The Mountain West Conference (MWC) is a collegiate athletic conference made up of 11 member universities located mostly in the western United States, including Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada. The conference was first formed in 1999 and currently offers 22 varsity sports ranging from American football, baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, golf, cross-country, and hockey.

History of the Conference

The initial membership of the Mountain West Conference was consist of eight schools from the former WAC (Western Athletic Conference). The formation of the MWC was announced in 1998 as part of a reorganization of the western United States. Initially, the conference included eight schools including Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, and Wyoming. In 2005, BYU left the MWC and Utah joined the conference.

Since then, the conference has been expanded several times, most recently in 2011 when Boise State joined the conference from the WAC. The Mountain West Conference has been considered one of the most successful non-power conferences and is regularly featured in national TV programs and bowl games.

Member Institutions and Sports

The Mountain West Conference consists of 11 universities, including Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah State, and Wyoming. The conference currently offers 22 varsity sports that range from American football and basketball to soccer, baseball, volleyball, golf, cross-country, and hockey. The Mountain West Conference is divided into two divisions, the Mountain and the West, with five schools in each.

Notable Achievements

The Mountain West Conference has achieved notable success in recent years with several of its teams appearing in the NCAA Tournament and bowl games. Boise State, Utah State, and San Diego State have won conference championships in football, while the Colorado State basketball team won the conference tournament in 2019. Additionally, Hawaii won the conference championship in baseball in 2019, and the Mountain West has produced 4 National Championship teams in the past 15 years.

Rivalries

As with any conference, the Mountain West has several prominent rivalries that are fought fiercely by each team. Some of the most prominent rivalries in the MWC include the “Border War” between Colorado State and Wyoming, the “Holy War” between BYU and Utah, and the “Rocky Mountain Showdown” between Colorado and Utah.

Governance and Operation

The Mountain West Conference is governed by an executive board, which consists of the athletic directors and presidents of the 11 member universities. The executive board is responsible for setting the conference’s policy and making decisions about scheduling, championship events, and other conference operations. Additionally, the Mountain West Conference has an athletic directors’ council, which is responsible for making decisions about the composition of the conference.

The MWC conducts several championship events each year, including the Mountain West Basketball Tournament, the Mountain West Football Championship Game, and the Mountain West Conference Baseball Tournament. Each of these events provides competition between the conference teams with the winner receiving the Mountain West Conference championship.

Role Of The Conference and Its Impact On The National Sporting Scene

The Mountain West Conference has made great strides in recent years to become one of the most respected non-power conferences in the nation. The conference regularly sends teams to bowl games and the NCAA Basketball Tournament, and it is a major presence in the college sports landscape. The MWC has also been successful in developing and promoting rivalries between its members.

The Mountain West Conference has been credited with helping to keep college athletics competitive, especially in the western United States. The conference’s presence has allowed small- and mid-major schools to compete against major conferences on a more equal footing. Additionally, the MWC has been a major driver in helping to promote collegiate athletics in the region.

Future Of The Mountain West Conference

The future of the Mountain West Conference looks bright. The conference has made great strides over the past decade to become one of the most respected non-power conferences in the nation. It is regularly featured on national television and regularly sends teams to the NCAA Tournament and bowl games. In addition, the conference has established strong rivalries between its members and has helped to promote college athletics in the western United States.

The Mountain West Conference looks poised to continue to grow in the coming years. With the addition of Boise State, the conference now has 12 teams and is well-positioned to make even more strides in the college athletics landscape. In the years to come, the Mountain West Conference looks to continue to be a major presence on the national stage.