Big West Conference
Encyclopedia
The Big West Conference (BWC) is an NCAA
-affiliated Division I mid-major
college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA). After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped sponsoring college football
after the 2000 season. It is the nation's only Division I conference with its entire membership located in one state, though this will change in 2012 when the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
will be added as a member (the first time the Big West had a non-California member since the 2004-05 season).
, Fresno State
, Long Beach State
, San Diego State
, San Jose State
, and UC Santa Barbara
.
Four of these charter members (Cal State Los Angeles, Fresno State, Long Beach State, and San Diego State) had previously been members of the nation's premier college-level conference, the California Collegiate Athletic Association
. After capturing multiple national championships, the members sought a higher level of play, which could be found within the university ranks. Likewise, San Jose State and UC Santa Barbara, as well as the University of the Pacific, were becoming dissatisfied with being independents due to the restriction of the number of sports they could participate in per year.
The seven schools formally met in May 1969 and finalized the creation of the PCAA less than two months later. Six of the seven founding schools began athletic play immediately, with Pacific joining them two years later.
was the first institution outside of California to join the conference in 1978. This opened the floodgates for many other schools to affiliate with the PCAA; notable schools include UNLV
, Nevada
, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Boise State
, among others.
In 1983, the PCAA became the first western conference to introduce women's athletic programs, giving the opportunity for all its members to have their women student-athletes compete at the same level as their male counterparts. This proved vital for Hawaii
as their only participation in the conference was for their women's sports.
However, turnover of universities started to take its toll. Many left to join conferences that were perceived as more well-known, such as the Western Athletic Conference
or the Mountain West Conference
, while others did not see the benefit of travel since historically many of the teams have been California-based. Since the departures of Idaho
and Utah State in 2005, all members have been based in California, reducing both the cost and travel time between the universities. Between full and associate members, there have been no less than 25 members in the conference's history, while only three of the original seven charter members remain (Long Beach State, University of the Pacific, and UC Santa Barbara).
. Only one member is a private institution; the other eight are public schools, divided equally between the California State University and University of California systems.
will join the conference in 2012 in all sports except football, swimming and diving, men's volleyball and women's sailing. UC San Diego
applied to join the conference, but were turned down. They were planning on moving up to Division I in all sports. The Cal State Bakersfield
Roadrunners were also looking to join the conference, but the Big West commissioners only extended an invitation to University of Hawaii
.
On May 24, 2011, it was announced that Sacramento State would join the Big West beginning in the fall of 2012 for men's soccer only.
Notes
or the Mountain West Conference
. Of the nine current members of the WAC, only Hawaii has not spent some time in the Big West as a football participant – it was a Big West member only in women's sports. Of all the former members, CSU Los Angeles is the only team that reverted to Division II level.
School names and nicknames reflect those used by the institutions when they were Big West members. One school has changed its name (Southwestern Louisiana, now Louisiana-Lafayette) and one its nickname (Arkansas State, from Indians to Red Wolves).
Asterisk indicates school has announced intention to join Mountain West
in 2012.
, men’s and women’s basketball
, men’s and women’s cross country
, men’s and women’s golf
, men’s and women’s soccer, softball
, men’s and women’s tennis
, men’s and women’s track and field
, women’s volleyball
, and women's Water Polo
. As of 2010, the Big West has dropped men’s and women’s swimming
and diving
.
The Big West is strong in several sports. Baseball and Women's Volleyball have been the strongest sports because of the number of championships won. Cal State Fullerton has won 4 College World Series in 1979, 1984, 1995, and 2004. Long Beach State has won 5 Women's Volleyball championships in 1972, 1973, 1989, 1993, 1998, the last three being NCAA sanctioned titles. In 1998 Misty May-Treanor
helped guided the 49ers to a 36-0 record on route to the programs most recent title. Pacific won back to back Women's Volleyball titles in 1985 and 1986.
When UNLV won the school's lone Division 1 Basketball Championship in 1990, by beating Duke University by a record setting margin of 30 points in the 103-73 victory, they were a member of the Big West Conference.
The current members of the Big West have won a total of nine NCAA national championships including UC Santa Barbara’s most recent Men’s Soccer Championship in 2006. The other was softball by Fullerton in 1986.
