Big West Conference
(Redirected from Pacific Coast Athletic Association)
The Big West Conference was formed as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association on July 1, 1969. Cal State LA, Fresno State, Long Beach State and San Diego State University were joined by San Jose State University, UC Santa Barbara and University of the Pacific in the original line-up. In 1974, Cal State Fullerton moved into the conference. By 1977, UC Irvine joined the conference and UCSB was back in while Utah State University became the first non-California member of the circuit, transforming the PCAA into a regional conference. UNLV (1981) and New Mexico State University (1984) soon followed suit, bringing the league's membership to 10 universities. The PCAA began its 20th year of existence in 1988 by changing its name to the Big West Conference.
From 1977 to 1984 the conference's teams played in two different conferences for their baseball season. Half the teams played in the Northern California Baseball Association, while the others were in the Southern California Baseball Association.
Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara, and Pacific are the conference's longest tenured members, and are three of the original charter institutions. Long Beach State is the only school that has held membership every year in the conference since its inaugural season in 1969. Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine have both been Big West members for over three decades, with Cal Poly entering its ninth year of affiliation. Cal State Northridge and UC Riverside are the Big West's most recent members, as the two schools joined the conference in 2001-02. The Big West is also set to add a ninth conference member with UC Davis coming aboard in the 2007-08 season. In 2013, the University of Hawaii would join the Big West, followed by both; Cal State Bakersfield and UC San Diego for the 2021 season. University of Hawaii & UC Davis is planning to join the Mountain West Conference after the 2026 baseball season.
2024 Conference Members & First Year of Baseball[edit]
- Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners - 2021
- Cal State Fullerton Titans - 1975
- Long Beach State Dirtbags - 1970
- Cal State Northridge Matadors - 2002
- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs - 1997
- UC Davis Aggies - 2008
- UC Irvine Anteaters - 1978
- UC Riverside Highlanders - 2002
- UC San Diego Tritons - 2021
- UC Santa Barbara Gauchos - 1970-1972 & 1977-
- Hawaii Rainbows - 2013
Former Memebers[edit]
- San Jose State Spartans - 1970-1996
- Fresno State Bulldogs - 1970-1991
- San Diego State Aztecs - 1970-1976
- Cal State LA Golden Eagles - 1970-1974
- UNLV Runnin' Rebels - 1983-1996
- New Mexico St. Aggies - 1992-2003
- Nevada Wolfpack - 1993-2000
- Sacramento St. Hornets - 1997-2002
- Pacific Tigers - 1972-2013
Utah State University, University of North Texas, University of Idaho and Boise State University have all been members in the past but did not support baseball.
Conference Baseball Champions[edit]
- For 1977-1984 see Northern California Baseball Association & Southern California Baseball Association.
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