC returned to the Summit League under its athletic identity of Kansas City).
- ^ a b c Four schools (three of which are former WAC full members: Air Force, UNLV, and Wyoming; and North Dakota) became affiliate members in men's swimming and diving in July 2013; the WAC announced on May 16, 2013 that it would reinstate the sport, which it had sponsored from 1962 to 2000.[16]
- ^ Virtually all of the Academy grounds, including the cadet area and all athletic facilities, is outside the Colorado Springs city limits. The U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Postal Service respectively designate the Academy as "Air Force Academy" and "USAF Academy".
- ^ Sacramento State was formerly an associate member of the WAC in baseball from 1992–93 to 1995–96.
- ^ The UNLV campus is outside of the Las Vegas city limits in the unincorporated community of Paradise. The U.S. Postal Service considers all unincorporated areas in the Las Vegas Valley, including Paradise, to have a Las Vegas address.
- ^ Northern Colorado joined the WAC for baseball for the 2014 spring season (2013–14 school year).[18] The baseball team left for the Summit League after the 2021 spring season (2020–21 school year);[19] but the school remains a WAC affiliate in women's swimming & diving.
- ^ While UTRGV was formally founded in 2013, with instruction starting in 2015, the athletic program traces its history through the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA), which joined the WAC in 2013 and was one of the two institutions merged into UTRGV. The UTRGV athletic program inherited UTPA's Division I and WAC memberships.
Former full members
editThe WAC has 34 former full members:
- Notes
- ^ As noted previously, the Academy is outside of the Colorado Springs city limits, and is its own entity for both census and postal purposes.
- ^ The Colorado State men's basketball team joined the WAC a year after it became a full member for other sports (1969–70).
- ^ As noted previously, UNLV is outside of the Las Vegas city limits, but has a Las Vegas mailing address.
- ^ Virtually all of the SMU campus, including all athletic facilities, is in University Park, a city contained within the Dallas city limits. The U.S. Postal Service considers all locations in University Park to have a Dallas address.
- ^ While UTRGV was formally founded in 2013, with instruction starting in 2015, the athletic program traces its history through the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA), which joined the WAC in 2013 and was one of the two institutions merged into UTRGV. The UTRGV athletic program inherited UTPA's Division I and WAC memberships.
Former affiliate members
edit| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Primary conference |
WAC sport(s) |
Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise State University | Boise, Idaho | 1932 | Public | 22,678 | Broncos | Mountain West (Pac-12 in 2026) |
gymnastics | 1990–91, 2012–13 |
1992–93, 2012–13 |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
San Luis Obispo, California | 1901 | Public | 20,186 | Mustangs | Big West | baseball | 1994–95 | 1995–96 |
| California State University, Bakersfield (Cal State Bakersfield) |
Bakersfield, California | 1965 | Public | 8,720 | Roadrunners | Big West[a] | baseball, women's swimming |
2012–13bs. 2012–13w.sm. |
2012–13bs. 2012–13w.sm. |
| California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton) |
Fullerton, California | 1959 | Public | 38,128 | Titans | Big West[b] | gymnastics | 2005–06 | 2010–11 |
| California State University, Northridge (Cal State Northridge) |
Northridge, California | 1958 | Public | 38,310 | Matadors | Big West | baseball | 1992–93 | 1995–96 |
| California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State) |
Sacramento, California | 1947 | Public | 27,972 | Hornets | Big Sky[c] | gymnastics | 2005–06 | 2012–13 |
| Dallas Baptist University | Dallas, Texas | 1898 | Private | 5,422 | Patriots | Lone Star[d][e] | baseball | 2012–13 | 2012–13 |
| University of Denver | Denver, Colorado | 1864 | Private | 11,476 | Pioneers | Summit[f][g] | gymnastics | 2011–12 | 2011–12 |
| Drury University | Springfield, Missouri | 1873 | Private | 5,474 | Panthers | Great Lakes Valley[d] | men's soccer | 1999–2000 | 1999–2000 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, Arizona | 1949 | Private, For-profit |
17,650 | Antelopes | WAC[h] | baseball | 1994–95 | 1997–98 |
| University of Hawaii at Hilo (Hawaii–Hilo) |
Hilo, Hawaii | 1901 | Public | 20,186 | Vulcans | Pacific West[d] | baseball | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 |
| Houston Christian University[i] | Houston, Texas | 1960 | Private | 2,567 | Huskies | Southland | Men's soccer | 2013–14 | 2023-24 |
| University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, Texas | 1881 | Private | 8,455 | Cardinals | Southland | Men's soccer | 2014–15 | 2022-23 |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, North Dakota | 1883 | Public | 15,250 | Fighting Hawks | Summit[j] | baseball, men's swimming, women's swimming |
2013–14bs. 2013–14m.sm. 2011–12w.sm. |
2015–16bs. 2016–17m.sm. 2016–17w.sm. |
| University of Northern Colorado[k] | Greeley, Colorado | 1889 | Public | 10,097 | Bears | Big Sky[l] | baseball | 2013–14 | 2020–21 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego, California | 1949 | Private | 8,105 | Toreros | West Coast[m] | women's swimming | 2004–05 | 2009–10 |
| Southern Utah University | Cedar City, Utah | 1897 | Public | 8,297 | Thunderbirds | WAC[n][o] | gymnastics | 1990–91, 2005–06 |
1992–93, 2012–13 |
- Notes
- ^ Cal State–Bakersfield was a full WAC member from 2013–14 to 2019–20.
- ^ Cal State–Fullerton no longer sponsors women's gymnastics.
- ^ The Big Sky Conference does not sponsor women's gymnastics. Sacramento State houses that sport in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
- ^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
- ^ Dallas Baptist baseball competes as a single-sport member of Conference USA.
- ^ The Summit League does not sponsor women's gymnastics. Denver houses that sport in the Big 12 Conference.
- ^ Denver was a full WAC member for the 2012–13 school year.
- ^ Grand Canyon has been a full WAC member since the 2013–14 school year, but will leave the conference for the West Coast Conference in 2025.
