The Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC), formerly known as the Golden State Athletic Conference, is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference commissioner is Mike Daniels. Conference leadership is shared among the member institutions. Seven of the eight members of the GSAC are Christian colleges located in California and Arizona. Conference teams have won 22 national championships.
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| Association | NAIA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Commissioner | Mike Daniels (2012–) |
| Sports fielded |
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| No. of teams | 8 (10 in 2025) |
| Headquarters | Aliso Viejo, California |
| Region | Western United States |
| Official website | gsacsports.org |
| Locations | |
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History
edit
The Golden State Athletic Conference was formed in the fall of 1986, with Azusa Pacific University, California Lutheran University, Fresno Pacific University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Vanguard University and Westmont College as the charter members. California Baptist University and Concordia University joined the GSAC in the fall of the following year (1987). Cal Lutheran left the GSAC after the spring of 1989. Biola University joined the GSAC in the fall of 1994. Hope International University and San Diego Christian College joined the GSAC in the fall of 1999. The Master's University, joined the GSAC in the fall of 2001. Lewis–Clark State College of Lewiston, Idaho joined the GSAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's tennis in 2016.
Recent years
editIn recent years, the conference has seen changes with members leaving the GSAC and the NAIA for the NCAA. In 2011 Cal Baptist left the GSAC to join the Pacific West Conference followed by the announcement that Azusa Pacific, Fresno Pacific and Point Loma Nazarene joined Cal Baptist in the PacWest in 2012.[1] Concordia then left to join the PacWest in 2015, and Biola applied to make the same move in 2017. To replace these schools, the GSAC has added Arizona Christian, Menlo and William Jessup (now known as Jessup). Life Pacific joined in 2017 and Ottawa (AZ) joined in 2018 to bring the GSAC to 10 members.
The departures to the NCAA continued into the 2020s, with Westmont departing for the PacWest in 2023 and Jessup, Menlo, and Vanguard all following in 2024. To combat this, the GSAC added Benedictine–Mesa, Embry–Riddle at Prescott and Park–Gilbert, to bring membership back to 8 members. Immediately following these additions, the GSAC announced that it would undergo a rebrand to the Great Southwest Athletic Conference, to reflect its membership now including schools located outside of California.[2]
Chronological timeline
edit- 1986 – The Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) was founded. Charter members included Azusa Pacific University, California Lutheran University (a.k.a. Cal Lutheran), Fresno Pacific College (now Fresno Pacific University), Point Loma Nazarene College (now Point Loma Nazarene University), Southern California College (now Vanguard University of Southern California) and Westmont College, beginning the 1986–87 academic year.
- 1987 – California Baptist College (now California Baptist University; a.k.a. Cal Baptist) and Christ College Irvine (now Concordia University Irvine) joined the GSAC in the 1987–88 academic year.
- 1989 – Cal Lutheran left the GSAC to become an independent (before joining the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) beginning the 1991–92 academic year) after the 1988–89 academic year.
- 1994 – Biola University joined the GSAC in the 1994–95 academic year.
- 1999 – Pacific Christian College (now Hope International University) and San Diego Christian College joined the GSAC in the 1999–2000 academic year.
- 2001 – The Master's College (now The Master's University) joined the GSAC in the 2001–02 academic year.
- 2011 – Cal Baptist left the GSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) after the 2010–11 academic year.
- 2012 – Azusa Pacific, Fresno Pacific and Point Loma Nazarene left the GSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the PacWest after the 2011–12 academic year.
- 2012 – Arizona Christian University joined the GSAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2014 – William Jessup University (now Jessup University) joined the GSAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2015 – Concordia–Irvine left the GSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the PacWest after the 2014–15 academic year.
- 2015 – Menlo College joined the GSAC in the 2015–16 academic year.
- 2015 – Lewis–Clark State College joined the GSAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's tennis in the 2016 spring season (2015–16 academic year).
- 2017 – Biola left the GSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the PacWest after the 2016–17 academic year.
- 2017 – Lewis–Clark State left the GSAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's tennis after the 2017 spring season (2016–17 academic year).
- 2017 – Life Pacific College (now Life Pacific University) joined the GSAC in the 2017–18 academic year.
