California Pacific Conference

California Pacific Conference
California Pacific Conference
Cal Pac
Established	1996
Association	NAIA
Members	15 (13 in 2022)
Sports fielded	12 men's: 6; women's: 6; ;
Region	Pacific Coast and Mountain West
Headquarters	Oakland, California
Commissioner	Don Ott
Website	calpacathletics.com
Locations

The California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) is a college athletics conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference commissioner is Don Ott. Conference leadership is shared among the member institutions. The conference president is Themy Adachi of Mills College. The conference vice president is Farnum Smith of William Jessup University. The secretary is Marv Christopher of California Maritime Academy. The conference was formed in 1996.

Conference members range from members of the University of California and California State University systems to religious and liberal arts colleges

History

California State University at East Bay, California State University at Monterey Bay, Dominican University, Mills College, and Notre Dame de Namur University are former members of the conference that have left the Cal Pac and the NAIA for the Division II and Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Cal State MB and Cal State–East Bay left the Cal Pac to join the NCAA Division II California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in the 2004–05 and 2008–09 seasons, respectively.

Patten University left the Cal Pac when the school chose to discontinue its athletic program after the 2004–05 season.

Notre Dame de Namur left the Cal Pac to join the NCAA Division II Pacific West Conference in the 2006–07 season, followed by Dominican in the 2008–09 season.

Mills moved to NCAA Division III as an Independent in the 2011–12 season.

In June 2011, Bethany University announced it was ceasing operations effective immediately, decreasing the Cal Pac to seven active members.[1]

In 2012, Holy Names University left the Cal Pac to join the Pacific West Conference; while Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University at Prescott, Marymount California University, and Soka University of America joined to increase the conference membership to nine schools.[2]

La Sierra University joined in 2013 to bring the conference up to 10 members.[3] William Jessup University left in 2014, leaving the conference with nine members. Membership rose to twelve schools in 2015 when the University of Antelope Valley, Benedictine University at Mesa, Providence Christian College, and Sierra Nevada University joined; while Menlo College left for the Golden State Athletic Conference.

The University of Saint Katherine joined in 2019.[4] In March 2020, the conference announced two additions for the 2020–21 academic year when Park University at Gilbert and Westcliff University were admitted to the NAIA.[5]

Sierra Nevada approved in July 2021 an agreement to merge with NCAA Division I's University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada).[6] The merger was given accreditation approval in late December and is scheduled for completion before 2022–23,[7] leading to Sierra Nevada's departure from Cal Pac.

Chronological timeline

1995 - The California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) was founded. Charter members included Bethany College (now Bethany University), California Maritime Academy (now California State University Maritime Academy), California State University at Monterey Bay, Dominican College (now the Dominican University of California), Holy Names College (now Holy Names University), Menlo College, Pacific Union College, Patten College (now Patten University) and Simpson College (now Simpson University), effective beginning the 1996-97 academic year.

1998 - California State University at Hayward (now California State University at East Bay) and the College of Notre Dame (now Notre Dame de Namur University) joined the Cal Pac, effective the 1998-99 academic year.

1999 - Mills College joined the Cal Pac, effective the 1999-2000 academic year.

2004 - Cal State–Monterey Bay left the Cal Pac to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), effective after the 2003-04 academic year.

2004 - William Jessup University joined the Cal Pac, effective the 2004-05 academic year.

2005 - Patten left the Cal Pac to become an NAIA Independent, effective after the 2004-05 academic year.

2006 - Notre Dame de Namur left the Cal Pac to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Pacific West Conference (PacWest), effective after the 2005-06 academic year.

2009 - Two institutions left the Cal Pac and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and to their respective new home primary conferences: Cal State–East Bay to the CCAA, and Dominican (Cal.) to the PacWest, effective after the 2008-09 academic year.

2011 - The University of California at Merced joined the Cal Pac, effective the 2011-12 academic year.

2012 - Holy Names left the Cal Pac and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the PacWest, effective after the 2011-12 academic year.

2012 - Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University–Prescott, Marymount California University and Soka University of America joined the Cal Pac, effective the 2012-13 academic year.

