Golden Coast Conference

Seven universities from the state of California have come to agreement to form a new collegiate women's water polo conference that will begin competition in the spring of 2014. The new league, which will be called the Golden Coast Conference, will feature Azusa Pacific University, California Baptist University, Fresno Pacific University, Loyola Marymount University, San Diego State University, Santa Clara University and University of the Pacific.

The Golden Coast Conference will begin competition next season and will feature a conference schedule in which each team will play each other once. The final conference standings will then decide seedings for an annual conference championship, which will be held in late April.

The new league will apply for an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship this summer. In addition, the membership is currently searching for a commissioner and drafting league bylaws.

San Diego State and the University of the Pacific are moving from the Big West Conference while LMU and Santa Clara are moving from the Western Water Polo Association. California Baptist just completed its transition to the NCAA and are eligible for championship competition this upcoming 2013-14 season, while Azusa Pacific and Fresno Pacific are making the transition to the NCAA and will be eligible the following season.[1][2][3]

In the 2014 season, San Diego State University won each of the Conference match ups, while Loyola Marymount University claimed the 2014 Conference championship title after beating San Diego State 8-7 in overtime.

In the 2015 season, San Diego State once again won the regular season title, but lost to Loyola Marymount University in the 2015 Conference tournament championship title, defeating the Aztecs 9-5.

A men's division will begin play in Fall 2016 with teams formerly from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Fresno State women's team joins for the Spring 2018 season.[4]

Members

Men

Institution Location Nickname Joined Primary
Conference		 Division
California State University, Long Beach Long Beach, California 49ers 2016 Big West NCAA D-I
University of California, Irvine Irvine, California Anteaters 2016 Big West NCAA D-I
University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California Gauchos 2016 Big West NCAA D-I
University of the Pacific Stockton, California Tigers 2016 West Coast NCAA D-I
Pepperdine University Malibu, California Waves 2016 West Coast NCAA D-I
San Jose State University San Jose, California Spartans 2016 Mountain West NCAA D-I

Women

Institution Location Nickname Joined Primary
Conference		 Division
Azusa Pacific University Azusa, California Cougars 2014 Pacific West NCAA D-II
California Baptist University Riverside, California Lancers 2014 Pacific West NCAA D-II
Concordia University–Irvine Irvine, California Eagles 2015 Pacific West NCAA D-II
Fresno Pacific University Fresno, California Sunbirds 2014 Pacific West NCAA D-II
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California Lions 2014 West Coast NCAA D-I
University of the Pacific Stockton, California Tigers 2014 West Coast NCAA D-I
San Diego State University San Diego, California Aztecs 2014 Mountain West NCAA D-I
Santa Clara University Santa Clara, California Broncos 2014 West Coast NCAA D-I
Future Members
California State University, Fresno Fresno, California Bulldogs 2017 Mountain West NCAA D-I

References

  1. ↑ "Seven California Universities to Form Water Polo Conference" (Press release). Santa Clara University Athletics. June 3, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  2. ↑ "SDSU Water Polo to Move into Golden Coast Conference" (Press release). San Diego State Athletics. June 3, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Water Polo Finds Conference Home" (Press release). Azusa Pacific Athletics. June 3, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  4. ↑ "GCC Launches Men's Division To Begin Play in 2016". Golden Coast Conference. Retrieved January 21, 2016.

External Links

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