The conference no longer sponsors football; the only two conference members which participate in the sport (UC Davis and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
) participate as members of the Great West Conference, but both schools will be leaving for the Big Sky Conference
in 2012. Future members, Hawaii and Sacramento state (Men's Soccer Only) also partcipate in football, Hawaii in the Western Athletic Conference in 2011 and will begin play in the Mountain West Conference in the fall of 2012. Sacramento State in the Big Sky.
Pasadena
(1969-70), California
(1981-91), Las Vegas
(1992-96), and Humanitarian (1997-2000)
The Big West Conference discontinued football following the 2000 season
Future members in gray.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
-affiliated Division I mid-major
Mid-major
Mid-major is a term used in American Division I college sports, to refer to athletic conferences that are not among the major six conferences...
college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA). After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped sponsoring college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
after the 2000 season. It is the nation's only Division I conference with its entire membership located in one state, though this will change in 2012 when the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
will be added as a member (the first time the Big West had a non-California member since the 2004-05 season).
Creation of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association
The Big West Conference was formed on July 1, 1969, as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. The charter members of the PCAA were Cal State Los AngelesCalifornia State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
, Fresno State
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
, Long Beach State
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
, San Diego State
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, San Jose State
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
, and UC Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
.
Four of these charter members (Cal State Los Angeles, Fresno State, Long Beach State, and San Diego State) had previously been members of the nation's premier college-level conference, the California Collegiate Athletic Association
California Collegiate Athletic Association
The California Collegiate Athletic Association or CCAA is an intercollegiate athletic conference in the Division II of the NCAA. All of its current members are public universities, and all except for UC San Diego are members of the California State University system.It was founded in December 1938...
. After capturing multiple national championships, the members sought a higher level of play, which could be found within the university ranks. Likewise, San Jose State and UC Santa Barbara, as well as the University of the Pacific, were becoming dissatisfied with being independents due to the restriction of the number of sports they could participate in per year.
The seven schools formally met in May 1969 and finalized the creation of the PCAA less than two months later. Six of the seven founding schools began athletic play immediately, with Pacific joining them two years later.
Evolution
Since its inception as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association, the conference has seen many changes throughout the years. Utah StateUtah State Aggies
The Utah State Aggies are the athletics teams of Utah State University. The school fields men's varsity teams in basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track and field. Women's varsity teams include basketball, cross country, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field,...
was the first institution outside of California to join the conference in 1978. This opened the floodgates for many other schools to affiliate with the PCAA; notable schools include UNLV
UNLV Rebels
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' sports teams are called the Rebels. The Rebels participate in NCAA Division I and in the Mountain West Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The school's colors are Scarlet and Grey. The Rebels' main rival is the Wolf Pack of the University...
, Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack
The Nevada Wolf Pack are the collegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Nevada, Reno, consisting of 16 varsity teams. Though often known as UNR within the state, the university is simply called Nevada for athletics purposes; its sports teams are nicknamed the Wolf Pack...
, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Boise State
Boise State Broncos
The Boise State Broncos are the official athletic program of Boise State University. The Broncos compete in a wide variety of sports. Perhaps the most well-known of these sports is the football program. The program attained a 13-0 season in 2006 capped by a memorable overtime win in the 2007 Fiesta...
, among others.
Big West Conference Sports
|
In 1983, the PCAA became the first western conference to introduce women's athletic programs, giving the opportunity for all its members to have their women student-athletes compete at the same level as their male counterparts. This proved vital for Hawaii
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
as their only participation in the conference was for their women's sports.
However, turnover of universities started to take its toll. Many left to join conferences that were perceived as more well-known, such as the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
or the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
, while others did not see the benefit of travel since historically many of the teams have been California-based. Since the departures of Idaho
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....
and Utah State in 2005, all members have been based in California, reducing both the cost and travel time between the universities. Between full and associate members, there have been no less than 25 members in the conference's history, while only three of the original seven charter members remain (Long Beach State, University of the Pacific, and UC Santa Barbara).
The change to the Big West
To mark its 20th year as an athletic conference, in 1988 the Pacific Coast Athletic Association decided to change its name to the Big West Conference. The move signaled the changing landscape within the conference. With such schools as Utah State, UNLV, Nevada, New Mexico State, and Hawaii now in the fold, the name change was more representative of the population. In addition, the conference had signed a contract with ESPN to have its men's basketball games telecast as the third game of a triple header known as "Big Monday" - the other conferences being featured were the Big East and the Big 12 so the name Big West fit the "big" theme. Despite the eventual departure of all non-California based teams, the widely-known "Big West Conference" name has remained constant.Current members
All nine current members of the conference are located in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Only one member is a private institution; the other eight are public schools, divided equally between the California State University and University of California systems.
