Introduction

The Big West Conference is one of the top NCAA Division I athletic conferences in the country. It is home to ten college and universities located mostly in California as well as in Hawai’i, Nevada and Utah. The conference is made up of three athletic divisions and sponsors 21 intercollegiate sports for men and women. The Big West Conference is recognized as one of the nation’s premier collegiate athletic conferences, excelling in both academics and athletics.

History

The Big West Conference was formed in 1969 as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA). It was originally composed of just four schools—UC Irvine, CSUN, Fresno State and Long Beach State. Since its formation, the Big West has grown to include nine additional schools in California, Hawai’i, Nevada and Utah. The name was changed to the Big West Conference in 1988.

Member Institutions

The Big West Conference includes ten member institutions. These include: UC Irvine, UC Davis, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside, Long Beach State, Hawai’i, and UNLV.

Sports Competed

The Big West Conference sponsors 21 intercollegiate sports for men and women. These include basketball, baseball, softball, golf, tennis, volleyball, water polo, soccer, cross country, track and field, and swimming and diving. The Big West also sponsors the NCAA Division I Women’s Rowing Championship.

Notable Achievements

The Big West Conference has seen some of its member institutions have considerable success in athletics over the years. UC Irvine is the conference’s most successful member in athletics, with six National Collegiate Athletic Association championships in men’s volleyball, two in men’s soccer and one in women’s water polo. In addition, the Big West Conference has won more than 25 conference championships since it was founded.

Rivalries

Due to the geographic proximity of the schools in the conference, there are several rivalries within the Big West College athletics. The most well-known rivalry is between UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton in men’s basketball. The basketball rivalry between Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara is also well-known in the conference.

How the Conference Operates

The Big West Conference operates under a governance structure composed of the Commissioner, an Executive Director, a Board of Directors, and several committees. The Board of Directors is composed of the Presidents/Chancellors of the ten member institutions and four at-large representatives. The Board is responsible for adopting and interpreting all conference rules, regulations and policies, including eligibility, competition standards and other matters pertaining to competitive sports.

The individual schools in the conference also determine each institution’s sports scheduling. All sports events are played following the rules established by the NCAA. The conference determines the winners of each individual sport and crowns the Big West Team Champion at the end of each season.

Impact on the Sports Scene

The Big West Conference has made a big impact on the local and national sports scene. Several Big West players have found success in professional sports. One of the most successful alumni of the Big West is NBA Hall of Famer and four-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant who played for the LA Lakers. The conference has also seen multiple players make it to the professional ranks in soccer, baseball, volleyball, and water polo, to name a few.

The Big West Conference has also given college athletes from the region a chance to compete on a national and international level. In the past, Big West teams have competed in NCAA tournaments, the College World Series, and the National Invitational Tournament.

Future Prospects of the Big West Conference

The Big West Conference has been a successful athletic organization since its inception and the future looks nothing but bright for the conference. The conference has recently added Hawai’i to their lineup and more expansion is on the table. There is potential for the conference to continue to add members, possibly in expanding to Arizona and other western states.

The Big West Conference is also looking to expand its reach into the digital realm. They recently launched a media streaming service to allow fans access to follow their favorite teams and events. As the conference continues to grow in popularity, the Big West is setting the stage for a bright and prosperous future.