- 2018 – Ottawa University–Arizona joined the GSAC in the 2018–19 academic year.
- 2022 – Westmont announced that it will move to the NCAA Division II ranks and join the PacWest beginning the 2023–24 academic year.
- 2022 – Menlo announced that it will move to the NCAA Division II ranks and join the PacWest, pending approval will be effective beginning the 2024–25 academic year.
- 2022 - San Diego Christian College announced they would be placing their athletic department on hiatus for the 2023-24 academic year.[3]
- 2023 – Jessup and Vanguard announced that they will follow Menlo into both the NCAA Division II and the PacWest, pending approval.
- 2023 – Benedictine–Mesa, Embry–Riddle at Prescott, and Park–Gilbert announced their move from the California Pacific Conference to the GSAC, beginning the 2024–25 academic year. Saint Katherine also announced they would move from the CalPac to the GSAC at the same time; however, the school ceased operations before they could make the move.
- 2024 – The GSAC rebranded as the Great Southwest Athletic Conference, beginning the 2024-25 academic year.
- 2024 – La Sierra University and Soka University of America announced their move from the California Pacific Conference to the GSAC, beginning the 2025–26 academic year.
Member schools
editCurrent members
editThe GSAC currently has eight full members, all are private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Christian University | Glendale, Arizona | 1960 | Nondenominational | 820 | Firestorm | 2012 |
| Benedictine University at Mesa | Mesa, Arizona | 2013 | Catholic (Benedictines) |
340 | Redhawks | 2024 |
| Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University–Prescott | Prescott, Arizona | 1978 | Nonsectarian | 1,700 | Eagles | 2024 |
| Hope International University | Fullerton, California | 1928 | Nondenominational | 987 | Royals | 1999 |
| Life Pacific University | San Dimas, California | 1923 | Foursquare Gospel | 686 | Warriors | 2017 |
| The Master's University | Santa Clarita, California | 1927 | Nondenominational | 2,600 | Mustangs | 2001 |
| Ottawa University–Arizona | Surprise, Arizona | 2015 | American Baptist | 750 | Spirit | 2018 |
| Park University–Gilbert | Gilbert, Arizona | 2018 | Nonsectarian | 300 | Buccaneers | 2024 |
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
Future members
edit| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joining[a] | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Sierra University | Riverside, California | 1922 | Seventh-day Adventist |
2,199 | Golden Eagles | 2025 | California Pacific (CalPac) |
| Soka University of America | Aliso Viejo, California | 2001 | Nonsectarian | 441 | Lions |
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
Affiliate members
editThe GSAC currently has one affiliate members, a private school:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | GSAC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westcliff University | Irvine, California | 1993 | For-profit | 2,000 | Warriors | 2020–21m.ten.; 2020–21w.ten. |
men's tennis; women's tennis |
California Pacific (CalPac) |
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
Former members
editThe GSAC had twelve former full members, all were private schools:
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
- ^ Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
- ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
- ^ San Diego Christian suspended all their athletic programs after 2022–23.
Former affiliate members
editThe GSAC had three former affiliate members, one was a public school and two were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | GSAC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis–Clark State College | Lewiston, Idaho | 1893 | Public | 4,200 | Warriors & Lady Warriors |
2015–16m.ten.; 2015–16w.ten. |
2016–17m.ten.; 2016–17w.ten. |
men's tennis; women's tennis |
Cascade (CCC) |
| Marymount California University | Rancho Palos Verdes, California | 1932 | Catholic (R.S.H.M.) |
923 | Mariners | 2020–21m.ten.; 2020–21w.ten. |
2021–22m.ten.; 2021–22w.ten. |
Closed in 2022 | |
| University of Saint Katherine | San Marcos, California | 2010 | Eastern Orthodox |
240 | Firebirds | 2023–24m.ten.; 2023–24w.ten. |
Closed in 2024 |
- Notes
Membership timeline
edit
Full member (non-football) Associate member (sport)
Sports sponsored
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References
edit- ^ Staff (June 2, 2011). "PacWest conference expands to 14 schools". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ^ "A New Era Has Begun" (Press release). Great Southwest Athletic COnference. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ "SDCC to Suspend Hawks Athletic Program Operations for 2023-24 Season". San Diego Christian College. 28 April 2023.