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Founded | Joined BWC | Affiliation | Enrollment | NCAA Team Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly San Luis Obispo California Polytechnic State University California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system.... |
Mustangs | San Luis Obispo, California San Luis Obispo, California San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities... |
1901 | 1996 | Public (California State University California State University The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the... system) |
19,777 | 0 |
| Cal State Fullerton California State University, Fullerton California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs... |
Titans Cal State Fullerton Titans The Cal State Fullerton Titans are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Cal State Fullerton, located in Fullerton, California. The Titans are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I level... |
Fullerton, California Fullerton, California Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway... |
1957 | 1974 | Public (California State University California State University The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the... system) |
36,996 | 14 |
| Cal State Northridge California State University, Northridge California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States.... |
Matadors | Northridge, Los Angeles, California | 1958 | 2001 | Public (California State University California State University The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the... system) |
36,207 | 0 |
| Long Beach State California State University, Long Beach California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment... |
49ers Long Beach State 49ers 'An NCAA Division I member, Long Beach State has 18 sports teams and plays competitively in baseball, cross country, softball, track and field, women's tennis, and women's soccer, as well as both men's and women's basketball, volleyball, water polo and golf teams... |
Long Beach, California Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257... |
1949 | 1969 | Public (California State University California State University The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the... system) |
37,890 | 4 |
| University of the Pacific | Tigers | Stockton, California Stockton, California Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city... |
1851 | 1971 | Private | 3,740 | 2 |
| UC Davis University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment... |
Aggies UC Davis Aggies The UC Davis Aggies compete in NCAA Division I sports in the Big West Conference. For football, the Aggies compete in Division I FCS , and are members of the Great West Conference, granting UC Davis the distinction of being one of only three UC campuses to field a football team... |
Davis, California Davis, California Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
1908 | 2007 | Public (University of California University of California The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University... system) |
31,426 | 1 |
| UC Irvine University of California, Irvine The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA... |
Anteaters UC Irvine Anteaters UC Irvine's Athletics program participates in the NCAA's Division I, as members of the Big West Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation... |
Irvine, California Irvine, California Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California... |
1965 | 1977 | Public (University of California University of California The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University... system) |
27,631 | 26 |
| UC Riverside University of California, Riverside The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United... |
Highlanders | Riverside, California Riverside, California Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California... |
1954 | 2001 | Public (University of California University of California The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University... system) |
20,746 | 0 |
| UC Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Barbara The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los... |
Gauchos | Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean... |
1905 | 1969, 1976 | Public (University of California University of California The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University... system) |
20,559 | 2 |
Future members
The University of Hawaii at MānoaUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
will join the conference in 2012 in all sports except football, swimming and diving, men's volleyball and women's sailing. UC San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
applied to join the conference, but were turned down. They were planning on moving up to Division I in all sports. The Cal State Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield is a public university located in Bakersfield, California, United States which was founded in 1965. CSUB opened in 1970 on a campus, becoming the 19th school in the California State University system...
Roadrunners were also looking to join the conference, but the Big West commissioners only extended an invitation to University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
.
On May 24, 2011, it was announced that Sacramento State would join the Big West beginning in the fall of 2012 for men's soccer only.
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Founded | Year Joins BWC | Affiliation | Enrollment | Div. I National Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii at Mānoa University of Hawaii at Manoa The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system... |
Rainbow Warriors Hawaii Rainbow Warriors The University of Hawaii Warriors, University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, or University of Hawaii Rainbows are the team names of the men's sports programs at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.... /Rainbow Wahine |
Honolulu, Hawaii | 1907 | 2012 | Public (University of Hawaii University of Hawaii The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment... system) |
20,435 | 3 |
| Sacramento State California State University, Sacramento California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system... |
Hornets | Sacramento, California Sacramento, California Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,... |
1947 | 2012 | Public (California State University California State University The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the... system)) |
24,388 |
Membership timeline
Notes
- Powder blue bars denote full members.
- Red bars denote football only members.
- Green bars denote women's basketball only members.
- Yellow bars denote men's soccer only members.