- ^ As of September 2022, Houston Baptist University's name transitioned to "Houston Christian University" and will play under that name, including the shorthand "Houston Christian" effectively immediately.[24]
- ^ North Dakota no longer sponsors any of the sports it housed in the WAC.
- ^ Northern Colorado remains in the WAC as an affiliate in women's swimming & diving.
- ^ Northern Colorado baseball joined the Summit League after the 2021 spring season (2020–21 school year).
- ^ The WCC does not sponsor women's swimming and diving. San Diego houses that sport in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
- ^ Southern Utah has been a full WAC member since the 2022–23 school year.
- ^ SUU women's gymnastics currently competes as an independent following the demise of the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference at the end of the 2022–23 season.
Membership timeline
edit
Full members Full members (non-football) Other conference Other conference Associate members (non-football)
- Prior to the 1996–97 season, both Air Force and Hawaii had most to all of their women's sports competing in other conferences before joining the WAC full-time with their men's sports counterparts. At that time, Air Force was in the Colorado Athletic Conference, and Hawaii was in the Big West Conference.
- Since the 2021–22 season, the WAC has played football at the FCS level.
Map of the members
edit
200miles
Baptist
State
Colorado
State
State
Utah
Christian
full member
departing member
affiliate memberHistory
editFormation
edit
The WAC formed out of a series of talks between Brigham Young University athletic director Eddie Kimball and other university administrators from 1958 to 1961 to form a new athletic conference that would better fit the needs and situations of certain universities which were at the time members of the Border, Skyline, and Pacific Coast Conferences. Potential member universities who were represented at the meetings included BYU, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Arizona State, and Wyoming. While the three Washington and Oregon schools elected to stay in a revamped Pac-8 Conference that replaced the scandal-plagued PCC, the remaining six schools formed the WAC. The Border and Skyline conferences, having each lost three of their stronger members, dissolved at the end of the 1961–62 season. The charter members of the WAC were Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. New Mexico State and Utah State applied for charter membership and were turned down; they would eventually become WAC members 43 years later.
Success and first expansion
editThe conference proved to be an almost perfect fit for the six schools from both a competitive and financial standpoint. Arizona and Arizona State, in particular, experienced success in baseball with Arizona garnering the 1963 College World Series (CWS) runner-up trophy and ASU winning the CWS in 1965, 1967, and 1969. Colorado State and Texas–El Paso (UTEP), at that time just renamed from Texas Western College, were accepted in September 1967 (joined in July 1968) to bring membership up to eight.[25][26]
With massive growth in the state of Arizona, the balance of WAC play in the 1970s became increasingly skewed in favor of the Arizona schools, who won or tied for all but two WAC football titles from 1969 onward. In the summer of 1978, the two schools left the WAC for the Pac-8, which became the Pac-10, and were replaced in the WAC by San Diego State and, one year later, Hawaii. The WAC further expanded by adding Air Force in the summer of 1980. A college football national championship won by Brigham Young in 1984 added to the WAC's reputation. This nine-team line-up of the WAC defined the conference for nearly 15 years.
Second wave of expansion
editFresno State expanded its athletic program in the early 1990s and was granted membership in 1992 as the nationwide trend against major college programs independent of conferences accelerated. The WAC merged with the High Country Athletic Conference, a parallel organization to the WAC for women's athletics, in 1990 to unify both men's and women's athletics under one administrative structure.
In 1996, the WAC expanded again, adding six schools to its ranks for a total of sixteen. Rice, TCU, and SMU joined the league from the Southwest Conference, which had disbanded. Big West Conference members San Jose State and UNLV were also admitted, as well as Tulsa from the Missouri Valley Conference.[27] Also, two WAC members for men's sports at the time, Air Force and Hawaiʻi, brought their women's sports into the WAC. With the expansion, the WAC was divided into two divisions, the Mountain and the Pacific.
To help in organizing schedules and travel for the far-flung league, the members were divided into four quadrants of four teams each, as follows:[27]
| Quadrant 1 | Quadrant 2 | Quadrant 3 | Quadrant 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi | UNLV | BYU | Tulsa |
| Fresno State | Air Force | Utah | TCU |
| San Diego State | Colorado State | New Mexico | SMU |
| San Jose State | Wyoming | UTEP | Rice |
Quadrant one was always part of the Pacific Division, and quadrant four was always part of the Mountain Division. Quadrant two was part of the Pacific Division for 1996 and 1997 before switching to the Mountain Division in 1998, while the reverse was true for quadrant three. The scheduled fourth year of the alignment was abandoned after eight schools left to form the Mountain West Conference.[citation needed]
The division champions in football met from 1996 to 1998 in the WAC Championship Game, held at Sam Boyd Stadium (also known as the Silver Bowl) in the Las Vegas Valley.
Turbulence at the turn of the millennium
editIncreasingly, most of the older, pre-1996 members—particularly Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Utah, and Wyoming—felt chagrin at this new arrangement. Additional concerns centered around finances, as the expanded league stretched approximately 3,900 miles (6,300 km) from Hawaii to Oklahoma and covered nine states and four time zones. With such a far-flung league, travel costs became a concern. The presidents of Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Utah, and Wyoming met in 1998 at Denver International Airport and agreed to split off to form a new league. The breakaway group invited old-line WAC schools New Mexico and San Diego State, and newcomer UNLV to join them in the new Mountain West Conference, which began competition in 1999.[27]
A USA Today article summed up the reasons behind the split. "With Hawaii and the Texas schools separated by about 3,900 miles and four time zones, travel costs were a tremendous burden for WAC teams. The costs, coupled with lagging revenue and a proposed realignment that would have separated rivals such as Colorado State and Air Force, created unrest among the eight defecting schools."[28][29]
BYU and Utah would later leave the MWC for the West Coast Conference and Pac-12 Conference, respectively; BYU joined the Big 12 Conference in 2023 while Utah followed in 2024.
WAC in the 2000s
edit In 2000, the University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada) of the Big West joined as part of its plan to upgrade its athletic program.
