SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference announced today the addition of UC San Diego. The Tritons will begin as a competing member July 1, 2027.
The West Coast Conference Presidents’ Council voted to admit UC San Diego as a member of the Conference. The addition of UC San Diego expands the West Coast Conference to 10 competing league members beginning in the 2027-28 academic year.
“This is a monumental day for the West Coast Conference,” said University of the Pacific President and Chair of the West Coast Conference Presidents’ Council, Christopher Callahan. “Under the leadership of Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, UC San Diego is a thriving institution and its recent transition to NCAA Division I competition is a national success story. I applaud Commissioner Stu Jackson, the Presidents’ Council and University of San Diego President James T. Harris for their outstanding efforts to identify expansion opportunities that bring great value and further position the West Coast Conference as a premier league.”
With UC San Diego, the West Coast Conference further cements its footprint in the state of California with eight members and is the only NCAA Division I conference to have a member institution represented in each of the western region’s largest metropolitan cities and media markets in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Sacramento, Portland and San Diego. The addition of UC San Diego provides another easily accessible conference matchup.
“We continually identify valuable opportunities to expand our membership, and the addition of UC San Diego greatly aligns with the goals of the West Coast Conference,” said West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson. “UC San Diego’s meteoric rise during its recent NCAA Division I transition is the result of strong leadership, strategic investment and deliberate planning for postseason success. The Tritons align with our West Coast identity and serve to strengthen the academic profile of the conference. I appreciate the Presidents’ Council’s thorough evaluation of expansion opportunities and unified direction with the addition of UC San Diego.”
UC San Diego will compete in 14 of the West Coast Conference’s 16 sponsored sports, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s water polo, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s golf and women’s rowing.
Founded in 1960, UC San Diego is part of the University of California system, one of the nation’s leading public university systems. It is the sixth public institution to be a part of the West Coast Conference in its 73-year history. UC San Diego is regarded as the 21st best university in the world and the nation’s fifth best public university by U.S. News and World Report in its latest list of Best Global Universities.
“We are excited to join the West Coast Conference, propelling our Triton scholar-athletes to new heights of excellence alongside top-tier teams in a range of sports and advancing our long-term strategic vision,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “This move expands our reach across major West Coast metropolitan areas, amplifying our audience, media coverage and national presence. Plus, we’re excited to compete against cross-town rivals, the University of San Diego Toreros, ensuring that local fans can cheer on our San Diego teams in a variety of sports every year. This milestone elevates our university’s visibility, unlocking new opportunities for Triton students, scholar-athletes and the community – and cementing our reputation as a leader in elite Division I athletics.”
The Tritons began their NCAA Division I reclassification period in 2020 and completed their transition on July 1, 2024. UC San Diego became the first institution in NCAA history to have both its men’s and women’s basketball programs earn NCAA Tournament selections in its inaugural year of NCAA Division I postseason eligibility this past year.
“At UC San Diego, we aspire to be a destination not just for education, but for innovation, culture, and community impact,” said Earl W. Edwards, UC San Diego Director of Athletics Emeritus. “As part of one of the nation’s leading research institutions, UC San Diego Athletics is committed to competing at the highest level while upholding the values of integrity and leadership that define our vision for the future. Joining the West Coast Conference reflects our commitment to elevating intercollegiate athletics in step with the excellence that defines our campus.”
The West Coast Conference is well-regarded as one of the nation’s premier leagues in men’s basketball with six consecutive years of multiple NCAA Tournament bids, including multiple selections in 11 of the past 13 tournaments. The conference sent a record-tying six teams to NCAA postseason tournaments last season. At least one team has advanced past the first round in each of the past 17 tournaments. Eleven West Coast Conference teams have earned a NCAA Tournament berth in the last five seasons, with 10 of those teams earning an eight seed or better. Last season, nearly half of the conference’s men’s basketball programs finished in the top 85 of the final NET rankings.
A record-tying six women’s basketball teams earned postseason tournament berths last season. The conference has sent multiple women’s basketball teams to the NCAA Tournament five of the past six years.
The West Coast Conference is a multiple bid conference in several sports with a rich tradition of postseason success. The conference has sent multiple women’s soccer teams to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 33 seasons, highlighted by a recent NCAA Championship by Santa Clara and multiple Women’s College Cup appearances over the last six seasons. Pepperdine’s recent NCAA Men’s Golf Championship highlights NCAA appearances by multiple West Coast Conference teams in 10 consecutive seasons, with four bids in three of the last four years. The conference has earned multiple NCAA selections in men’s soccer in eight of the last nine years. Led by a recent NCAA title match appearance by Pepperdine, multiple women’s tennis teams have been part of the national rankings and advanced to the postseason. Multiple conference women’s volleyball teams have earned NCAA Tournament bids in 12 of the past 14 seasons, including a recent Final Four appearance by San Diego. Last season, LMU beach volleyball advanced to the NCAA Championship dual.
About the West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference was formed in 1952 and has grown to become a nationally recognized and competitive force in Division I intercollegiate athletics. The conference sponsors 16 sports with a three-state footprint that includes Gonzaga, LMU, Pacific, Pepperdine, Portland, Saint Mary’s, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Seattle. Fueled by a conviction to achieve our championship goals with strong core values of integrity, respect, collaboration, innovation, and inclusiveness, We Rise in the West. For more information, visit WCCsports.com and follow the West Coast Conference on X, Instagram, and Facebook @WCCsports.