Athletic Association of Western Universities

Athletic Association of Western Universities was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletic conference that existed from 1959 to 1968, comprising five prominent universities from the Western United States. The conference was formed by the University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, University of Washington, and Stanford University. These institutions were previously part of the Pacific Coast Conference and decided to break away due to disagreements over issues such as television contracts and recruiting practices, similar to the circumstances that led to the formation of the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten Conference.

● History

The Athletic Association of Western Universities was established in 1959, with the goal of creating a more competitive and stable athletic conference, similar to the Ivy League and the Big Eight Conference. The conference's founding members, including University of California, Berkeley's Clark Kerr and University of Southern California's John McKay, played a significant role in shaping the conference's early years, which were marked by intense rivalries with other conferences, such as the Western Athletic Conference and the Mountain States Conference. During its existence, the conference competed against other prominent conferences, including the Big Ten Conference, the Southeastern Conference, and the Southwest Conference, and its teams participated in various bowl games, such as the Rose Bowl and the Orange Bowl.

● Member Universities

The Athletic Association of Western Universities consisted of five member universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, University of Washington, and Stanford University. These institutions were all located in the Western United States and were known for their strong athletic programs, which produced notable athletes such as O.J. Simpson from University of Southern California, Joe Kapp from University of California, Berkeley, and Jim Plunkett from Stanford University. The conference's member universities also had notable rivalries with other institutions, including the University of Oregon, University of Arizona, and Arizona State University, which were part of the Western Athletic Conference.

● Conference Realignment

In 1968, the Athletic Association of Western Universities underwent a significant conference realignment, which ultimately led to its dissolution, similar to the Metro Conference and the Great Midwest Conference. The conference's member universities decided to merge with other institutions to form the Pacific-8 Conference, which later became the Pacific-10 Conference and is now known as the Pac-12 Conference. This realignment was driven by factors such as television revenue and recruiting advantages, similar to the circumstances that led to the formation of the Big 12 Conference and the Conference USA. The conference's realignment also had implications for other conferences, including the Western Athletic Conference and the Big Sky Conference, which underwent significant changes in the following years.

● Championships and Awards

During its existence, the Athletic Association of Western Universities awarded several championships and awards to its member universities, including the conference championship in football, basketball, and baseball. The conference's teams also competed in various NCAA tournaments, including the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Men's Division I Baseball Tournament. Notable awards won by the conference's athletes and coaches include the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award, which were awarded to individuals such as O.J. Simpson from University of Southern California and Jim Plunkett from Stanford University. The conference's teams also produced several Olympic athletes, including Rafer Johnson from University of California, Los Angeles and Wilma Rudolph from Tennessee State University.

● Notable Athletes and Coaches

The Athletic Association of Western Universities produced several notable athletes and coaches, including O.J. Simpson from University of Southern California, Joe Kapp from University of California, Berkeley, and Jim Plunkett from Stanford University. The conference's member universities also employed notable coaches, such as John McKay from University of Southern California, Pete Carroll from University of Southern California, and Bill Walsh from Stanford University. These individuals went on to achieve great success in their respective sports, including National Football League (NFL) careers with teams such as the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks, and NBA careers with teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. The conference's athletes and coaches also participated in various international competitions, including the Olympic Games and the Pan American Games, representing countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Category:Defunct college athletic conferences