TCU left for Conference USA in 2001 (it would later leave C-USA to become the ninth member of the Mountain West in 2005, and joined the Big 12 in 2012).
The Big West announced that it would drop football after the 2000 season, but four of its football-playing members (Boise State, Idaho, New Mexico State, and Utah State) were unwilling to drop football. Boise State was invited to join the WAC and promptly departed the Big West, while New Mexico State and Idaho joined the Sun Belt Conference (NMSU as a full member, Idaho as a "football only" member) and Utah State operated as an independent D-IA program. At the same time, Louisiana Tech (LA Tech) ended its independent Div. I-A status and also accepted an invitation to join the WAC with Boise State.
In 2005, Conference USA sought new members to replenish its ranks after losing members to the Big East, which had lost members to the ACC. Four WAC schools, former SWC schools Rice and SMU, as well as Tulsa and UTEP, joined Conference USA. In response, the WAC added Idaho, New Mexico State, and Utah State—all former Big West schools which left the conference in 2000 along with Boise State when that conference dropped football. The three new schools were all land grant universities, bringing the conference total to five (Nevada and Hawaii).
Membership changes and the elimination of football
editThe decade of the 2010s began with a series of conference realignment moves that would have trickle-down effects throughout Division I football, and profoundly change the membership of the WAC. Boise State decided to move to the Mountain West Conference (MWC) for the 2011–12 season,[30] and to replace departing BYU, the MWC also recruited WAC members Fresno State and Nevada for 2012–13.[31][32] WAC commissioner Karl Benson courted several schools to replace those leaving, including the University of Montana, which declined,[33][34] as well as the University of Denver, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and Texas State University-San Marcos, which all accepted effective 2012–13.[35]
But the resulting eastward shift of the conference's geographic center led Hawaii to reduce travel expenses by becoming a football-only member of the MWC and joining the California-based Big West Conference for all other sports.[36][37] Further invitations were then issued by the WAC to Seattle University[38] and the University of Texas at Arlington.[39] These changes meant that the conference would have 10 members for 2012–13,[40] seven of which sponsored football, and Benson announced that the WAC planned to add two additional football-playing members to begin competition in 2013.[41] A further boost came when Boise State decided to join the Big East in football, and return to the WAC in most other sports, as of the 2013–14 academic year.[42] So by the end of 2011, the WAC seemed to have weathered the latest round of conference changes, and once again reinvented itself for the future.
But from this seemingly strong position, early 2012 brought forth a series of moves that shook the conference to its very core, beginning with Utah State and San Jose State accepting offers to join the MWC.[43] Four similar announcements followed with UTSA and Louisiana Tech jumping to Conference USA, plus Texas State and UT Arlington heading to the Sun Belt Conference, all as of 2013–14.[44][45][46][47][48][49] Boise State also canceled plans to rejoin the WAC, instead opting to place its non-football sports in the Big West Conference, before eventually deciding to simply remain in the MWC.[50][51] These changes left the WAC's viability as a Division I football conference in grave doubt. The two remaining football-playing members, New Mexico State and Idaho, began making plans to compete in future seasons as FBS Independents;[52][53] they ultimately spent only the 2013 season as independents, rejoining their one-time football home of the Sun Belt as football-only members in 2014.[54]
In order to rebuild, as well as forestall further defections, the conference was forced to add two schools—Utah Valley University and CSU Bakersfield—which were invited in October 2012 to join the WAC in 2013–14,[55] but this did not prevent two more members from leaving. Denver decided to take most of its athletic teams to The Summit League as of the 2013–14 season,[56] shortly after Idaho opted to return all of its non-football sports to the Big Sky Conference in 2014–15.[57] The conference responded over the next two months by adding Grand Canyon University,[58] Chicago State University,[59] and the University of Texas-Pan American.[60][61] Then, in February 2013, the WAC announced the University of Missouri–Kansas City would join in the summer of 2013 as well.[62] These changes would put the conference's membership at eight members by 2014 with only one, New Mexico State, having been in the WAC just three years earlier. Due to losing the majority of its football-playing members, the WAC would stop sponsoring the sport after the 2012–13 season, thereby becoming a non-football conference.[1]
In 2013, the University of Texas System announced that Texas–Pan American would merge with the University of Texas at Brownsville; the new institution, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), began operation for the 2015–16 school year. UTRGV inherited UTPA's athletic program and WAC membership.
In January 2017, California Baptist University announced it would transition from NCAA Division II and join the WAC in 2018.[63]
In November 2017, Cal State Bakersfield announced it would accept an invitation to the Big West and join its new conference in 2020.
In January 2019, Dixie State University, now known as Utah Tech University, announced it would move its athletics to Division I and join the WAC in 2020.
In June 2019, the University of Missouri–Kansas City announced it would leave the WAC to join the Summit League in 2020;[64] this announcement came shortly before the rebranding of its athletic program as the Kansas City Roos.[65]
In September 2019, Tarleton State University of Division II announced that it would move to Division I and join the WAC in 2020.[66]
2021–2025 membership changes and reinstatement of football
edit On January 14, 2021, the Western Athletic Conference announced its intention to reinstate football as a conference-sponsored sport at the FCS level, as well as the addition of five new members to the conference in all sports, including football, at a press conference held at the NRG Center in Houston, Texas.[2] The new members announced included four Southland Conference members from Texas in Abilene Christian University, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, and Stephen F. Austin State University, which would soon be dubbed the "Texas Four",[4] plus Southern Utah University from the Big Sky Conference. The conference also announced that it would most likely add another member that fielded a football team at a later date. While the WAC originally announced that all new members would join on July 1, 2022, commissioner Jeff Hurd later said that the arrival of the Texas Four "was expedited" to July 1, 2021.[3] The conference officially confirmed this on January 21, 2021, adding that the relaunch of football was moved forward to fall 2021. The conference also confirmed media reports that the Southland had expelled the Texas Four after they announced their departure.[67][68] Southern Utah entered as scheduled in 2022.[3]
During the aforementioned press conference, Hurd also announced that the WAC would split into two divisions for all sports except football and men's and women's basketball. One division will consist of the six Texas schools (the Texas Four plus existing members Tarleton and UTRGV).[2]
Also on January 14, 2021, news broke that UTRGV, a non-football playing member of the conference, had committed to create an FCS football program by 2024. In addition, UTRGV will also launch women's swimming and diving for the same year.[69][70] The launch of football was later put off to 2025; it has since been confirmed that UTRGV football will become part of the new ASUN–WAC Football Conference (see below).
