2019-20 Annual Report 1 2019-20 ANNUAL REPORT what's inside Student-Athlete Experience « Baseball «APR « Softball « GSR « Beach Volleyball « Student-Athlete Engagement « Student-Athlete Advisory National Exposure Committee « Landmark media rights « Student-Athlete Governance agreements Engagement « Broadcasts « Community Service « Social Media « Mental Health « WCC All-Access Competitiveness Esports « 2019-20 Highlights « 2020 WCC Award Winners Financial Highlights « Cross Country « Volleyball Branding « Men’s Soccer « Women’s Soccer Tournament Enhancements « Men’s Basketball « Women’s Basketball Leadership « Men’s Golf The 2019-20 West Coast Conference Annual Report has « Women’s Golf been prepared by the Conference Office (951 Mariners « Men’s Tennis Island Blvd. 3rd Floor, San Mateo, CA 94404). « Women’s Tennis Editor: Moira Sweeney Editorial Staff: Doug Drabik, Ryan McCrary « Rowing Photos: Kyle Terada 1 from the commssioner GLORIA NEVAREZ The 2019-20 We remain committed to providing opportunities The BYU women’s soccer team, which enjoyed a academic for our membership to compete and continue to No. 1 national ranking during the year, reached year in the work with the NCAA on plans to return to compe- the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament and West Coast tition at the appropriate time. In order to weather finished 21-1-1 overall. The Gonzaga men’s basket- Conference the storm, we let our 10-year office lease expire ball team and Pepperdine men’s golf team also We Create Champions was full of and conduct business virtually. I can assure you captured the top spot in their respective national celebration that I share your pain and the Conference office polls. and heart- is working to get us all back to celebrating the VISION break. We tremendous achievements of our programs as Gonzaga’s success highlighted a historic year for The West Coast Con- celebrated soon as we can compete in a safe manner. men’s basketball in the WCC, which established a NCAA records for the most non-conference wins and ference competes for crown in These past several months have had a great best winning percentage for the second straight national titles across men’s cross impact on our lives and our livelihoods. The year. The Conference was poised to send three sports, strengthens all country, senseless acts during this time have opened our teams to the NCAA Tournament, with Gonzaga sports through success a NCAA eyes to the racial injustice that has been a part set to earn another No. 1 seed, and BYU and Saint in men’s basketball, runner-up of our world for decades. At the WCC, We Create Mary’s all projected in the top half of the bracket. finish Champions for Change and are committed to and is recognized in women’s cross country, in basketball were combating racism and social injustice. I was The WCC would be a multi-bid conference in nationally for holis- looking forward to three men’s teams in the top very humbled by the opportunity to work with women’s basketball as well, sending Gonzaga tically developing half of the NCAA tournament bracket and on the WCC and NBA legend Bill Russell and our WCC and Portland to the NCAA Tournament. The student-athletes into women’s side saw our pre-season tenth ranked Presidents’ Council to introduce the Russell Rule Pilots, after being projected to finish 10th in the champions in sport team win the WCC tournament. We cheered on diversity hiring commitment that will provide op- preseason standings, completed a historic run top-ranked individuals and teams in women’s portunities for underrepresented communities in to the WCC Tournament crown under first-year and as leaders in life. tennis and men’s golf. However, the excite- hiring processes around the WCC. The first con- head coach Michael Meek. ment of a banner year for WCC programs was ference-wide diversity hiring commitment was snatched from our grasp abruptly in the middle among several initiatives, including a continuing There was so much momentum and excitement of March, as the NCAA canceled the men’s and educational webinar series for coaches, adminis- in March with our winter sports heading to the MISSION women’s basketball championships and all spring trators and student-athletes, a civic engagement postseason and our spring sports beginning con- To enhance the holistic championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. pledge and expansion of our equity, diversity ference play. It was devastating to see it all end This forced us to cancel the remainder of the and inclusion committees. The focus on equality so quickly and those opportunities eliminated. development of stu- spring seasons in our eight sports. and inclusion will not end. We must continue to dent-athletes through unite with an unwavering commitment to provide The past year was unlike any other in our rich the