2013 - La Sierra University joined the Cal Pac, effective the 2013-14 academic year.

2014 - William Jessup left the Cal Pac to join the Golden State Athletic Conference, effective after the 2013-14 academic year.

2015 - Menlo left the Cal Pac to join the GSAC, effective after the 2014-15 academic year.

2015 - The University of Antelope Valley, Benedictine University at Mesa, Providence Christian College and Sierra Nevada College (now Sierra Nevada University) joined the Cal Pac, effective the 2015-16 academic year.

2019 - The University of Saint Katherine joined the Cal Pac, effective the 2019-20 academic year.

2020 - Park University Gilbert and Westcliff University joined the Cal Pac, effective the 2020-21 academic year.

2021 - Sierra Nevada announced plans to merge with the University of Nevada, Reno by the 2022-23 academic year, effectively dropping all athletic programs at that time.

2022 - Marymount California announces that it will permanently close in August of that year.

Member schools

Current members

The Cal Pac currently has 15 full members, all but two are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Basketball?
University of Antelope Valley	Lancaster, California	2009	For-profit	1,517	Pioneers	2015	both
Benedictine University at Mesa	Mesa, Arizona	2013	Catholic	340	Redhawks	2015	both
California State University Maritime Academy	Vallejo, California	1929	Public [lower-alpha 1]	700	Keelhaulers	1996	both
University of California, Merced	Merced, California	2005	Public [lower-alpha 2]	7,400	Golden Bobcats	2011	both
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University–Prescott	Prescott, Arizona	1978	Nonsectarian	1,700	Eagles	2012	both
La Sierra University	Riverside, California	1922	Seventh-day Adventist	2,199	Golden Eagles	2013	both
Marymount California University	Rancho Palos Verdes, California	1932	Catholic	923	Mariners	2012	none
Pacific Union College	Angwin, California	1882	Seventh-day Adventist	1,400	Pioneers	1996	both
Park University–Gilbert	Gilbert, Arizona	2018	Nonsectarian	300	Buccaneers	2020[5]	both
Providence Christian College	Pasadena, California	2002	Reformed Christian	160	Sea Beggars	2015	none
University of Saint Katherine	San Marcos, California	2010	Eastern Orthodox	240	Firebirds	2019	both
Sierra Nevada University	Incline Village, Nevada	1969	Nonsectarian	1,040	Eagles	2015	none
Simpson University	Redding, California	1921	Christian & Missionary Alliance	1,280	Red Hawks	1996	both
Soka University of America	Aliso Viejo, California	2001	Nonsectarian	441	Lions	2012	none
Westcliff University	Irvine, California	1993	For-profit	2,800	Warriors	2020[5]	both

Notes

Part of the California State University system.
Part of the University of California system.

Former members

The Cal Pac had ten former full members, all but two were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Subsequent conference(s)	Current conference
Bethany University	Scotts Valley, California	1919	Assemblies of God	N/A	Bruins	1996–97	2010–11	Closed in 2011
California State University, East Bay	Hayward, California	1957	Public [lower-alpha 1]	14,525	Pioneers	1998–99	2008–09	California (CCAA) (NCAA D-II) (2009–10 to present)
California State University, Monterey Bay	Seaside, California	1994	Public [lower-alpha 1]	7,079	Otters	1996–97	2003–04	California (CCAA) (NCAA D-II) (2004–05 to present)
Dominican University	San Rafael, California	1890	Nonsectarian	2,125	Penguins	1996–97	2008–09	Pacific West (NCAA D-II) (2009–10 to present)
Holy Names University	Oakland, California	1868	Catholic	9,000	Hawks	1996–97	2011–12	Pacific West (NCAA D-II) (2012–13 to present)
Menlo College	Atherton, California	1927	Nonsectarian	750	Oaks	1996–97	2014–15	Golden State (GSAC) (2015–16 to present)
Mills College[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3]	Oakland, California	1852	Nonsectarian	1,345	Cyclones	1999–2000	2010–11	D-III Independent (2011–12 to 2012–13; 2016–17) Great South (GSAC) (NCAA D-III) (2013–14 to 2015–16) American (ACAA) (NCAA D-III) (2017–18 to 2019–20)	Coast to Coast (C2C) (NCAA D-III) (2020–21 to present); (will close in 2023)
Notre Dame de Namur University	Belmont, California	1851	Catholic	1,967	Argonauts	1998–99	2005–06	Pacific West (NCAA D-II) (2006–07 to 2019–20)	N/A[lower-alpha 4]
Patten University[lower-alpha 3]	Oakland, California	1944	For-profit	900	Lions	1996–97	2004–05	NAIA Independent (2005–06 to 2011–12)	N/A[lower-alpha 5]
William Jessup University	Rocklin, California	1939	Christian	1,743	Warriors	2004–05	2013–14	Golden State (GSAC) (2014–15 to present)

