Only a few months ago, GCU had its sights on joining the West Coast Conference to compete against schools like Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s in 2025. But with conference realignment always in the news nowadays, the Lopes are heading in a new direction.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!On Friday, Grand Canyon University announced it has accepted an invite to join the newly reshaped Mountain West Conference and, as a result, will not be joining the West Coast Conference. GCU originally agreed to join the WCC on May 10.
GCU is set to become a member of the Mountain West “no later than July 1, 2026, but possibly as early as the second quarter of 2025 if permitted under the conference’s bylaws,” according to a press release.
“We are incredibly appreciative of the Mountain West Conference’s interest in GCU and their recognition of the value we bring to its membership,” GCU President Brian Mueller said in a press release. “Lope Nation has grown first and foremost because of the innovative strategies and creative delivery models that enable us to provide cutting-edge academic programs both on our campus and across the country. That has created a tremendous amount of momentum that benefits our athletic programs.”
This is a drastic change for a university that only turned Division I a few years ago.
Seeing San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Boise State and Utah State all flipping to the Pac-12, the Mountain West had to get creative in trying to find schools to potentially poach from other conferences.
Air Force, New Mexico, Nevada, San José State, UNLV and Wyoming were the only universities that have decided to stay amidst interest from other conferences like the Pac-12. Hawaii has become a full member of the Mountain West after being a football-only school in the conference and competing in the Big West in other sports.
Before GCU joined Friday to make it nine schools in the Mountain West, UTEP was the latest addition to the conference and is still pursuing other schools.
The Lopes do not have a football program, but 17 of its 21 sports will be making the move to the Mountain West. Men’s volleyball will stay in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, men’s swimming and diving will be in the Big West and the school is in the process of searching for new conferences for both beach volleyball and men’s soccer.
With Gonzaga leaving the West Coast Conference for the Pac-12, the possibility of GCU changing its mind and joining another conference was on the cards and now its a reality.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
