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Pac-12 Conference and Gonzaga University unite to build a basketball powerhouse, advancing the new era of the conference’s 100-year legacy

Pac-12 Conference and Gonzaga University unite to build a basketball powerhouse, advancing the new era of the conference’s 100-year legacy

Vaseline 6 days ago

By means of: Pac-12 Conference



Gonzaga University partners with Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, San Diego State University, Oregon State University, Washington State University and Utah State University to enhance the conference’s best-in-class expansion strategy


SAN RAMON, CA (October 1, 2024) – The Pac-12 Conference and Gonzaga University are proud to announce their partnership, celebrating the addition of the eighth university during this transformative era for the century-old conference. This partnership marks an exciting chapter in the conference’s history of expansion as it strategically builds a formidable basketball powerhouse.

This announcement follows the participation of Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, San Diego State University and Utah State University, who jointly strengthen the conference’s geographic base while expanding its national presence and enhancing basketball and enhance football prestige.

The Pac-12 Conference received a formal application for membership from Gonzaga University on September 30, 2024. The conference Board of Directors and the five new presidents voted unanimously to endorse Gonzaga University, an exemplary institution of higher education that trains students for a life of leadership. and services for the public interest. With an iconic basketball program, the Gonzaga Bulldogs align with the Pac-12’s commitment to excellence in academics and athletics. The Bulldogs will join the conference beginning July 1, 2026, with competition beginning for all university-sponsored conference sports in the 2026-2027 academic year.


“We are excited to welcome Gonzaga to the Pac-12 as they embark on this incredible journey with us,” Commissioner Teresa Gould noted. “President McCulloh and Athletics Director Chris Standiford not only bring strategic expertise and forward-thinking ideas to the conference, but they are two incredible leaders who care deeply about student success and strengthening the academic and athletic experiences of students and athletes. Today marks an exciting milestone for the Pac-12 as we welcome another outstanding institution with a rich history of success to our league.

 



Integrating Gonzaga University into the Pac-12 positions the conference to compete at the highest levels of women’s and men’s basketball. Over the past five seasons, Gonzaga has a combined record of 286-44 (86.7 winning percentage) in women’s and men’s basketball. Their women’s program has amassed a 138-23 record (85.7 winning percentage) since the start of the 2019-20 season, and the men’s program is a national-best 148-21 (87.6 winning percentage).

The Gonzaga men are the only program in the country to appear in each of the last nine Sweet Sixteens, matching the longest streak since the NCAA Tournament expanded in 1985, as well as five Elite Eight appearances in the last nine NCAA -tournaments. Legendary head coach Mark Few currently has the best winning percentage among active head coaches at 83.4 percent, which is also the best in NCAA Div. Me all-time with at least 10 seasons. This commitment to excellence extends to the entire Gonzaga community, as the program has played every game at the McCarthey Athletic Center since its opening in 2004 (297 straight games) and every home game dating back to the 2001-02 season (319 straight games). row) has sold out. .

The women’s program, led by Head Coach Lisa Fortier, is coming off a school-record 32-4 historic season that ended in the program’s fifth Sweet 16 appearance. It was the 15th of the programe appearance in the NCAA Tournament, including their seventh consecutive appearance. Fortier was named Kathy Delaney-Smith Coach of the Year after the season. The GU women have won a program record 36 straight games at home, which is the second-longest active streak in the country.

“After discussions with Pac-12 presidents, I believe membership will be an opportunity to participate in building a conference that creates new, progressive ways to support student-athletes in a rapidly changing collegiate sports landscape,” said Thayne , president of Gonzaga University. McCulloh. “Partnerships with a new group of universities can also help our student recruitment and enrollment efforts, create opportunities for academic collaboration with new faculty colleagues, and attract more students who value an excellent education that is clearly rooted in our Jesuit identity and tradition. I am especially excited about the opportunities that working with this group of institutions can provide our students, faculty and staff for multi-institutional collaboration.”

Gonzaga University continues to excel in academics and athletics. The university boasts 78 West Coast Conference (WCC) titles, 138 All-Americans, six 30-win seasons over the past eight years in baseball and nine consecutive WCC women’s rowing titles. They took home the 2023 WCC women’s soccer title and their men’s cross country team has made four straight national championship appearances.


“This is a great day for Gonzaga University,” said Chris Standiford, director of Gonzaga Athletics. “We are excited to join a conference with great tradition and a commitment to innovation during this evolving time in collegiate athletics. I want to thank Commissioner Teresa Gould for her leadership as these conversations progressed in earnest over the weekend, our alignment became clear and our vision was shared.”


Gonzaga University also consistently achieves academic success. The Bulldogs have 33 College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans, a 96 percent graduation rate and an Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993. Their student-athlete combined record 3.51 grade point average for the Spring 2024 semester marked the 17th consecutive semester with a departmental GPA above a 3.30 and a ninth above a 3.45. During the spring semester, Gonzaga had 108 student-athletes earn President’s List Honors (3.85 semester GPA or higher), which ranks second all-time in department history, and 100 earned Dean’s List Honors (3.5- 3.84 semester GPA), for a total of 208 honors. Additionally, 55 Bulldog student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, matching the department record. The Bulldogs’ student-athletes demonstrated their dedication as service-oriented leaders, completing more than 3,000 hours of service in the community in 2023-2024.

The addition of Gonzaga to the Pac-12 provides a tremendous boost to the league’s reputation for men’s basketball and is complemented by recent success from prospective and current members. Of the future eight members, seven have appeared in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament the past four seasons, with a total of 18 appearances in that time (since the 2021 tournament), including San Diego State’s run to the National Championship in 2023 and Gonzaga’s run to the title game in 2021. Additionally, four of the future eight members have made the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, three of the eight in each of the past three seasons and both Gonzaga and San Diego State each of the past four seasons , while the Bulldogs have competed in each of the last 25 tournaments since 1999.


The Pac-12 Conference has a proud tradition of excellence in both academics and athletics. This tradition continues with the addition of Gonzaga University, along with other new members Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, San Diego State University and Utah State University.


Oregon State University and Washington State University currently operate as members of the Pac-12 Conference as part of a two-year NCAA grace period and will continue to do so for the 2025-2026 academic season before the six new members officially join. The combined eight universities will jointly identify additional membership and other future conference considerations.