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West Coast Conference

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Parent: NCAA Division I Council Hop 4
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West Coast Conference
NameWest Coast Conference
Established1952
AssociationNCAA
DivisionDivision I
SubdivisionNon-football
Members10
HeadquartersSan Mateo, California
CommissionerStu Jackson
Since2021

West Coast Conference. The West Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, operating as a non-football league. Founded in 1952, it is headquartered in San Mateo, California and is composed of ten private, faith-based institutions located primarily in the Western United States. The conference is renowned for its historic success in basketball, particularly men's basketball, and maintains a strong national profile across multiple sports.

History

The conference was originally founded in 1952 as the California Basketball Association, with charter members including the University of San Francisco, Loyola Marymount University, and the University of Santa Clara. It adopted its current name in 1956 and has undergone several membership changes, most notably the departure of the University of Utah in 1999 and the addition of Brigham Young University in 2011. Key moments in its history are defined by the basketball dynasties of the University of San Francisco in the 1950s and the Gonzaga University program that rose to national prominence in the 21st century. The league's administrative leadership has included commissioners such as Michael Gilleran and, since 2021, former NBA executive Stu Jackson.

Member institutions

The conference currently comprises ten full member institutions, all of which are private universities with religious affiliations. The membership includes Gonzaga University (Spokane), Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles), Pepperdine University (Malibu), Saint Mary's College of California (Moraga), the University of San Diego (San Diego), the University of San Francisco (San Francisco), Santa Clara University (Santa Clara), and Brigham Young University (Provo). The University of the Pacific (Stockton) rejoined in 2013, and California Baptist University (Riverside) was added in 2022. Each institution competes in the full slate of conference-sponsored sports.

Sports sponsored

The conference sponsors championship competition in 15 sports, with a balanced offering for men and women. Men's sponsored sports include basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis. Women's sponsored sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and beach volleyball. The conference does not sponsor football, though several members, like Brigham Young University, field independent or conference-affiliated football programs elsewhere. The West Coast Conference also oversees championships in rowing and track and field.

Conference championships

The conference awards championships in each sponsored sport, with the most visible being the postseason basketball tournament, typically held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Gonzaga University has dominated the men's basketball regular-season and tournament titles in recent decades. In women's basketball, programs like Gonzaga University and Brigham Young University have been frequent champions. Other sports with highly competitive championship histories include baseball, where programs like Pepperdine University and the University of San Francisco have excelled, and women's volleyball, featuring strong teams from Brigham Young University and Pepperdine University.

Facilities

Member institutions compete in a variety of notable on-campus venues. Prominent basketball arenas include the McCarthey Athletic Center at Gonzaga University, Firestone Fieldhouse at Pepperdine University, and the Jenny Craig Pavilion at the University of San Diego. For baseball, notable stadiums include Stephen Schott Stadium at Santa Clara University and Eddie D. Field at Pepperdine University. Soccer and track and field events are held at venues like Buck Shaw Field at Santa Clara University and the Earl Klapstein Aquatics Center at the University of the Pacific.

Notable athletes and coaches

The conference has produced a vast number of distinguished individuals. Legendary basketball figures include Hall of Fame coach Phil Woolpert and players Bill Russell and K.C. Jones from the University of San Francisco. Contemporary stars include Gonzaga University products like John Stockton, Adam Morrison, and Jalen Suggs. Notable coaches are abundant, with Mark Few of Gonzaga University achieving sustained national success and Randy Bennett building a powerhouse at Saint Mary's College of California. Beyond basketball, the conference has produced MLB stars such as Dan Haren (Pepperdine University) and Mickey Lolich (the University of the Pacific), as well as soccer legend Brandi Chastain (Santa Clara University).

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