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Big West School History
The Big West Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that has been around since 1969, consisting of nine full-time members and two affiliate members. It is one of the most successful conferences in college sports history, producing some of the greatest teams and athletes ever to grace an arena or field. From legendary UCLA basketball teams to powerhouse USC football squads, Big West schools have earned their place among the greats in college athletics.
For sports fans who love history as much as they do competition, there’s no better way to explore this storied conference than through its school histories. Each member institution has its unique story about how it became part of this prestigious group and what kind of success each school achieved during its time within the Big West Conference.
Take, for example, UC Irvine: The Anteaters joined up with the rest of California's universities when they were invited into Division I play back in 1977—just eight years after being founded! They've since gone on to become one of only seven programs nationwide with multiple NCAA tournament appearances (four total), including a Sweet 16 appearance back in 2015–16 season under head coach Russell Turner's leadership —and even more recently earning another trip down south when they captured their first-ever regular-season title last year! Or take Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: The Mustangs are known for their strong academic reputation but also boast an impressive track record on the court; just last year alone saw them earn three All-Big West selections while making it all way up at #2 nationally for team assists per game average—an incredible feat considering how competitive both men’s & women’s basketball can be these days! And let us not forget UC Santa Barbara: Gauchos Basketball had perhaps one if not THE best run of any program from 2011–12 through 2018–19 seasons, where UCSB made four consecutive trips deep into March Madness before finally falling short against eventual national champions Virginia Cavaliers during 2019 Elite 8 game…a genuinely remarkable accomplishment indeed!
With so many amazing stories like these coming out from all corners across California & Hawaii over the past 50+ years, now you know why we say “Once A Member, Always A Member" here at BigWestSports™ – because we understand that our rich heritage isn't just something you can buy off store shelves but rather something worth cherishing forever 💛
