Press Kit | Expansion 2022
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PRESS KIT | EXPANSION 2022 1 CONTENTS HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE ............................. 2 WAC DIGITAL NETWORK ................................ 4 OUR FUTURE BEGINS TODAY ......................... 6 2022-23 WAC MEMBERS ................................ 8 WAC MEN’S SPORTS ..................................... 15 WAC WOMEN’S SPORTS ............................... 16 2022-23 WAC NAMING GUIDE ...................... 17 SHARE THE EXCITEMENT OF THE WAC WITH YOUR COMMUNITY ............ 18 A TIMELINE OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS .......... 20 CONTACTS ..................................................... 22 1 A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE FIVE GENERATIONS OF SUCCESS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVEMENT After completing its 58th year of intercollegiate The WAC has experienced tremendous success over the competition, the Western Athletic Conference continues to years. In men’s basketball, the WAC has sent at least evolve and feature some of the nation’s best programs. One two teams to the NCAA Tournament in 28 of the past thing that remains unchanged is the persistent nature of 45 seasons. In baseball, the WAC has boasted two WAC’s student-athletes work to the institutions in the WAC to advance their programs and national champions since 2003. In women’s basketball, contend at the top levels of the NCAA. the conference has had at least two teams qualify for the achieve the highest levels of success NCAA Tournament 10 times in 28 seasons, with a record with the academic support of their The WAC provides its student-athletes the chance to travel five teams in 1998. The WAC also sent teams to three BCS to scenic destinations and gain exposure in some of the football bowl games from 2007-10. respective institutions. nation’s most diverse markets and largest metropolitan cities. In addition, the WAC’s student-athletes work to achieve the highest levels of success with the academic support of their respective institutions. 2 HISTORICAL MILESTONES The WAC’s history traces back to July 27, 1962, when Boise State withdrew prior to the 2011-12 season. In the original six-team league of Arizona, Arizona State, 2012, the WAC added Denver, Seattle U, UT Arlington, Brigham Young, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming UTSA and Texas State. In 2013, the WAC added CSU began competition. Bakersfield, Chicago State, Grand Canyon, Kansas City, Texas-Pan American and Utah Valley to join Idaho, New The first championship was held in November 1962, when Mexico State and Seattle U. The new institutions replaced Arizona won the men’s cross country title and New Mexico withdrawing members, Denver, Louisiana Tech, San Jose CHAMPIONSHIPS followed with the first WAC football title. Arizona finished State, Utah State, UT Arlington, UTSA and Texas State. second in the NCAA College World Series and, less than Presently, the WAC crowns team and individual Idaho withdrew from the conference prior to the 2014-15 champions in 19 sports—9 men’s and 10 women’s. three years later, Arizona State claimed the league’s first season. In 2015, Texas-Pan American merged with UT NCAA title when the Sun Devils won the College World Brownsville to form The University of Texas Rio Grande Series trophy. Fresno State was the last WAC school to Valley. California Baptist University became the ninth MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS BASEBALL earn an NCAA team title when it won the College World member of the conference on July 1, 2018. In January of BASKETBALL Series in 2008. 2019 Dixie State University accepted an invitation to join CROSS COUNTRY the conference effective July 1, 2020, replacing exiting Since 1962, several changes have occurred. UTEP and FOOTBALL (2022) member CSU Bakersfield. In November of 2019 Tarleton Colorado State became members in September 1967, while GOLF State University accepted an invitation for membership Arizona and Arizona State withdrew on June 30, 1978. SOCCER in the conference effective July 1, 2020, replacing exiting The WAC then added San Diego State (1978), Hawai‘i SWIMMING AND DIVING member Kansas City. (1979) and Air Force (1980). Before 1990, the WAC TENNIS sponsored championships only in men’s sports. However, a On January 14, 2021, the WAC announced the addition INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD merger with the High Country Athletic Conference formed of Abilene Christian University, Lamar University, OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD a single conference under one administrative structure, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State and the 1990-91 athletic year was the first in which both University and Southern Utah University, effective WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS men and women competed under the WAC name. Fresno July 1, 2022. State was added in 1992, and then in 1996, the women’s BASKETBALL programs from Air Force and Hawai‘i along with six new The WAC has had just six commissioners in its history. CROSS COUNTRY schools (UNLV, Rice, San Jose State, SMU, TCU and Paul Brechler was named the first leader of the conference GOLF Tulsa) came into