THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE History and Information In 2018-19, the Big Sky Conference will compete in its 56th basketball season. The conference begins its fourth year with a neutral-site post-season tournament in Boise, ID. That is a move from the past three years, when the tournament took place in Reno, NV. All 11 schools will take part in a four-round tournament, Mar. 7-11, at the Reno Events Center. The 11-team conference plays a double round rob- in schedule of 20 games during the regular season. This is also a change from the previous four seasons when an uneven schedule was used. The Big Sky is an NCAA Division I member in all sports, with member institutions classified in the Foot- ball Championship Subdivision (FCS). The complete Big Sky Conference lineup includes Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah and Weber State, with UC Davis and Cal Poly as football-only Century Link Arena: schools. New home of The league has become one of the strongest and the Big Sky Conference largest Division I conferences in the West and is a na- Championship Tournament tional leader in the Football Championship Subdivision. In fact, nearly every FCS-level school in the west is now a member of the Big Sky Conference. Six times, Big Sky THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE Big Sky Conference teams have won the Division I National Championship, Mailing and Street Address: Membership including Eastern Washington in 2010. A Big Sky team 2491 Washington, Suite 201 UC Davis (football only) has played for the national championship in three of the Ogden, UT 84401 Cal Poly (football only) Eastern Washington past five seasons. Phone: (801) 392-1978 Idaho The Big Sky Conference was established in 1963 Fax: (801) 392-5568 Idaho State by six charter members – Idaho, Idaho State, Gonzaga, www.bigskyconf.com Montana Montana, Montana State and Weber State. Those six Founded: 1963 Montana State schools formed the foundation of the Big Sky before Affiliation: NCAA I Northern Arizona the league expanded in 1970 by adding Boise State and Northern Colorado Northern Arizona. Gonzaga left the Sky in 1979 and Sports Sponsored Portland State was replaced by Nevada, which gave the league eight MEN: Cross Country, Football*, Basketball*, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track Sacramento State members. The conference grew to nine schools in 1987 and Field, Tennis*, Golf* Southern Utah with the addition of Eastern Washington. WOMEN: Cross Country, Volleyball*, Basketball*, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Weber State The 1990s saw change in the makeup of the Track and Field, Golf*, Tennis*, Soccer*, Softball* league, beginning in 1992 when Nevada departed and put the Big Sky back at eight teams. In 1996 Boise State * Conference champion receives automatic bid to NCAA Tournament and Idaho left and at the same time the conference Interim Commissioner: Ron Loghry added Portland State, Sacramento State and Cal State Associate Commissioner/Compliance and Governance/SWA: Jaynee Nadolski Northridge. The Big Sky maintained nine teams for five Associate Commissioner/Championships: Jon Kasper years before Cal State Northridge departed in the spring Assistant Commissioner/Communications and External Affairs: Denise Thompson of 2001. Director of Communications: Blake Barrington The Big Sky now includes nine states spanning Assistant Director of Communications: Lea Williams from the Pacific Ocean to the Red River Valley of North Director of Compliance: Ty Singletary Dakota. The league is represented along the entire Director of Championships: Alex Kelly west coast with institutions in Washington, Oregon and Business Manager: Stacy Freeman California. League schools also range up and down the Administrative Assistant: Desiree McPhail Rocky Mountains with institutions in Montana, Idaho, Big Sky Sports Properties Manager: Brett McPhail Utah, Arizona and Colorado. On Feb 25, 1963, the name Big Sky was adopted Sky Conference in his column dated Feb. 20, 1963. men and women. by the six presidents of the charter members as the The Big Sky sponsors championships in 15 sports, Andrea Williams, who had been commissioner that name of the new conference. The name Big Sky origi- including men’s and women’s cross country, indoor past two years, left the conference in July to become nated in a novel written by the late A.B. (Bud) Guthrie and outdoor track and field, basketball and tennis. In chief operation officer of the College Football Playoff. A of Great Falls, Mont., in 1947 entitled “The Big Sky.” addition, there are also championships in football, and search for her successor is currently underway. Currently, Jack Hollowell, a former Montana advertising director, women’s volleyball, golf