The WAC's planned reestablishment of a football conference at the FCS level has also been accompanied by speculation that the conference intends to eventually move its football league back up to FBS in the future, possibly by 2030.[71] Later that same month, the WAC moved the start of their FCS sponsorship of football to Fall 2021, with media reports indicating that the University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, and Jacksonville State University would be added as football affiliates for 2021. The three schools were set to join the ASUN Conference in July 2021; that league planned to add FCS football, but not until at least 2022.[72][73] The entry of the three incoming ASUN members into the new football league was officially confirmed at a February 23, 2021, ASUN press conference. These schools joined the Texas Four in a round-robin schedule officially branded interchangeably as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge" and "WAC–ASUN Challenge"; the two conferences proposed an amendment to NCAA bylaws that would allow their partnership (and presumably any others of its kind) to receive an immediate FCS playoff berth. Utah Tech (formerly Dixie State) and Tarleton are included in alliance members' schedules, but are not eligible for the FCS playoffs until completing their Division I transitions in 2024; at least for 2021, games involving those two schools did not count in alliance standings, although both were included in the separate WAC league table.[74][75]
On the same day as the WAC's initial announcement, Chicago State University announced it would leave the WAC in June 2022.[76] Chicago State was originally added in 2013 along with the University of Missouri–Kansas City, originally with an intention for both institutions to serve as anchors for a midwestern-centered division for the conference.[77] No other universities in the region were added to the WAC, and UMKC (now known for athletic purposes as Kansas City) departed the conference in 2020 for its former home of the Summit League. This left Chicago State, which does not sponsor football, as the only WAC member east of Texas. Chicago State's departure rendered Seattle University as the only WAC member institution not geographically located in the southwestern United States.
On November 5, 2021, it was reported that New Mexico State and Sam Houston would be leaving the WAC for Conference USA in 2023.[78] The WAC responded by adding Incarnate Word from the Southland Conference and UT Arlington from the Sun Belt Conference; however, UIW later reversed course and decided to stay with the SLC only days before the 2022-23 athletic season officially began.[79][80] Lamar also announced that it too would return to its former home of the Southland Conference in 2023 roughly three months prior to UIW's announcement, on April 8, 2022; however, three months later, it was announced that the SLC and Lamar would be accelerating the rejoining process so that Lamar could return for the 2022 athletic season instead.[81][82]
Jacksonville State and Sam Houston both started FBS transitions in the 2022 season, rendering both ineligible for the FCS playoffs and also dropping both the ASUN and WAC to 5 playoff-eligible football members, one short of the six required for an automatic playoff berth. This led the WAC and ASUN to renew their football partnership for the 2022 season.[83] Both conferences would hold their own 2022 football seasons; on June 10, 2022, the WAC announced that the two leagues would determine the alliance's automatic qualifier by a process that was not announced at that time.[84]
ESPN reported on December 9, 2022, that the WAC and ASUN had agreed to form a new football-only conference that planned to start play in 2024. The initial membership would consist of Abilene Christian, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton, and Utah Tech from the WAC, plus Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and North Alabama from the ASUN. UTRGV would become the 10th member upon its planned addition of football in 2025. The new football conference also reportedly plans to move "from what is currently known as FCS football to what is currently known as FBS football at the earliest practicable date."[85] On December 20, the two conferences jointly announced that they would fully merge their football leagues effective in 2023 under the tentative name of "ASUN–WAC Football Conference". The initial membership will be the aforementioned nine programs, with UTRGV becoming the tenth in 2025. The new football league will play a six-game schedule in 2023 before starting full round-robin conference play in 2024. Neither conference's announcement mentioned any plans to move to FBS.[86][87] On April 17, 2023, the football league announced its permanent name of United Athletic Conference.[88]
In March 2024, however, UTRGV announced they also would be departing for the Southland for the 2024-25 academic year.[89] Two months later, in May 2024, both Grand Canyon and Seattle announced they had accepted invitations to join the West Coast Conference, beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.[90]
Commissioners
edit| Years | Commissioners |
|---|---|
| 1962–1968 | Paul Brechler |
| 1968–1971 | Wiles Hallock |
| 1971–1980 | Stan Bates |
| 1980–1994 | Joseph Kearney |
| 1994–2012 | Karl Benson |
| 2012–2021 | Jeff Hurd |
| 2022–present | Brian Thornton |
Sports
editThe Western Athletic Conference currently sponsors championship competition in 9 men's and 10 women's NCAA-sanctioned sports. Nine other schools are currently associate members in four sports.