Former members
Many of the former members of the Big West are now members of either the Western Athletic ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
or the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
. Of the nine current members of the WAC, only Hawaii has not spent some time in the Big West as a football participant – it was a Big West member only in women's sports. Of all the former members, CSU Los Angeles is the only team that reverted to Division II level.
School names and nicknames reflect those used by the institutions when they were Big West members. One school has changed its name (Southwestern Louisiana, now Louisiana-Lafayette) and one its nickname (Arkansas State, from Indians to Red Wolves).
| Institution | Nickname | Affiliation | Joined BWC | Left BWC | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State University Arkansas State University Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA... |
Indians Arkansas State Red Wolves The Arkansas State University Red Wolves is the name given to Arkansas State University's athletic teams. The university is affiliated with the Sun Belt Conference in sports and maintains NCAA Division I status.-History:... |
Football only | 1993, 1999 | 1996, 2001 | Sun Belt Conference Sun Belt Conference The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions... |
| Boise State University Boise State University Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965... |
Broncos Boise State Broncos The Boise State Broncos are the official athletic program of Boise State University. The Broncos compete in a wide variety of sports. Perhaps the most well-known of these sports is the football program. The program attained a 13-0 season in 2006 capped by a memorable overtime win in the 2007 Fiesta... |
Full member | 1996 | 2001 | Mountain West Conference Mountain West Conference The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999... |
| California State University, Fresno California State University, Fresno California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of... |
Bulldogs Fresno State Bulldogs The Fresno State Bulldogs represent California State University, Fresno in 19 NCAA Division I sports. The teams have been members of the Western Athletic Conference since 1992. Before that, it had been a member of the Big West Conference since 1969... |
Full member | 1969 | 1992 | Western Athletic Conference Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS... * |
| California State University, Los Angeles California State University, Los Angeles California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system... |
Golden Eagles | Full member | 1969 | 1974 | California Collegiate Athletic Association California Collegiate Athletic Association The California Collegiate Athletic Association or CCAA is an intercollegiate athletic conference in the Division II of the NCAA. All of its current members are public universities, and all except for UC San Diego are members of the California State University system.It was founded in December 1938... |
| University of Idaho University of Idaho The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state... |
Vandals Idaho Vandals The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference .... |
Full member | 1996 | 2005 | Western Athletic Conference Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS... |
| Louisiana Tech University Louisiana Tech University Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings... |
Bulldogs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters refer to the sports teams of Louisiana Tech University. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports. Since 2001, LA Tech has been a member of the Western Athletic Conference. LA Tech adopted Bulldogs as its nickname in 1900, the first of the four FBS... |
Football only | 1993 | 1996 | Western Athletic Conference Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS... |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of... |
Rebels UNLV Rebels The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' sports teams are called the Rebels. The Rebels participate in NCAA Division I and in the Mountain West Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The school's colors are Scarlet and Grey. The Rebels' main rival is the Wolf Pack of the University... |
Full member | 1982 | 1996 | Mountain West Conference Mountain West Conference The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999... |
| University of Nevada, Reno University of Nevada, Reno The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA... |
Wolf Pack Nevada Wolf Pack The Nevada Wolf Pack are the collegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Nevada, Reno, consisting of 16 varsity teams. Though often known as UNR within the state, the university is simply called Nevada for athletics purposes; its sports teams are nicknamed the Wolf Pack... |
Full member | 1992 | 2000 | Western Athletic Conference Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS... * |
| New Mexico State University New Mexico State University New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States... |
Aggies New Mexico State Aggies New Mexico State University's teams are called the Aggies, a nickname derived from the university's agricultural beginnings. Since 2005, they have competed in the Western Athletic Conference. The mascot is known as "Pistol Pete". NMSU's colors are crimson and white. The current athletics director... |
Full member | 1983 | 2000 | Western Athletic Conference Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS... |
| University of North Texas University of North Texas The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067... |
Mean Green North Texas Mean Green North Texas Mean Green is the team name used for both men's and women's intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.... |
Full member | 1996 | 2000 | Sun Belt Conference Sun Belt Conference The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions... |
| Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P... |
Huskies Northern Illinois Huskies The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University. The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Mid-American Conference... |
Football only | 1993 | 1996 | Mid-American Conference Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members... |
| San Diego State University San Diego State University San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system... |
Aztecs | Full member | 1969 | 1978 | Mountain West Conference Mountain West Conference The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999... |
| San Jose State University San José State University San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States... |
Spartans San José State Spartans The San Jose State Spartans is the name of the athletic teams representing San Jose State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division I level... |
Full member | 1969 | 1996 | Western Athletic Conference Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS... |
| University of Southwestern Louisiana University of Louisiana at Lafayette The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana... |
Ragin' Cajuns | Football only | 1993 | 1996 | Sun Belt Conference Sun Belt Conference The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions... |
| Utah State University Utah State University Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.... |
Aggies Utah State Aggies The Utah State Aggies are the athletics teams of Utah State University. The school fields men's varsity teams in basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track and field. Women's varsity teams include basketball, cross country, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field,... |
Full member | 1978 | 2005 | Western Athletic Conference Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS... |
Asterisk indicates school has announced intention to join Mountain West
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
in 2012.
