The Western Athletic Conference (commonly referred to as the WAC) is an NCAA Division I college athletics conference. Founded in 1962, the WAC has evolved from its beginnings as a four-member league to its current membership of nine full-time institutions. The WAC boasts several significant programs in NCAA sports and the conference is home to a number of successful teams in a variety of sports.
History of the Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference was established in 1962 with four founding members: Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The WAC became an NCAA Division I conference in 1968 and added its first non-Western member, Hawaii, in 1979. In 1980, both BYU and Utah joined the WAC as BYU left the Mountain West Conference and Utah joined after a successful run in the Pacific 10 Conference. The conference expanded again in 1996, adding Fresno State, San Jose State, Tulsa, and Rice. The current nine-member lineup of Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai`i, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, and Wyoming has remained in place since 2013.
Member Institutions, Sports, Achievements and Rivalries
The WAC is composed of nine member institutions located in seven U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Hawai`i, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. The conference offers men’s and women’s competition in eighteen sports, including baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. Two of the conference’s most successful programs are men’s basketball, with four NCAA tournament appearances, and women’s volleyball, with thirteen NCAA tournament appearances.
Rivalries in the WAC range from intra-state rivalries such as New Mexico vs. New Mexico State and Arizona vs. Arizona State to more regional rivalries such as Fresno State vs. San Jose State and Boise State vs. Utah State.
Conference Governance, Scheduling, and Championship Events
The WAC is governed by an Executive Council that is composed of the conference’s nine full-time members. The council is responsible for matters related to the administration of the conference, such as scheduling, budget, and policy decisions. The WAC also has a Commissioner that is elected by the member institutions and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the conference.
The WAC operates with a full round-robin schedule in all sports with the exception of football, which operates on a partial round-robin. The WAC holds championship events in each sport to determine the conference’s NCAA-qualifying teams for the corresponding NCAA sport championships. The WAC also holds an annual tournament in men’s and women’s basketball for the purpose of awarding the WAC championship.
Role of the Western Athletic Conference
The WAC is one of the oldest and most storied of the NCAA Division I conferences. The WAC’s history is entwined in notable achievements and games on the college sports scene of the West. The WAC has earned a reputation as a competitive and well-run conference that provides its member institutions the opportunity to compete at a high level for championship titles and NCAA tournament bids.
The role of the WAC is to provide a platform for the nine member institutions to compete against each other, while also providing the necessary governance structure and scheduling guidelines for each sport. The conference champions in football and basketball are eligible for automatic bids to the NCAA tournament.
Impact and Future Prospects of the Western Athletic Conference
The WAC has had a significant impact on the college sports scene in the West. The conference’s teams have been successful in a variety of sports, winning national championships and making regular appearances in NCAA tournaments. The WAC is an important part of college sports in the West and its significance and influence have only grown with its expansion.
The Western Athletic Conference looks set to remain a major player in college sports in the West. The conference has recently announced its intention to add a tenth and eleventh member school, further expanding its reach. With the addition of two more members, the WAC will be in a better position to increase its presence in the college sports scene.
The future prospects of the Western Athletic Conference remain bright and the conference is well poised to continue to be one of the premier college sports conferences in the West. With its strong membership, history of success, and commitment to providing a high-level sports experience, the WAC looks to remain an important part of college sports in the West for years to come.