DENVER – The University of Denver has completed its eight-month transition and has officially moved to the West Coast Conference as a competing member in its new primary conference home.
"It is an incredibly exciting day to be a Pioneer," Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Ritchie Center Operations Josh Berlo said. "This transition to the West Coast Conference has been both an expedited move since the announcement in October and a long-time vision of the University since elevating to the Division I level in 1999 – a vision that aligns our great institution with some of the top-ranked private universities in the west, elevating our brand and national reputation.
"Significant excitement and effort has gone into this transition. Denver Athletics is positioned to continue to compete for championships. We are thankful for the commitment from Chancellor Jeremy Haefner, our Board of Trustees, our coaches and our staff to prepare for immediate conference success in 2026-27. I'm also thrilled for the fans of our athletics programs making the move and the exciting matchups they'll see coming to Denver's Home for College Sports from the West Coast Conference this year."
Over the course of the next week, DenverPioneers.com will highlight different elements of the conference move that includes the nine athletic programs competing in the West Coast Conference in 2026-27: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball. DU's move does not impact the conference affiliations for Denver's hockey (NCHC), women's gymnastics (Big 12), men's and women's lacrosse (BIG EAST) or the men's and women's skiing (RMISA) programs. Denver triathlon will stay independent as an NCAA-emerging sport.
"Today marks a significant milestone in the history of the West Coast Conference as we officially welcome the University of Denver as our newest member institution," West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson said. "Denver brings a longstanding tradition of academic and athletic excellence that aligns seamlessly with the values and aspirations of the WCC.
"The University of Denver has demonstrated a sustained commitment to broad-based athletic success, highlighted by national prominence across multiple sports and a strategic investment in the continued growth of its men's and women's basketball programs. Equally important, Denver shares our commitment to providing a transformational student-athlete experience that prioritizes competitive excellence, academic achievement, and personal development.
We are also excited to expand our presence in the Denver metropolitan area, one of the nation's premier and fastest-growing markets. The addition of Denver strengthens our regional footprint, enhances the visibility of the Conference and positions us for continued success in the years ahead. We are thrilled to welcome the University of Denver to the West Coast Conference family."
The West Coast Conference will have 10 competing members in 2026-27 and will be joined by UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara in 2027-28.
Denver's move to the West Coast Conference provides the entire campus community with a significant enhancement to the overall reputation of the University and brand association with other highly reputable, mostly private institutions. The West Coast Conference currently has seven institutions inside the U.S. World News Report top 120 universities in the country, allying Denver with other university profiles with strong academic rankings to further strengthen DU's position in the western United States.
"Once you do your research, you realize how much quality competition is at this level in the West Coast Conference," head men's basketball coach Tim Bergstraser said. "On the basketball side, you have high level players and really good coaches that know what they are doing. If you're a competitor, it's something you want to be a part of. We have a lot of work to do, but as a program, we're excited."
DU has active alumni chapters in every West Coast Conference market, including Southern California, the Bay Area and Seattle. California, Washington and Oregon are all in the top 10 states that University of Denver students and alumni call home.
"We could not be more excited to join the West Coast Conference," volleyball head coach Megan Pendergast said. "It's a historic volleyball league where teams are making deep runs into the (NCAA) tournament, and the athletic departments and schools are high academic institutions. It just makes sense for Denver. We're looking forward to joining and competing in the league."
The West Coast Conference has national television deals with ESPN and CBS Sports Network and expanded its relationship with ESPN in 2023 to utilize ESPN+ as the exclusive digital home for more than 900 conference events a year. The West Coast Conference will now be home to six of the top 30 DMAs (Designated Marketing Areas) in the United States, including Denver's 17th spot in the rankings.
Denver announced its plans to install individual chairback seating in Hamilton Gymnasium, a project that is scheduled to be completed ahead of Denver volleyball's West Coast Conference debut season this fall.
Stay tuned throughout the week on DenverPioneers.com for the rest of our six-part web series as we continue to celebrate our official membership as a competing member in the West Coast Conference.
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