Sports
As of the 2010-11 season, the Big West sponsors intercollegiate competition in baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, men’s and women’s basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, men’s and women’s cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, men’s and women’s golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, men’s and women’s soccer, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, men’s and women’s tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, men’s and women’s track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, women’s volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, and women's Water Polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
. As of 2010, the Big West has dropped men’s and women’s swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
.
The Big West is strong in several sports. Baseball and Women's Volleyball have been the strongest sports because of the number of championships won. Cal State Fullerton has won 4 College World Series in 1979, 1984, 1995, and 2004. Long Beach State has won 5 Women's Volleyball championships in 1972, 1973, 1989, 1993, 1998, the last three being NCAA sanctioned titles. In 1998 Misty May-Treanor
Misty May-Treanor
Misty Erie May-Treanor is an American professional volleyball player. She has won more tournaments than any other female player with 107 career wins....
helped guided the 49ers to a 36-0 record on route to the programs most recent title. Pacific won back to back Women's Volleyball titles in 1985 and 1986.
When UNLV won the school's lone Division 1 Basketball Championship in 1990, by beating Duke University by a record setting margin of 30 points in the 103-73 victory, they were a member of the Big West Conference.
The current members of the Big West have won a total of nine NCAA national championships including UC Santa Barbara’s most recent Men’s Soccer Championship in 2006. The other was softball by Fullerton in 1986.
The conference no longer sponsors football; the only two conference members which participate in the sport (UC Davis and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
) participate as members of the Great West Conference, but both schools will be leaving for the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
in 2012. Future members, Hawaii and Sacramento state (Men's Soccer Only) also partcipate in football, Hawaii in the Western Athletic Conference in 2011 and will begin play in the Mountain West Conference in the fall of 2012. Sacramento State in the Big Sky.
Men's Basketball
The most recent winner of the Big West Conference Tournament is UC Santa Barbara (2011), who won the tournament for the second consecutive season despite entering the tournament as the No. 5 seed.Football
An asterisk denotes the participant in the bowls that invited the Big West champion:Pasadena
Pasadena Bowl
The Pasadena Bowl, was called the Junior Rose Bowl from 1946–71 and 1976–77. Between 1946–66 and 1976–77, the game pitted the California Junior College football champions vs. The NJCAA football champions for the National Championship. It was organized by the Pasadena Junior...
(1969-70), California
California Bowl
The California Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played annually at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. The games matched the championship teams from the Big West Conference with teams from the Mid-American Conference...
(1981-91), Las Vegas
Las Vegas Bowl
The Maaco Bowl Las Vegas is an NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually at 40,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. since 1992. From 1992 to 1996, matchups featured the champion teams from the Big West and Mid-American...