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 9 |
–
|
| Basketball | 9 |
9
|
| Cross country | 9 |
9
|
| Golf | 11 |
9
|
| Soccer | 10 |
8
|
| Softball | – |
9
|
| Swimming & Diving | 6 |
9
|
| Tennis | 4 |
6
|
| Track and field (indoor) | 7 |
7
|
| Track and field (outdoor) | 8 |
9
|
| Volleyball | – |
9
|
Men's sponsored sports by school
edit| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country |
Golf | Soccer | Swimming & Diving |
Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) |
Track & Field (Outdoor) |
Total WAC Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| California Baptist | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | 7 |
| Grand Canyon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| Seattle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| Southern Utah | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | 5 |
| Tarleton | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | 5 |
| UT Arlington | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| Utah Tech | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | 5 |
| Utah Valley | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | 7 |
| Associate Members | ||||||||||
| Air Force | Yes | Yes | 2 | |||||||
| Sacramento State | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
| San Diego State | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
| San Jose State | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
| UNLV | Yes | Yes | 2 | |||||||
| UTRGV | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
| Wyoming | Yes | 1 | ||||||||
| Totals | 8+1 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 5+5 | 3+3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 61+9 |
- Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Western Athletic Conference which are played by WAC schools
| School | Football | Volleyball | Water Polo | Wrestling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | UAC | No | No | No |
| California Baptist | No | No | WCC | Big 12 |
| Grand Canyon | No | MPSF | No | No |
| Southern Utah | UAC | No | No | No |
| Tarleton | UAC | No | No | No |
| Utah Tech | UAC | No | No | No |
| Utah Valley | No | No | No | Big 12 |
Women's sponsored sports by school
edit| School | Basketball | Cross Country |
Golf | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & Diving |
Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) |
Track & Field (Outdoor) |
Volleyball | Total WAC Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| California Baptist | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Grand Canyon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Seattle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Southern Utah | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Tarleton | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| UT Arlington | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Utah Tech | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| Utah Valley | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Associate Members | |||||||||||
| Idaho | Yes | 1 | |||||||||
| New Mexico State | Yes | 1 | |||||||||
| Northern Arizona | Yes | 1 | |||||||||
| Northern Colorado | Yes | 1 | |||||||||
| UTRGV | Yes | 1 | |||||||||
| Totals | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 4+5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 75+5 |
- Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Western Athletic Conference which are played by WAC schools
| School | Beach Volleyball | Bowling | Gymnastics | Rowing | Stunt[a] | Water Polo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | Independent | No | No | No | No | No |
| California Baptist | No | No | No | No | Independent[91] | GCC |
| Grand Canyon | MPSF | No | No | No | No | No |
| Seattle | No | No | No | WIRA | No | No |
| Southern Utah | No | No | MPSF | No | No | No |
| Tarleton | C-USA | No | No | No | No | No |
- ^ Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
Football
editThe WAC sponsored football from its founding in 1962 through the 2012 season. However, the defection of all but two football-playing schools to other conferences caused the conference to drop sponsorship after fifty-one years.[92]
Reinstatement
editOn January 14, 2021, the WAC announced its intention to reinstate football as a conference-sponsored sport at the FCS level, as well as the addition of five new members to the conference in all sports, including football.[93] The new members announced include the "Texas Four" of Abilene Christian University, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, and Stephen F. Austin State University, then members of the Southland Conference, along with Southern Utah University, currently of the Big Sky Conference. Originally, all schools were planned to join in July 2022, but the entry of the Texas Four was moved to July 2021 after the Southland expelled its departing members.[67] The WAC also announced that it would most likely add another football-playing institution at a later date.
On the same day, news broke that the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a non-football playing WAC member, had committed to create an FCS football program by 2024.[94] The program will most likely compete as part of the newly-reinstated WAC football conference.
The WAC ultimately partnered with the ASUN Conference to reestablish its football league, with the Texas Four being joined by three incoming ASUN members for at least the fall 2021 season in what it calls the ASUN–WAC (or WAC–ASUN) Challenge.[74][75] The Challenge was abbreviated as "AQ7", as the top finisher of the seven teams would be an automatic qualifier for the FCS postseason.[95] The two conferences renewed their alliance for the 2022 season, although both leagues will conduct separate conference seasons and then choose the alliance's automatic qualifier by an as-yet-undetermined process. Both the WAC and ASUN initially planned to have 6 playoff-eligible teams in 2022, but each lost such a member with the start of FBS transitions by Jacksonville State and Sam Houston.
The WAC has been speculated to move back up to FBS in the future following the reestablishment of the football conference at the FCS level.[96]
As noted previously, further conference realignment led to a full merger of the ASUN and WAC football leagues, with the new United Athletic Conference having started play in 2023.
Men's basketball
editMembers departing for the West Coast Conference in 2025.
| Team | First season |
All-Time record |
All-Time win % |
NCAA DI Tournament appearances |
NCAA DI Tournament record |
Arena | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | 1919 | 1245-1169 | .516 | 2 | 1–2 | Moody Coliseum | Brette Tanner |
| California Baptist | 2018 | 50-35 | .588 | 0 | 0–0 | CBU Events Center | Rick Croy |
| Grand Canyon | 2013 | 103-58 | .639 | 2 | 1–3 | Global Credit Union Arena | Bryce Drew |
| Seattle | 1946 | 978–874 | .528 | 11 | 10–13 | Redhawk Center | Chris Victor |
| Tarleton State | 2020 | 10-10 | .500 | 0 | 0–0 | Wisdom Gymnasium | Billy Gillispie |
| UT Arlington | 1959 | 809–1,013 | .444 | 1 | 0–1 | College Park Center | K. T. Turner |
| Utah Tech | 2020 | 8-13 | .381 | 0 | 0–0 | Burns Arena | Jon Judkins |
| Utah Valley | 2004[97] | 234–194 | .547 | 0 | 0–0 | UCCU Center | Todd Phillips[98] |
WAC tournament
Rivalries
Men's basketball rivalries involving WAC teams include:
| Teams | Meetings | Record | Series Leader | Current Streak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Tech | Utah Valley[99] | 2 | 3-5 | Utah Valley | Utah Valley won 1 |
| UT Arlington | Texas State | 80 | 41-39 | UT Arlington | Texas State won 3 |
| UT Arlington | Stephen F. Austin | 65 | 34-31 | UT Arlington | UT Arlington won 2 |
| UT Arlington | North Texas | 59 (since 1959) | 33-26 | North Texas | North Texas won 5 |
Awards
Women's basketball
editMembers departing for the West Coast Conference in 2025.
