Athletic Association of Western Universities

Athletic Association of Western Universities
Name	Athletic Association of Western Universities
Short name	AAWU
Established	1959
Dissolved	1968
Association	NCAA
Division	University Division (predecessor to Division I)
Region	Western United States
Former names	Big Five (1959–1962)
Replaced	Pacific Coast Conference
Successor	Pacific-8 Conference

Athletic Association of Western Universities. The Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) was a major college athletic conference that operated from 1959 to 1968, primarily on the West Coast of the United States. Formed in the wake of the dissolution of the Pacific Coast Conference, it served as the direct predecessor to the Pacific-8 Conference and later the Pacific-12 Conference. The league was colloquially known as the "Big Five" during its initial years and was a founding member of what became the NCAA Division I.

History

The conference was established in 1959 following the collapse of the Pacific Coast Conference due to scandals involving illegal slush fund payments to athletes, notably the "West Coast basketball scandal" centered on the University of California, Berkeley. The five charter members—California, UCLA, USC, Stanford, and the University of Washington—sought to create a more stable, clean governance structure. In 1964, the conference expanded, adding the University of Oregon and Washington State University and changing its name from the "Big Five" to the Athletic Association of Western Universities. This period saw the rise of dominant football programs under coaches like John McKay at USC and the emergence of a national basketball powerhouse at UCLA under John Wooden. The AAWU ceased operations in 1968 when it was formally reconstituted as the Pacific-8 Conference.

Member schools

The original "Big Five" members in 1959 were the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, Stanford University, and the University of Washington. In 1964, the conference expanded to seven institutions with the addition of the University of Oregon and Washington State University. This membership roster remained stable until the conference's transition. All member schools were major public and private research universities located within the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. These institutions formed the core of West Coast intercollegiate athletics and would continue as the foundation for all subsequent iterations of the Pacific-12 Conference.

Sports sponsored

The AAWU sponsored competition for men in a range of sports, with football and basketball being the most prominent and financially significant. Other sponsored sports typically included baseball, track and field, swimming, tennis, golf, and wrestling. The conference operated before the enactment of Title IX, so it did not formally sponsor women's athletics. Competition was governed under the umbrella of the NCAA's University Division, with member schools frequently competing for national championships in various sports.

Conference championships

The AAWU crowned champions in all its sponsored sports, with its members achieving remarkable national success. In football, the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins were frequent title winners. The conference's most dominant program was UCLA men's basketball, which, under coach John Wooden, won multiple NCAA Championships during the AAWU era, including titles in 1964, 1965, 1967, and 1968. In baseball, the USC Trojans also won College World Series championships. The annual football rivalry game between USC and UCLA determined the conference champion in several seasons.

Facilities

Member schools competed in historic venues that remain iconic today. Football was played in major stadiums like the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (shared by USC and UCLA), California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, and Husky Stadium in Seattle. Basketball for UCLA was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena before moving to Pauley Pavilion in 1965. Stanford used Maples Pavilion, while the University of Oregon played at McArthur Court. These facilities hosted numerous conference championship events and pivotal national contests.

Notable athletes

The AAWU produced a multitude of legendary athletes who excelled in professional sports and at the Olympic Games. In football, stars included USC's Mike Garrett (Heisman Trophy winner) and O. J. Simpson, and UCLA's Gary Beban (Heisman Trophy winner). The UCLA basketball dynasty featured players like Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Gail Goodrich, and Walt Hazzard. In baseball, USC produced future Major League Baseball stars such as Tom Seaver and Dave Kingman. Track and field athletes from schools like the University of Oregon, under coach Bill Bowerman, also gained national acclaim, contributing to the conference's rich athletic legacy.

Category:Defunct NCAA Division I conferences Category:Sports in the Western United States Category:College athletic conferences in the United States