(1992-96), and Humanitarian (1997-2000)
| Year | University |
|---|---|
| 1969 | San Diego State San Diego State Aztecs football The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of... * |
| 1970 | Long Beach State* & San Diego State |
| 1971 | Long Beach State |
| 1972 | San Diego State |
| 1973 | San Diego State |
| 1974 | San Diego State |
| 1975 | San Jose State San José State Spartans Football The San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000... |
| 1976 | San Jose State |
| 1977 | Fresno State Fresno State Bulldogs football The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they... |
| 1978 | San Jose State and Utah State Utah State Aggies football The Utah State Aggies are a college football team that competes in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I, representing Utah State University. The Utah State college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Romney Stadium since 1968... |
| 1979 | Utah State |
| 1980 | Long Beach State |
| 1981 | San Jose State* |
| 1982 | Fresno State* |
| 1983 | Cal State Fullerton Cal State Fullerton Titans football The Cal State Fullerton Titans football team represented California State University, Fullerton from the 1970 through 1992 seasons. The Titans originally competed as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association from 1970-1973 before moving to the Pacific Coast Athletic Association in... * |
| 1984 | Cal State Fullerton (UNLV UNLV Rebels football The UNLV Rebels football program is a college football team that represents the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . The team is currently a member of the Mountain West Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association... * forfeited) |
| 1985 | Fresno State* |
| 1986 | San Jose State* |
| 1987 | San Jose State* |
| 1988 | Fresno State* |
| 1989 | Fresno State* |
| 1990 | San Jose State* |
| 1991 | Fresno State* & San Jose State |
| 1992 | Nevada Nevada Wolf Pack football The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA... * |
| 1993 | Utah State* & SW Louisiana |
| 1994 | UNLV*, SW Louisiana, & Nevada |
| 1995 | Nevada* |
| 1996 | Nevada* & Utah State |
| 1997 | Utah State* & Nevada |
| 1998 | Idaho 1998 Idaho Vandals football team The 1998 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1998 college football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-year head coach Chris Tormey, were members of the Big West Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow,... * |
| 1999 | Boise State 1999 Boise State Broncos football team The 1999 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1999 college football season. The Broncos competed in the Big West Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos were led by second-year head coach Dirk Koetter.The Broncos... * |
| 2000 | Boise State 2000 Boise State Broncos football team The 2000 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2000 college football season. The Broncos competed in the Big West Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho... * |
The Big West Conference discontinued football following the 2000 season
Conference facilities
| School | Basketball Arena | Capacity | Soccer Stadium | Capacity | Baseball Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly San Luis Obispo | Mott Gym Mott Gym Robert A. Mott Gymnasium is a 3,032 seat, indoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.-History and renovations:... |
3,032 | Alex G. Spanos Stadium | 11,075 | Robin Baggett Stadium | 1,734 |
| Cal State Fullerton | Titan Gym Titan Gym Titan Gym is a 4,000 seat, indoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, California.-History and renovations:... |
4,000 | Titan Stadium Titan Stadium (Cal State Fullerton) Titan Stadium is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose stadium on the campus of California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, California.-History:... |
10,000 | Goodwin Field Goodwin Field Goodwin Field is a stadium in Fullerton, California. It is primarily used for baseball and is the home field of both the four-time champion Cal State Fullerton Titans baseball team of the NCAA's Big West Conference and Orange County Flyers minor league baseball teams. It holds 3,500 people... |
3,500 |
| Cal State Northridge | Matadome Matadome Matador Gymnasium, most commonly known by its nickname the Matadome, is a 1,600 seat, indoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California.-History and renovations:... |
1,600 | Matador Soccer Field Matador Soccer Field Matador Soccer Field is an 1,550 seat soccer stadium on the campus of California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California.It is currently the home to the Cal State Northridge Matadors men's soccer and Cal State Northridge Matadors women's soccer teams.Matador Soccer Field was host to... |
1,550 | Matador Field Matador Field Matador Field is a baseball venue located on the campus of Cal State Northridge in Northridge, California, USA. It is home to the Cal State Northridge Matadors baseball team, a member of the Division I Big West Conference. The venue was opened on March 4, 1961, with the Matadors losing 10-8 to... |
1,000 |
| Hawaii | Stan Sheriff Center Stan Sheriff Center The Stan Sheriff Center is a 10,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa... |