the WAC. Air Force, Brigham Young, and held the position from 1962-1968. He was followed by SOCCER Colorado State, UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah Wiles Hallock (1968-71), Stan Bates (1971-80), Dr. Joe SOFTBALL and Wyoming withdrew on June 30, 1999. Nevada (2000), Kearney (1980-94), Karl Benson (1994-2012) and current SWIMMING AND DIVING Boise State (2001) and Louisiana Tech (2001) were added commissioner Jeff Hurd (2012-present). TENNIS while TCU withdrew following the 2000-01 season. In INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD 2005, Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State joined The WAC office has been located in the Denver area since OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD the WAC after Rice, SMU, UTEP and Tulsa withdrew. the conference’s inception with the exception of a two-year VOLLEYBALL stay in Phoenix from 1964-66. 3 WAC DIGITAL NETWORK The WAC Digital Network (WDN) is the official network of softball, volleyball, the men’s and women’s swimming & the Western Athletic Conference. It encompasses original diving championships, plus select regular season men’s live programming from around the conference. The WDN basketball games air on ESPN+. The deal also includes the is available on both your desktop and mobile/tablet devices, WAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship games as well as for over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including produced by ESPN and airing on their family of networks. Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV. In addition to the more than 600 games and matches aired The WDN also produces several video features each annually on the WDN, all game broadcasts are available week, including “WAC Top Play”, “Road to WAC Vegas”, ‘On Demand’. “WAC All Access Live” “WAC Podcast” and “WAC in the Day” as well as a “Learn-Compete-Inspire” series telling In addition, the WDN produces more than 60 events the stories of WAC student-athletes, coaches exclusively for ESPN. WAC tournaments in men’s & and administrators. women’s basketball, baseball, men’s & women’s soccer, More than 600 games and matches are aired annually on the WDN; all game broadcasts are available ‘On Demand’. 4 5 OUR FUTURE BEGINS TODAY The WAC always sets the bar high through excellence on and off the field. Our conference has continually worked to inspire the student-athletes of today to become the leaders of tomorrow. With the additions of Abilene Christian University, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University and Southern Utah University and the strong group of institutions already making up the conference, the WAC is positioned to become one of the top conferences in the nation. After 50 years with some of the top college football in the nation, the WAC is excited to bring back the sport following a 10-year hiatus. With seven Pro Football Hall of Famers and 43 first-round picks who have worn the WAC patch, the league expects to see football numbers climb once again with some of the top FCS programs in the country joining the conference. The WAC has a strong reputation and history of raising the bar for our student-athletes. Looking toward our future, we expect continued greatness from ourselves, our partners, universities, and our rising student-athletes. 6 5 WEST SOUTHWEST 1 CALIFORNIA BAPTIST 1 ABILENE CHRISTIAN 7 2 DIXIE STATE 2 LAMAR 6 3 GRAND CANYON 2 3 SAM HOUSTON 4 NM STATE 4 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 5 SEATTLE U 1 5 TARLETON 6 SOUTHERN UTAH 3 6 UT RIO GRANDE VALLEY 4 7 UTAH VALLEY 1 5 4 3 2 6 7 2022-23 WAC MEMBERS ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY LOCATION: ABILENE, TEXAS MASCOT: WILDCATS LOCATION: RIVERSIDE, CALIF. MASCOT: LANCERS FOUNDED: 1906 ENROLLMENT: 5,293 FOUNDED: 1950 ENROLLMENT: 11,045 JOINING WAC: 2022 JOINED WAC: 2018 ACADEMICS ACADEMICS Abilene Christian University enrolls more than 5,200 students each year from 46 nations. Founded in 1906, it is one Founded in 1950 by the California Southern Baptist Convention, California Baptist University (CBU) is one of the top of the largest private universities in the Southwest and the highest-ranking school in Texas in a 2020 U.S. News & private Christian colleges and universities in Southern California, being named the U.S. News & World Report Best World Report benchmark focused on student success. It is widely known as one of the most innovative universities in Regional University in 2017. CBU offers degrees at the associate, bachelor›s, master›s and doctoral levels, including the nation. ACU attracts many top students through its Honors College, its internationally recognized engineering and more than 80 majors with more than 150 major concentrations and more than 50 minors for more than 11,000 students. physics department, and the Body and Soul program for future health professionals. Business, journalism, theology, CBU believes each person has been created for a purpose and strives to help students understand and engage this purpose teacher education, speech/language pathology, nursing, engineering and interior design programs are nationally and by providing a Christ-centered educational experience that integrates academics with spiritual and social development internationally accredited.