HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i announced today that its sports teams have joined the Big West Conference (BWC) and the Mountain West Conference (MWC) beginning with the 2012-13 season.
The Warrior football team will become the tenth member of the MWC. UH's other sports programs, with the exception of sailing, men's and women's swimming and diving, and men's volleyball, will join the BWC.
The invitation from the MWC came in a telephone call early this morning to UH President M.R.C. Greenwood from Commissioner Craig Thompson.
“The Mountain West Conference is very pleased to gain the University of Hawai'i as a football-only member beginning with the 2012 season,” said Thompson. “Hawai'i's outstanding football program and television value fit perfectly with the MWC's strategic initiatives for the future direction of the conference. We look forward to adding the Warriors to the MWC family.”
Dr. Michael Drake, chancellor of the University of California, Irvine and chair of the Big West Board of Directors made the announcement. “We are excited and pleased with the addition of Hawai'i to the Big West Conference. In assessing Hawai'i, the Board carefully considered and was impressed by both its legacy of athletic success and its commitment to academic excellence.”
Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell flew to Hawai'i to take part in the Big West Conference announcement.
“It is a tremendous day for the Big West Conference. I am personally thrilled because I remember well the participation of the University of Hawai'i's women's sports teams in the past and really look forward to the revival of that competition,” said Farrell.
“We are delighted that the Mountain West Conference and the Big West Conference have formally invited our teams to be a part of their exciting and innovative conferences,” said Greenwood. “We are so pleased that the discussions we announced were underway last month have now led to this pivotal step today.
“The people of Hawai'i deserve a first-rate athletics program,” Greenwood continued. “We have been overjoyed by the positive reaction our wonderful citizens have had to this possibility. Now that the invitations are official, we are even more delighted. We believe joining the Mountain West Conference will bring much joy to our football fans as well as contribute to the successful future that, by working together, we all seek to enhance at the University of Hawai'i.”
“This is an historic day in UH Athletics,” said UH Athletics Director Jim Donovan. “As much as we have enjoyed our 31-year relationship with the Western Athletic Conference, this hybrid arrangement will allow us to continue traditional rivalries that our fans have grown to enjoy, and keep a footprint in the Western United States, where much of our recruiting base lies.”
“We are proud to see the University of Hawai'i advancing in all aspects of campus life, and campus life most definitely includes athletics,” said Howard Karr, chair of the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents.
UH's women's teams were members of the Big West from 1984 to 1996.
The announcement at Bachman Hall was also attended by University of Hawai'i at Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw, Head Football Coach Greg McMackin and other UH head coaches.
Greg McMackin (Football Head Coach)
“This is great news for our football program to be able to continue rivalries with Fresno State, Boise State, and Nevada along with the other great programs of the Mountain West Conference. Our fans will enjoy the high level of competition in the league and our players will be able to play on a national scale. This is an exciting day for our football program and we look forward to success in the Mountain West Conference.”
“Returning to the Big West is great for our program because of the strength and competitiveness of the teams in the conference. It will also be a welcome change because of the easier travel involved with all teams being up and down the California coast. With our current recruiting base primarily in California, it will give our players more opportunities to play in front of family and friends during our conference season. Rejoining the Big West will also allow us to renew our rivalries with Long Beach State, CS Fullerton, and UOP.”
Dana Takahara-Dias (Women's Basketball Head Coach)
The women's basketball team is very excited to rejoin the Big West Conference. We have had prior success in the Big West, having won back-to-back conference titles in 1992-93 and 1993-94 and look to renew old rivalries. Geographically, it will offer our athletes much easier travel and will be able to spend more time in classes as well.
“I'm excited for our program and am especially excited for our families and fans who will have the opportunity to come to more of our games on the mainland. We are looking forward to renewing some old rivalries as we have great history with Cal Poly, UOP, and Long Beach State. I think it will be a more competitive conference which will help with our RPI and our national prominence. We recruit heavily in California and this will enhance our chances to get top talent to come to play for the University of Hawai'i. In terms of travel, it means just taking one flight instead of two or three plus a drive to get to our destination—it will be a lot easier on the team.”
“We're looking forward to the new challenges that joining the Big West brings. We'll be able to build new rivalries with other West Coast schools and it allows our student-athletes from California a greater opportunity to play in front of family and friends.”
Michel Roy (Women's Water Polo Head Coach)
“This an incredible opportunity for our team. We're very familiar with the teams in the Big West and now we'll be able to compete with them in conference. I'm confident we'll continue a high level of competition and I couldn't be more happy in joining the conference.”
“This is an exciting move for our baseball program. Two things it provides us is a stronger conference, top to bottom, and the travel will be so much easier for us. We will now be able to recruit in areas where we weren't having much success. Altogether it's a win-win situation for us.”