Notes

Part of the California State University system.
This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
Non-basketball member.
Notre Dame de Namur dropped its athletic program after the 2019–20 school year.
Patten dropped its athletic program after the 2011–12 school year.

Membership timeline

Full member (non-football) Associate member (other sports) Other conference

Sports sponsored

A divisional format is used for women's volleyball.
North Cal–Merced Pacific Union Simpson	South 1 Antelope Valley La Sierra Providence Christian	South 2 Marymount California Saint Katherine Westcliff	Arizona Benedictine–Mesa Embry–Riddle–Prescott Park–Gilbert
A divisional format is used for men's & women's basketball.
North Cal Maritime Cal–Merced Pacific Union Simpson	South Antelope Valley La Sierra Saint Katherine Westcliff	Arizona Benedictine–Mesa Embry–Riddle–Prescott Park–Gilbert

Conference sports
Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Golf	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Volleyball	Y	Y

References

McCord, Shanna (June 14, 2011). "Bethany University will close: Private funding didn't materialize". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
"Cal Pac Adds Three New Members for 2012-13". January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
"La Sierra University Becomes 10th Cal Pac Member". November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
Ulrich, Pauly (January 17, 2019). "USK Official Members of the Cal Pac". University of Saint Katherine Athletics. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
VSN Staff (March 31, 2020). "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". Victory Sports Network. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
"Sierra Nevada Approves Plan to Merge Into U of Nevada at Reno". Inside Higher Ed. July 8, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
"Proposed UNR acquisition of Sierra Nevada University clears accreditation hurdle". CarsonNow.org. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.

External links

Official website

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[CalState-8] Part of the California State University system.

[UCal-9] Part of the University of California system.

[CalState-10] Part of the California State University system.

[11] This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.

[nobasket-12] Non-basketball member.

[13] Notre Dame de Namur dropped its athletic program after the 2019–20 school year.

[14] Patten dropped its athletic program after the 2011–12 school year.

[Bethanyclosed-1] McCord, Shanna (June 14, 2011). "Bethany University will close: Private funding didn't materialize". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.

[2] "Cal Pac Adds Three New Members for 2012-13". January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.

[3] "La Sierra University Becomes 10th Cal Pac Member". November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2012.

[4] Ulrich, Pauly (January 17, 2019). "USK Official Members of the Cal Pac". University of Saint Katherine Athletics. Retrieved March 31, 2020.

[2020NAIAnewmembers-5] VSN Staff (March 31, 2020). "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". Victory Sports Network. Retrieved March 31, 2020.

[6] "Sierra Nevada Approves Plan to Merge Into U of Nevada at Reno". Inside Higher Ed. July 8, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.

[7] "Proposed UNR acquisition of Sierra Nevada University clears accreditation hurdle". CarsonNow.org. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.

NAIA conferences
Single Division	American Midwest Conference Appalachian Athletic Conference California Pacific Conference Cascade Collegiate Conference Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Continental Athletic Conference Crossroads League Frontier Conference^† Golden State Athletic Conference Great Plains Athletic Conference^† Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Heart of America Athletic Conference^† Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference^† Mid-South Conference^† North Star Athletic Association^† Red River Athletic Conference River States Conference Sooner Athletic Conference^† Southern States Athletic Conference Sun Conference Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference NAIA independent schools
Football-only	Mid-States Football Association^† NAIA independent football schools^†
^†Conference sponsors football