| Team | First season |
All-Time record |
All-Time win % |
NCAA DI Tournament appearances |
NCAA DI Tournament record |
Arena | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | 1971 | 891–531 | .627 | 1 | 0–1 | Moody Coliseum | Julie Goodenough |
| California Baptist | 2018 | 60-28 | .681 | 0 | 0–0 | CBU Events Center | Jarrod Olson |
| Grand Canyon | 2013 | 143-113 | .558 | 0 | 0–0 | Global Credit Union Arena | Molly Miller |
| Seattle | 1978 | 640-685 | .483 | 1 | 0–1 | Redhawk Center | Skyler Young |
| Tarleton State | 2020 | 25-29 | .463 | 0 | 0–0 | Wisdom Gymnasium | Misty Wilson |
| UT Arlington | 1972 | 754–736 | .506 | 3 | 0–3 | College Park Center | Shereka Wright |
| Utah Tech | 2020 | 10-19 | .345 | 0 | 0–0 | Burns Arena | J.D. Gustin |
| Utah Valley | 2004 | 184–230 | .444 | 1 | 0–1 | UCCU Center | Daniel Nielsen |
WAC tournament
Rivalries
Women's basketball rivalries involving WAC teams include:
| Teams | Meetings | Record | Series Leader | Current Streak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Tech | Utah Valley[100] | 10 | 4-6 | Utah Valley | Utah Valley won 1 |
| UT Arlington | Texas State | 79 | 37-42 | Texas State | UT Arlington won 3 |
| UT Arlington | Stephen F. Austin | 70 | 21-49 | Stephen F. Austin | UT Arlington won 2 |
| UT Arlington | North Texas | 61 | 31-30 | UT Arlington | UT Arlington won 2 |
Baseball
editThe WAC has claimed seven NCAA baseball national championships. The most recent WAC national champion is the 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team.
WAC tournament
Championships
editCurrent champions
edit- For the sports in which the WAC recognizes both regular-season and tournament champions:
- (RS) indicates regular-season champion.
- (T) indicates tournament champion.
- For other sports, only a tournament champion is recognized.
- Champions from a previous school year are indicated with the calendar year of their title.
| Season | Sport | Men's champion | Women's champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | Cross country | California Baptist | Utah Valley |
| Soccer | Seattle (RS) California Baptist (T) |
Utah Valley (RS) Grand Canyon (T) | |
| Volleyball | — | Stephen F. Austin (RS) Grand Canyon (T) | |
| Winter 2023–24 | Indoor Track & Field | Southern Utah | Grand Canyon |
| Swimming & Diving | UNLV | Northern Arizona | |
| Basketball | Grand Canyon (RS) Grand Canyon (T, 2023) |
California Baptist (RS) Southern Utah (T, 2023) | |
| Spring 2023 | Golf | Grand Canyon | Sam Houston |
| Tennis | UT Arlington (RS & T) | UT Arlington (RS) Grand Canyon (T) | |
| Softball | — | Utah Tech (RS) Grand Canyon (T) | |
| Outdoor Track & Field | Grand Canyon | New Mexico State | |
| Baseball | Grand Canyon (RS) Sam Houston (T) |
— |
National championships
editThe following teams have won NCAA national championships while being a member of the WAC:
- Arizona – baseball (1976)
- Arizona State – baseball (1965, 1967, 1969, 1977)
- BYU – men's track & field (shared the national title in 1970)
- BYU – men's golf (1981)
- BYU – women's cross country (1997)
- Fresno State – softball (1998)
- Fresno State – baseball (2008)
- Rice – baseball (2003)
- UTEP – NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country (1969, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981)
- UTEP – NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field (1974,1975,1976,1978,1980,1981,1982)
- UTEP – NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field (1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982)
- UNLV – men's golf (1998)
The WAC has also produced one AP national champion in football:
The following teams won AIAW (and forerunner DGWS) women's national championships while their universities were members of the WAC:
- Arizona State (15) – swimming (8), badminton (4), softball (2), golf (1)
- Utah (3) – cross country (Div. II), gymnastics, skiing
- UTEP (1) – indoor track and field
Spending and revenue
editTotal revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights/licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, food and novelties. Total expenses includes coaching/staff, scholarships, buildings/ground, maintenance, utilities and rental fees and all other costs including recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues and insurance costs.
| Conference Rank (2022) | National Rank (2022) | Institution | 2022 Total Revenue from Athletics[103] | 2022 Total Expenses on Athletics[103] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 144 | California Baptist | $35,409,150 | $32,709,356 |
| 2 | 163 | Grand Canyon | $30,717,802 | $30,717,802 |
| 3 | 201 | Stephen F. Austin | $24,962,955 | $24,962,955 |
| 4 | 212 | Abilene Christian | $23,809,978 | $23,809,978 |
| 5 | 228 | Tarleton | $22,035,629 | $21,124,971 |
| 6 | 240 | Seattle | $21,090,915 | $20,774,421 |
| 7 | 273 | Utah Valley | $17,485,442 | $17,485,442 |
| 8 | 274 | UT Arlington | $17,403,161 | $17,403,161 |
| 9 | 278 | Southern Utah | $16,543,527 | $16,543,527 |
| 10 | 281 | Utah Tech | $16,367,376 | $16,250,328 |
| 11 | 285 | UTRGV | $15,997,018 | $15,997,018 |
| Notes |
|---|
| Note 1 - Data from U.S. Department of Education Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool Database. Ranking based on revenue position in selection of records using NCAA Division I-FBS, NCAA Division I-FCS, and NCAA Division I without football criteria. (354 records were retrieved.) OPE Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool used in order to provide ranking for private institutions in the conference. |
| Note 2 - Non football programs |
| Note 3 - Stephen F. Austin departed the WAC in 2024 |
| Note 4 - Reporting period is from midyear 2022 to midyear 2023 |
Facilities
editMembers departing for the West Coast Conference in 2025.
| Affiliate members | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School | Soccer stadium | Capacity | Baseball park | Capacity |
| Air Force | USAFA Soccer Stadium | 1,000 | Soccer-only member | |
| UNLV | Peter Johann Memorial Field | 2,500 | ||
| Sacramento State | Baseball-only member | John Smith Field* | 1,200 | |
| San Diego State | SDSU Sports Deck | 1,500 | Soccer-only member | |
| San Jose State | Spartan Soccer Field | 500[119] | ||
| UTRGV | UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex | 1,555[120] | ||
Awards
editCommissioner's Cup
The WAC awards its Commissioner's Cup to the school that performs the best in each of the conference's 19 men's and women's championships.
