California Pacific Conference
AssociationNAIA
Founded1996
CommissionerDon Ott
Sports fielded
  • 12
    • men's: 6
    • women's: 6
No. of teams13 (9 in 2024-25, 8 in 2025-26)
HeadquartersOakland, California
RegionWest
Official websitecalpacathletics.com
Locations
Location of teams in (({title))}

The California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference commissioner is Don Ott. Conference leadership is shared among the member institutions. 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 Pacific Conference
Map
[fullscreen map]
Location of Cal Pac members: current and departing

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).

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 scheduled for completion before 2022–23,[7] leading to Sierra Nevada's departure from Cal Pac.

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

The Cal Pac currently has 13 full members, all but two are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Basketball?
University of Antelope Valley Lancaster, California 2009 For-profit 1,517 Pioneers 2015 both
Benedictine University at Mesa Mesa, Arizona 2013 Catholic
(Benedictines) 		340 Redhawks 2015 both
California State University Maritime Academy Vallejo, California 1929 Public[b] 700 Keelhaulers 1996 both
University of California, Merced Merced, California 2005 Public[c] 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
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
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
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Part of the California State University system.
  3. ^ Part of the University of California system.


Former members

The Cal Pac had 12 former full members, all but two were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Left[b] Subsequent
conference(s) 		Current
conference
Bethany University Scotts Valley, California 1919 Assemblies
of God 		N/A Bruins 1996 2011 Closed in 2011
California State University, East Bay Hayward, California 1957 Public[c] 14,525 Pioneers 1998 2009 California (CCAA)[d]
(2009–present)
California State University, Monterey Bay Seaside, California 1994 Public[c] 7,079 Otters 1996 2004 California (CCAA)[d]
(2004–present)
Dominican University San Rafael, California 1890 Catholic
(D.S.S.R.) 		2,125 Penguins 1996 2009 Pacific West (PacWest)[d]
(2009–present)
Holy Names University Oakland, California 1868 Catholic
(S.N.J.M.) 		9,000 Hawks 1996 2012 Pacific West (PacWest)[d]
(2012–23) 		Closed in 2023
Marymount California University[e] Rancho Palos Verdes, California 1932 Catholic
(R.S.H.M.) 		923 Mariners 2012 2022 Closed in 2022
Menlo College Atherton, California 1927 Nonsectarian 750 Oaks 1996 2015 Golden State (GSAC)
(2015–present)
Mills College[f][e] Oakland, California 1852 Nonsectarian 1,345 Cyclones 1999 2011 various[h] N/A[i]
Notre Dame de Namur University Belmont, California 1851 Catholic
(SNDdeN) 		1,967 Argonauts 1998 2006 Pacific West (PacWest)[d]
(2006–20) 		N/A[j]
Patten University[e] Oakland, California 1944 For-profit 900 Lions 1996 2005 NAIA Independent
(2005–12) 		N/A[k]
Sierra Nevada University[e] Incline Village, Nevada 1969 Nonsectarian 1,040 Eagles 2015 2022 N/A[l]
William Jessup University[m] Rocklin, California 1939 Nondenominational 1,743 Warriors 2004 2014 Golden State (GSAC)
(2014–present)
Notes
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. ^ a b Part of the California State University system.
  4. ^ a b c d e Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  5. ^ a b c d Non-basketball member.
  6. ^ This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
  7. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  8. ^ Mills had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NCAA D-III Independent from 2011–12 to 2012–13, and during the 2016–17 school year; the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) from 2013–14 to 2015–16; the American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) from 2017–18 to 2019–20; and the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference[g] (C2C) from 2020–21 to 2021–22.
  9. ^ Mills had discontinued its athletics program, as it was merged into Northeastern University in 2022.
  10. ^ Notre Dame de Namur dropped its athletic program after the 2019–20 school year.
  11. ^ Patten dropped its athletic program after the 2011–12 school year.
  12. ^ Sierra Nevada merged its campus into the University of Nevada, Reno in 2022.
  13. ^ Currently known as Jessup University since January 23, 2023.

Membership timeline

Westcliff UniversityGolden State Athletic ConferencePark University GilbertGolden State Athletic ConferenceUniversity of Saint KatherineSierra Nevada UniversityProvidence Christian CollegeGolden State Athletic ConferenceBenedictine University at MesaUniversity of Antelope ValleyLa Sierra UniversitySoka University of AmericaMarymount California UniversityGolden State Athletic ConferenceEmbry–Riddle Aeronautical University, PrescottCalifornia Collegiate Athletic AssociationUniversity of California, MercedPacific West ConferenceGolden State Athletic ConferenceJessup UniversityCoast to Coast Athletic ConferenceAmerican Collegiate Athletic AssociationNCAA Division III independent schoolsGreat South Athletic ConferenceNCAA Division III independent schoolsMills CollegePacific West ConferenceNotre Dame de Namur UniversityCalifornia Collegiate Athletic AssociationCalifornia State University, East BaySimpson UniversityNAIA independent schoolsPatten UniversityPacific Union CollegeGolden State Athletic ConferenceMenlo CollegePacific West ConferenceHoly Names UniversityPacific West ConferenceDominican University of CaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic AssociationCalifornia State University, Monterey BayCalifornia State University Maritime AcademyBethany University

 Full member (non-football) 

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
  • 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 Green tickY
Basketball Green tickY Green tickY
Cross Country Green tickY Green tickY
Golf Green tickY Green tickY
Soccer Green tickY Green tickY
Softball Green tickY
Volleyball Green tickY Green tickY

See also

References

  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.
  5. ^ a b c "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". NAIA. March 31, 2020. 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.

External links

California Pacific Conference
NAIA conferences
Categories