Golden Coast Conference

Seven universities from the state of California have come to agreement to form a new collegiate women's water polo conference that will begin competition in the spring of 2014. The new league, which will be called the Golden Coast Conference, will feature Azusa Pacific University, California Baptist University, Fresno Pacific University, Loyola Marymount University, San Diego State University, Santa Clara University and University of the Pacific.

The Golden Coast Conference will begin competition next season and will feature a conference schedule in which each team will play each other once. The final conference standings will then decide seedings for an annual conference championship, which will be held in late April.

The new league will apply for an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship this summer. In addition, the membership is currently searching for a commissioner and drafting league bylaws.

San Diego State and the University of the Pacific are moving from the Big West Conference while LMU and Santa Clara are moving from the Western Water Polo Association. California Baptist just completed its transition to the NCAA and are eligible for championship competition this upcoming 2013-14 season, while Azusa Pacific and Fresno Pacific are making the transition to the NCAA and will be eligible the following season.^[1][2][3]

In the 2014 season, San Diego State University won each of the Conference match ups, while Loyola Marymount University claimed the 2014 Conference championship title after beating San Diego State 8-7 in overtime.

In the 2015 season, San Diego State once again won the regular season title, but lost to Loyola Marymount University in the 2015 Conference tournament championship title, defeating the Aztecs 9-5.

A men's division will begin play in Fall 2016 with teams formerly from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Fresno State women's team joins for the Spring 2018 season.^[4]

Members

Men

Institution	Location	Nickname	Joined	Primary Conference	Division
California State University, Long Beach	Long Beach, California	49ers	2016	Big West	NCAA D-I
University of California, Irvine	Irvine, California	Anteaters	2016	Big West	NCAA D-I
University of California, Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara, California	Gauchos	2016	Big West	NCAA D-I
University of the Pacific	Stockton, California	Tigers	2016	West Coast	NCAA D-I
Pepperdine University	Malibu, California	Waves	2016	West Coast	NCAA D-I
San Jose State University	San Jose, California	Spartans	2016	Mountain West	NCAA D-I

Women

Institution	Location	Nickname	Joined	Primary Conference	Division
Azusa Pacific University	Azusa, California	Cougars	2014	Pacific West	NCAA D-II
California Baptist University	Riverside, California	Lancers	2014	Pacific West	NCAA D-II
Concordia University–Irvine	Irvine, California	Eagles	2015	Pacific West	NCAA D-II
Fresno Pacific University	Fresno, California	Sunbirds	2014	Pacific West	NCAA D-II
Loyola Marymount University	Los Angeles, California	Lions	2014	West Coast	NCAA D-I
University of the Pacific	Stockton, California	Tigers	2014	West Coast	NCAA D-I
San Diego State University	San Diego, California	Aztecs	2014	Mountain West	NCAA D-I
Santa Clara University	Santa Clara, California	Broncos	2014	West Coast	NCAA D-I
Future Members
California State University, Fresno	Fresno, California	Bulldogs	2017	Mountain West	NCAA D-I

• Reclassifying institution in yellow.

References

1. "Seven California Universities to Form Water Polo Conference" (Press release). Santa Clara University Athletics. June 3, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
2. "SDSU Water Polo to Move into Golden Coast Conference" (Press release). San Diego State Athletics. June 3, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
3. "Water Polo Finds Conference Home" (Press release). Azusa Pacific Athletics. June 3, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
4. "GCC Launches Men's Division To Begin Play in 2016". Golden Coast Conference. Retrieved January 21, 2016.

External Links

• Official website