Joe Kearney Award
Named in honor of former WAC commissioner Dr. Joseph Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female WAC athlete. The various WAC member institutions Athletics Directors select the male award winner, while the WAC member institutions Senior Women's Administrators choose the female honoree.
Stan Bates Award
The award is named in honor of former WAC Commissioner Stan Bates and honors the WAC's top male and female scholar-athletes, recognizing the recipients' athletic and academic accomplishments. In addition, the awards carry a $3,000 postgraduate scholarship.
Media
editWAC Digital Network
editIn 2014–15, the WAC initiated a new digital network to give fans high quality streaming internet access to many of its regular season games and postseason championships including volleyball, soccer, swimming and diving, basketball, softball and baseball. [121]
References
edit- ^ a b Moss, Irv (August 20, 2012). "WAC to drop football after 2012 season, commissioner Hurd says". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c "WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c Martinez, Quinton (January 14, 2021). "Four Texas schools announce departure from Southland Conference for WAC". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Dean, Richard (January 14, 2021). "Why the Texas four left for [sic] the Southland for the WAC". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "University of Texas at Arlington Accepts Invitation to Join WAC" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ "LAMAR UNIVERSITY PREPARES FOR EARLY MOVE TO SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE". southland.org. Southland Conference. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- ^ "ACU achieves record enrollment for fourth year in a row". Abilene Christian University. September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "CBU Fall 2021 enrollment extends record-setting pattern". California Baptist University. September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "SUU Enrollment Tops 15,000 Students". SUU. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "Southern Utah University - Data USA".
- ^ "Tarleton Fall 2021 Student Tally Beats Pre-pandemic Figures by 6.2%". Tarleton State University. September 7, 2021. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "University of Texas at Arlington UTA sets new enrollment records" (PDF). University of Texas at Arlington. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ "Private Endowments". UTIMCO. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
- ^ "Dixie State gets final approval from Utah lawmakers to drop contentious name". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ "WAC Adds Men's Soccer". CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (Press release). January 9, 2013. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "WAC Reinstates Men's Swimming & Diving". GCU Antelopes. May 16, 2013. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "WAC Championship Eligibility for All Highlights WAC Board Spring Meeting" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
... New Mexico State University was approved as an affiliate member in the sport of women's swimming and diving beginning in 2023-24.
- ^ Mitch Wigness (February 11, 2013). "Baseball to join WAC as affiliate member". UN Media. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Northern Colorado to join The Summit League as a baseball affiliate" (Press release). The Summit League. July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ "UTRGV preliminary enrollment steady". UTRGV Student Media. August 23, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "CSU Graduate Enrollment Increases 5%". Chicago State University. September 11, 2021. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "SFA reports fall enrollment numbers". Stephen F. Austin State University. September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "UTRGV preliminary enrollment steady". UTRGV Student Media. August 23, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "Houston Baptist University Changes Name to Houston Christian University | Houston Baptist University". September 21, 2022.
- ^ "WAC does it! Adds two". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). September 7, 1967. p. D1.
- ^ "WAC adds two schools". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. September 8, 1967. p. 1, part 2.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c Deinhart, Tom (September 14, 2011). "WAC a cautionary tale for superconferences". Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ WAC disbanding? – rec.sport.softball | Google Groups. Groups.google.com.
- ^ "Lockout, Boycott, So what..." (PDF). The Houston Roundball Review. 4 (8). June 1998. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
- ^ "Boise State moves to Mountain West". ESPN. June 11, 2010. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ "Fresno State, Nevada to remain in WAC until 2012". ESPN. October 28, 2010. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea (August 20, 2010). "Utah State turned down invite to MWC". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Buerkle, Derek (September 29, 2010). "WAC Commissioner recognizes UM would be "perfect fit"". KPAX Sports. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ "UM staying in Big Sky Conference". KPAX Sports. November 11, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ Katz, Andy (November 10, 2010). "Sources: Denver University, Texas-San Antonio and Texas State to join WAC". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Ernst, Cheryl (November 19, 2010). "UH joins Mountain West, Big West conferences". Mālamalama, The Magazine of the University of Hawaiʻi. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Katz, Andy (December 30, 2017). "Hawaii joins MWC, Big West for 2012". The Associated Press. ESPN. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ WAC Announces Addition of Seattle Archived October 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. WACSports.com (June 14, 2011).
- ^ "The Mavericks Join the WAC". MyArlingtonTX.com. July 3, 2012. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ The Salt Lake Tribune Archived November 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Sltrib.com.
- ^ "WAC Standing Strong Amid Changing Landscape". WAC. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
- ^ "Boise State Announces New Conference Affiliations". Bronco Sports. Boise State Sports Information. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012.