and soccer. This upcoming Ron Loghry serves as the interim Commissioner. promoted the Big Sky theme for the Treasure State. spring, the Big Sky will sponsor a softball championship Williams replaced the retiring Doug Fullerton, who While on a track and field trip from Pocatello, Idaho, to for the first time. spent 20 years in the role. Fullerton had replaced former Missoula, Mont., legendary Dubby Holt of Idaho State In 1988-89, the Big Sky Conference first began commissioner Ron Stephenson in 1995. Stephenson saw a “Welcome to Big Sky Country” sign as his team sponsoring women’s sports. The former Mountain West served the league for 14 years. Steve Belko was the entered Montana. Holt, and his athletes thought “Big Conference existed from 1982-88, sponsoring champi- commissioner from 1977-81, while John Roning held the Sky” would be a perfect name for the new conference. onships for women’s sports at the same institutions the post from 1971-77. The first league commissioner was Harry Missildine of the Spokane Spokesman-Review Big Sky had men’s programs. The Big Sky merged with Jack Friel, who served from 1963-71. called for the newly formed league to be named the Big the Mountain West in 1988, forming one league for both 2018-19 Viking Basketball • 34 EASTERN WASHINGTON IDAHO EAGLES VANDALS Thursday, January 24, 7:05 p.m. • Viking Pavilion, Portland, OR Saturday, January 26, 7:05 p.m. • Viking Pavilion, Portland, OR Saturday, March 2, 2:05 p.m. • Reese Court, Cheney, WA Thursday, February 28, 7 p.m. • Cowan Spectrum, Moscow, ID School Information ALL-TIME SERIES School Information ALL-TIME SERIES Location: Cheney, WA PSU leads the series 26-24 Location: Moscow, ID Idaho leads the all-time series 16-13 Founded: 1882 • PSU leads 16-7 in Portland Founded: 1889 • PSU leads 9-5 in Portland Enrollment: 12,635 • EWU leads 16-9 in Cheney Enrollment: 12,072 • UI leads 11-4 in Moscow Conference: Big Sky • The series is tied 1-1 at neutral sites Conference: Big Sky Nickname: Eagles The Big Sky series is tied 23-23 Nickname: Vandals Idaho leads the Big Sky series 5-2 • PSU leads 14-7 in Portland • UI leads 2-1 in Portland Colors: Red and White • EWU leads 15-8 in Cheney Colors: Silver and Vandal Gold • UI leads 3-1 in Moscow President: Dr. Mary Cullinan • The series is tied 1-1 at neutral sites President: Dr. Chuck Staben Athletics Director: Lynn Hickey • EWU leads 2-1 in Big Sky Athletics Director: Pete Isakson Streak: Idaho has won seven of the last Arena: Reese Court (5,000) Tournament games Arena: Cowan Spectrum (5,000) nine games Most Points, PSU: 110, 1974-75 Sports Information Streak: EWU has won three of four and Sports Information Most Points, UI: 107, 1965-66 Basketball SID: Dave Cook three straight at home Most Points, PSU: 124, 2016-17 (3ot) Basketball SID: Joe St. Pierre Largest Margin of Victory Office: 509.359.6334 Most Points, EWU: 130, 2016-17 (3ot) Office: 603.475.8548 PSU: 33, 81-48, 2005-06 @ PSU Press Row: 509.359.6331 Overtime games: Tied 2-2 Press Row: UI: 31, 98-67, 1965-66 @ UI E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: goeags.com Largest Margin of Victory Website: govandals.com All-Time Series PSU: 23, 98-75, 2009-10 @ PSU 1965-66 UI 107-83 @ PSU EWU: 30, 91-61, 1999-2000 @ EWU 1965-66 UI 98-67 @ UI Coaching Staff Coaching Staff 1968-69 UI 68-55 @ UI Head Coach: Shantay Legans Big Sky Games Head Coach: Don Verlin 1969-70 UI 98-86 @ PSU Alma Mater: Fresno State, 2004 1996-97 PSU 71-67 @ PSU (RG) Alma Mater: Colorado State, 1993 1970-71 UI 85-81 @ UI EWU Record: 20-15/2nd year 1996-97 PSU 73-58 @ EWU UI Record: 172-149/11th year 1971-72 PSU 90-67 @ PSU 1997-98 PSU 72-59 @ PSU 1972-73 UI 99-72 @ UI Overall Record: 20-15/2nd year Overall Record: 172-149/11th year 1997-98 EWU 93-86 @ EWU 1973-74 PSU 75-70 @ PSU Record vs. PSU: 2-1 Record vs. PSU: 7-2 Associate Head Coach: Nick Booker 1998-99 PSU 76-69 @ PSU (MC) 1974-75 PSU 80-75 @ UI 1998-99 EWU 96-87 EWU Assistant Coaches: Tim Murphy, 1974-75 PSU 110-84 @ PSU Assistant Coaches: David Riley, 1998-99 PSU 80-74 (neutral site)# Kirk Earlywine, Zac Claus 1975-76 PSU 100-77@ PSU Bobby Suarez 1999-00 EWU 91-61 @ EWU 1976-77 UI 93-81 @ UI 1999-00 EWU 70-66 @ PSU (MC) Program Information 1977-78 PSU 66-61 @ UI 2000-01 EWU 81-72 @ EWU 1977-78 PSU 51-39 @ PSU Program Information Big Sky Season Championships: 4 Big Sky Season Championships: 2 2000-01 PSU 73-62 @ PSU 1978-79 PSU 82-73 @ PSU 2001-02 EWU 88-79 @ PSU Big Sky Tourney Championships: 4 1978-79 UI 97-79 @ UI Big Sky Tourney Championships: 2 2001-02 EWU 78-62 @ EWU NCAA Tournament Appearances: 5 2005-06 PSU 61-59 @ UI NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2 2002-03 EWU 75-51 @ EWU 2017-18 Record: 22-9 2005-06 PSU 81-48 @ PSU 2017-18 Record: 20-15 2002-03 EWU 72-58 @ PSU BSC Record/Finish: 14-4/2nd