10,300 | Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium is a 4,500 seat soccer-specific stadium located on the grounds of the Waipio Soccer Complex in Waipio, Hawaii. WPSS also boasts two main locker rooms, two training rooms, concession booths and administrative offices.... |
4,500 | Les Murakami Stadium Les Murakami Stadium Les Murakami Stadium is the baseball stadium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. The stadium was built in 1984 and renamed after legendary Rainbow coach Les Murakami for the 2002 season.... |
4,312 |
| Long Beach State | Walter Pyramid Walter Pyramid Walter Pyramid, formerly known as Long Beach Pyramid, is a 5,000-seat, indoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of California State University, Long Beach in Long Beach, California.-History:... |
5,000 | George Allen Field George Allen Field George Allen Field is a 1,000 seat soccer stadium on the campus of California State University, Long Beach in Long Beach, California.-Tenants & history:It is currently the home of the Long Beach State 49ers women's soccer team... |
1,000 | Blair Field Blair Field Blair Field is a stadium in Long Beach, California. It originally opened in 1956 and is primarily used for baseball. It holds 3,238 people. It is named for Frank Blair, the sports editor for the Long Beach Press-Telegram newspaper for 32 years.... |
3,238 |
| Pacific | Alex G. Spanos Center Alex G. Spanos Center Alex G. Spanos Center is a 6,150-seat, indoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.The Alex G. Spanos Center opened on 9 September 1981 and was constructed for over $7 million dollars. It is named after Pacific alumnus and San Diego Chargers... |
6,150 | Stagg Memorial Stadium Stagg Memorial Stadium Amos Alonzo Stagg Memorial Stadium, previously known as Pacific Memorial Stadium, is a 28,000 seat, outdoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.-Stadium construction:... |
28,000 | Klein Family Field Klein Family Field Klein Family Field is a baseball stadium in Stockton, California. It is the home field of the University of the Pacific Tigers college baseball team. The stadium holds 2,500 people and opened in 2006.... |
2,500 |
| Sacramento State | Men's Soccer Member Only | Hornet Field Hornet Field Hornet Field is a baseball venue in Sacramento, California. It is home to the Sacramento State Hornets college baseball team. Opened in 1953, it has a capacity of 1,267 fans.-References:... |
1,500 | Men's Soccer Member Only | ||
| UC Davis | The Pavilion | 8,000 | Aggie Field Aggie Field Aggie Field, also known officially as Aggie Soccer Stadium, is a 1,000 seat soccer stadium on the campus of University of California, Davis in Davis, California.... |
1,000 | Dobbins Baseball Complex Dobbins Baseball Complex Dobbins Baseball Complex is a baseball stadium in Davis, California. It is the home field of the University of California, Davis Aggies college baseball team. The stadium holds 3,500 spectators.-External links:*... |
3,500 |
| UC Irvine | Bren Events Center Bren Events Center Donald Bren Events Center is a 4,984-seat, indoor multi-purpose stadium, on the campus of the University of Irvine, in California.-Construction and history:... |
4,984 | Anteater Stadium Anteater Stadium Anteater Stadium is a 2,500 seat multi-purpose stadium on the campus of University of California, Irvine in Irvine, California.-History:Recent renovations have added lights to Anteater Stadium, which was completed late in 2000.... |
2,500 | Cicerone Field | 2,900 |
| UC Riverside | UC Riverside Student Recreation Center UC Riverside Student Recreation Center UC Riverside Student Recreation Center is a 3,168-seat, indoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of California, Riverside in Riverside, California.-History:... |
3,168 | UCR Soccer Stadium UCR Soccer Stadium UCR Soccer Stadium is a 900 seat soccer stadium on the campus of University of California, Riverside in Riverside, California.-History:The fields where UCR Soccer Stadium stands were the original home of the UC Riverside Highlanders men’s soccer team during its first incarnation from the 1950s to... |
900 | Riverside Sports Complex Riverside Sports Complex The Riverside Sports Complex, in Riverside, California, is the home field of the University of California, Riverside baseball team. It is primarily used for baseball and was the home of Riverside Pilots before they moved to Lancaster, California to become the Lancaster JetHawks in 1996... |
2,500 |
| UC Santa Barbara | UCSB Events Center (the Thunderdome) | 5,600 | Harder Stadium Harder Stadium Harder Stadium is a 17,000 seat, outdoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California. It serves as the on-campus soccer stadium for both the men's and women's programs... |
17,000 | Caesar Uyesaka Stadium Caesar Uyesaka Stadium Caesar Uyesaka Stadium is a baseball stadium in Santa Barbara, California. It is the home field of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team as well as the Santa Barbara Foresters.-History:... |
1,000 |
Future members in gray.
See also
- California Collegiate Athletic AssociationCalifornia Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe California Collegiate Athletic Association or CCAA is an intercollegiate athletic conference in the Division II of the NCAA. All of its current members are public universities, and all except for UC San Diego are members of the California State University system.It was founded in December 1938...
, an all-California school conference that competes in Division II. Eight out of nine members of the Big West are former members of the CCAA.