fostering of an It was a very difficult decision for all of us and meaningful change for a better world. We Create history and we continue to face challenges with environment of ath- I empathize with our student-athletes who had Champions and we must continue to create op- the virus. The Conference and membership are letics and academic their seasons taken away from them in the mid- portunities for everyone connected to this great working tirelessly and remain committed to pro- dle of competition. It was the responsible deci- conference. viding a safe environment for us all to return to excellence consistent sion to ensure the health and safety of everyone the competition and the celebrations as quickly with that of a premier, connected with the Conference. WCC programs While a lot has transpired since competition in as we possibly can. nationally prominent compete for national titles and we never want to 2019-20 came to an abrupt conclusion in the NCAA Division I ath- take these opportunities away. However, health middle of March, it is important to reflect on the I continue to learn and grow as the conference letics conference; and and safety will always be paramount in guiding tremendous achievements of our programs over Commissioner. I am thankful to have the oppor- our decisions. the past year. tunity to work with the great leadership at our to create inclusive and member institutions as we navigate the best path equitable opportunities The summer months were not any easier as we Championship excellence was personified in to move forward to return to competition and representative of the all adjusted to a quarantined lifestyle. With the November, as the BYU men’s cross country team compete for national championships once again. respective faith-based COVID-19 pandemic remaining a serious threat captured the 2019 NCAA title in Terre Haute, missions and values of to conducting athletic competition in a safe Indiana. The BYU women’s team was the NCAA Together, We Create Champions. manner, the WCC Presidents’ Council along with runner up and the Portland men’s team placed Regards, the West Coast Confer- consultation from our 10 athletic directors and 10th, capping a historic year for the Conference ence institutions. myself, made the decision to postpone the fall in cross country. sports seasons. Gloria Nevarez 2 STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE APR The data reflects a four year average from 2015-16 to 2018-19: WCC men’s basketball teams in- West Coast Conference student-athletes continued to have great achieve- « creased its average by six points over ments on their campuses by participating in initiatives reflective of the values of the past four years (June 2020: 970, the WCC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Strategic Plan including: June 2019: 970, June 2018: 969, June 2017: 966, June 2016: 964) « #WCCREPRESENT: which supports the community service opportunities and promotion of positive sportsmanship « Both WCC Men’s and Women’s bas- ketball have a higher APR average than « Student-athlete wellbeing: supports personal growth (mind, body, and spirit) the national average. and leadership development of student-athletes. from the NCAA « Eighty-six WCC teams have an APR Between 2002 and 2019 Cohorts there APR public recognition that exceeds the relevant sport NCAA have been major increases in the GSRs average (June 2019: 83 teams, June for Black and Hispanic/Latino groups. Each year, the NCAA honors teams earning multi-year Academic Progress Rates 2018: 82 teams) Black males have seen their gradua- in the top 10-percent of all squads in each sport. The 43 recognized teams is the tion rates increase by 25 percentage most in WCC history and marks the third consecutive year the Conference has « Thirty-five WCC teams from 10 institu- points (now 76%) and Black females established a new standard. Last season 38 programs were honored, besting the tions have perfect APR scores (1000). have increased by 16 percentage previous record of 31 The WCC had 43 teams recognized: WCC equaled or outperformed the na- points to 87%. Overall, Hispanic/Lati- tional average in 9 or 15 sports (60%). nos have seen their GSR increase by Beach Volleyball (5) Pepperdine Women’s Tennis (3) Pacific Saint Mary’s Gonzaga 23 percentage points over this period Pepperdine San Diego Pacific GSR and currently stand at 87% Portland Santa Clara Santa Clara San Francisco Based on freshman cohorts from 2015-16 Santa Clara Men’s Golf (2) Men’s Track & Field (2) Gonzaga Gonzaga « WCC GSR average is 91, the national Men’s Basketball (2) LMU Santa Clara average is 88. Gonzaga Saint Mary’s Women’s Golf (2) Women’s Track & Field (2) San Francisco Gonzaga « WCC equaled or outperformed the Women’s Basketball (3) Santa Clara Santa Clara NCAA DI average for 9 out of 10 institu- Gonzaga tions.