- ^ Tony Jones (April 29, 2012). "Utah State is headed for Mountain West Conference". Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on November 1, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Brett McMurphy (May 2, 2012). "Conference USA reloading by adding 6 schools". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ "Texas State headed to Sun Belt Conference in July 2013 after only 1 WAC season". The Washington Post. Associated Press. May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.[permanent dead link][dead link]
- ^ "Texas State to Join Sun Belt Conference" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. May 2, 2012. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
- ^ "Conference USA Adds Five New Members". UTEP Athletics. May 4, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "San José State, Utah State to Join Mountain West" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. May 4, 2012. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "UT Arlington to join Sun Belt Conference in 2013–14". UT-Arlington Athletics. May 24, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Boise State to Remain as Football Only Member in Big East Conference". Boise State Sports Information. June 30, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Boise State To Join Big West Conference". Big West Conference. August 24, 2012. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea (June 25, 2012). "Boise State risks missing deadline". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Moss, Irv (July 3, 2012). "Western Athletic Conference considers becoming a non-football league". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on August 16, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Idaho and New Mexico State to Join Sun Belt Conference As Football members in 2014". Sun Belt Conference. March 27, 2013. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Troy Warzocha (October 9, 2012). "WAC adds Utah Valley, Cal State Bakersfield". The Lewiston Tribune. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Denver Becomes The Summit League's Newest Member" (Press release). The Summit League. November 27, 2012. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Kasper, John (October 19, 2012). "Idaho To Return in 2014". sidearmsports. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ "Grand Canyon University to Join WAC" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. November 27, 2012. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ McMurphy, Brett (December 5, 2012). "Chicago State headed to WAC" (Press release). ESPN. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ McMurphy, Brett (November 29, 2012). "UTPA says WAC invited it to join" (Press release). ESPN College Sports. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ "UTPA to go to board Dec. 18 for WAC invite". The Monitor. December 5, 2012. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "UMKC Heading to the Western Athletic Conference". UMKC Athletics. February 7, 2013. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "California Baptist University to Join WAC in 2018-19" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 13, 2017. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Summit League welcomes back UMKC" (Press release). The Summit League. June 20, 2019. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ "UMKC Athletics Completes New Brand Identity" (Press release). Kansas City Athletics. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ^ "Tarleton receives NCAA Division I invitation" (Press release). Tarleton State Texans. September 30, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Blum, Sam (January 14, 2021). "As WAC announces addition of 5 schools, Frisco-based Southland Conference left in no man's land". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "WAC Announces Expedited Entrance for Four Texas Institutions" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ Jeyarajah, Shehan. "UTRGV commits to add FCS football by 2024". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "UTRGV announces approval of football, women's aquatics, band, spirit programs" (Press release). UTRGV Athletics. November 18, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ Deaver, Colin (January 7, 2021). "Reports: WAC football to return in 2022, rise to FBS later in decade". KTSM.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ Thamel, Pete [@PeteThamel] (January 28, 2021). "Sources: The WAC is close to finalizing a plan to add 3 schools as associate members for football only in 2021 – Eastern Kentucky, Central Arkansas and Jacksonville. (They are headed to Atlantic Sun for 2022 and beyond, as that league is slated to begin football.)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Thamel, Pete [@PeteThamel] (January 28, 2021). "And obviously, Jacksonville State. We know Jacksonville doesn't have football anymore" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021" (Press release). ASUN Conference. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "From the Commissioner's Desk: @ASUN_Football Update" (Press release). ASUN Conference. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Chicago State University Announces Plan to Leave Western Athletic Conference in June 2022". Chicago State University Athletics. January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Chicago State University Announces Plan to Leave Western Athletic Conference in June 2022". Chicago State University Athletics. January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Conference USA to add Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State beginning in 2023". ESPN. November 5, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ "University of Texas at Arlington Accepts Invitation to Join WAC". WAC (Press release). January 21, 2022.
- ^ "UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD STAYING IN THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE" (Press release). Southland Conference. June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Lamar University Is Coming Home to the Southland Conference" (Press release). Southland Conference. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ Scott, Thomas (July 11, 2022). "Lamar moving to Southland Conference -- immediately". Hearst. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- ^ "ASUN and WAC Renew Football Alliance" (Press release). ASUN Conference. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "WAC Championship Eligibility for All Highlights WAC Board Spring Meeting" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
It was decided that winning percentage will be used to determine the WAC Champion in the sport of football and the league will work with the ASUN Conference to determine the automatic qualifier for the FCS Playoffs as announced last month.
- ^ Thamel, Pete (December 9, 2022). "Atlantic Sun, WAC teams pairing up to attempt move to FBS, sources say". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
- ^ "@ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule" (Press release). ASUN Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
- ^ "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ "UTRGV Athletics Accepts Invitation to Join Southland Conference in 2024-25" (Press release). UTRGV Vaqueros Athletics. March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "West Coast Conference Adds Grand Canyon University and Seattle University as Members" (Press release). West Coast Conference. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ "College STUNT". STUNT the Sport. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ Moss, Irv (July 3, 2012). "Western Athletic Conference considers becoming a non-football league". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on August 16, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football". Western Athletic Conference (Press release). January 14, 2021.
- ^ Jeyarajah, Shehan. "UTRGV commits to add FCS football by 2024". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "FCS college football 2021: AQ7 preview". KRQE. Stats Perform. August 20, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
- ^ Deaver, Colin (January 7, 2021). "Reports: WAC football to return in 2022, rise to FBS later in decade". KTSM.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "All-Time Winningest Teams" (PDF). 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Todd Phillips named Utah Valley men's basketball head coach". Utah Valley University Athletics. April 6, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "Utah Valley, Dixie State Announce 'The Old Hammer Rivalry'". KSL Sports. February 10, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- ^ "Utah Valley, Dixie State Announce 'The Old Hammer Rivalry'". KSL Sports. February 10, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- ^ "2023-24 WAC Championships". Western Athletic Conference. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "2022-23 WAC Championships". Western Athletic Conference. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ a b "EADA Equity in Athletics Data Analysis". U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "CBU Events Center". California Baptist Lancers. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ "Lancer Soccer Stadium". California Baptist University Athletics. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "NCAA Statistics". NCAA. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ a b "CBU Facilities General Information". California Baptist Lancers. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "About Us: Grand Canyon University Arena". Grand Canyon University. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "WAC 2014 Softball Media Guide" (PDF). wacsports.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Seattle 2013–14 Division I Baseball". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "NCAA Statistics". NCAA. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "Wisdom Basketball Gym". Tarleton State Texans. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Tarleton soccer outfits new field with 'game-changing' Hellas Matrix Turf". Tarleton State University. March 8, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "Tarleton Softball Complex". Tarleton State Texans. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex". Tarleton State Texans. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Burns Arena". Dixie State Trailblazers. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ "NCAA Statistics". NCAA. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "Bruce Hurst Field". Dixie State Trailblazers. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ "2014 Men's Soccer". San Jose State University. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Facilities: UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex". UTRGV Vaqueros. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ "History of the WAC". October 29, 2009. Archived from the original on November 13, 2009.
External links
edit
