Big West School History

Big West Conference
Cal Poly Mustangs Primary Logo 2021 - Present

Cal Poly Mustangs

Established: 1907
NCAA Championships: 0

See School History
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners Primary Logo 2019 - Present

Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners

Established: 1969
NCAA Championships: 0

See School History
Cal State Fullerton Titans Primary Logo 2020 - Present

Cal State Fullerton Titans

Established: 1969
NCAA Championships: 4

See School History
Cal State Northridge Matadors Primary Logo 2014 - Present

Cal State Northridge Matadors

Established: 1955
NCAA Championships: 0

See School History
Hawaii Warriors Primary Logo 2000 - Present

Hawaii Warriors

Established: 1952
NCAA Championships: 0

See School History
Long Beach State 49ers Primary Logo 2014 - Present

Long Beach State 49ers

Established: 1969
NCAA Championships: 0

See School History
UC Davis Aggies Primary Logo 2019 - Present

UC Davis Aggies

Established: 1908
NCAA Championships: 0

See School History
UC Irvine Anteaters Primary Logo 2014 - Present

UC Irvine Anteaters

Established: 1965
NCAA Championships: 0

See School History
UC Riverside Highlanders Primary Logo 2020 - Present

UC Riverside Highlanders

Established: 1949
NCAA Championships: 0

See School History
UC San Diego Tritons Primary Logo 2018 - Present

UC San Diego Tritons

Established: 1960
NCAA Championships: 0

See School History
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Primary Logo 2010 - Present

UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

Established: 1891
NCAA Championships: 1

See School History

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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 💛

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