Grand Canyon Antelopes | |
---|---|
University | Grand Canyon University |
Conference | WAC (primary) Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (men's volleyball, plus beach volleyball in 2024–25) |
NCAA | Division I |
Athletic director | Jamie Boggs |
Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
Varsity teams | 21 |
Basketball arena | Global Credit Union Arena |
Baseball stadium | Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark |
Soccer stadium | GCU Stadium |
Other venues | Antelope Gymnasium |
Mascot | Thunder the Antelope |
Nickname | Antelopes |
Colors | Purple, black, and white [1] |
Website | www |
The Grand Canyon Antelopes (more commonly referred to as the Lopes) are the 21 athletic teams representing Grand Canyon University, located in Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the university's athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division I level in the Western Athletic Conference. [2] [3] Men's volleyball competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) effective beginning in the 2017–18 academic year. The beach volleyball program competes in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) through the 2024 season (2023–24 school year), after which it will become an inaugural member of the MPSF beach volleyball league. [4] The university will become a full member of the West Coast Conference on July 1, 2025.
Grand Canyon College was founded in 1949. The Antelopes began play during the college's first academic year, initially only with a men's basketball team due to the school's small size. [5]
GCU was a member of the NAIA until the early 1990s when it transferred to NCAA Division II, in which it competed until 2013.
The university has undergone a transition from a small struggling non-profit liberal arts college to a large modern for-profit private university. Along with the general campus upgrades has come an increase in athletics and athletic facilities.
On November 27, 2012, Grand Canyon University announced that it had accepted an invitation to join Division I's Western Athletic Conference, effective July 1, 2013. [6] This move made Grand Canyon the only for-profit institution with a Division I athletic program. [7]
Pac-12 Conference officials initially took issue with GCU's business model before eventually reversing course. In July 2013, the chief executives of all 12 members of the sent a joint letter to the NCAA asking that the organization review whether for-profit institutions have a place in Division I sports. [8] Later that year, Arizona State University issued a separate statement questioning the school's allegiance to the NCAA's business model. [9] GCU president Brian Mueller accused ASU president Michael Crow of being behind the Pac-12 letter. [10] Crow would later double down on his accusations, falsely claiming in 2017 that 11 of the 12 Pac-12 schools would not play GCU because of its for-profit business model, and also asserting that GCU sought to play Pac-12 schools solely for exposure on the Pac-12 Network. [9] Counter to Crow's 2017 assertion, 10 Pac-12 members had scheduled GCU in at least one sport since the Antelopes' move to Division I, although only Arizona and Utah had faced GCU in men's basketball. [9] The controversy quickly dissipated, as Arizona State and Grand Canyon routinely compete athletically including in men's basketball [11] , women's basketball [12] , baseball [13] and softball [14] .
The university announced a five-year sponsorship deal with Nike on May 27, 2015, as a part of Grand Canyon's athletic expansion.
On August 23, 2017, the NCAA officially approved Grand Canyon's move to Division I, elevating the university to active membership status. GCU immediately became eligible for postseason competition. [15] The women's golf program became the first team to represent the school in NCAA DI postseason in 2018. [16]
GCU quickly thrived in the WAC, winning six straight Commissioner's Cups for fully completed school years as the conference's top-performing athletics department. [17]
The university announced on May 10, 2024 that it will become a full member of the West Coast Conference on July 1, 2025. [18] [19]
Grand Canyon University sponsors teams in 10 men's and 11 women's NCAA sanctioned sports: [20]
Current sports Former sports
Men's sports | Women's sports |
---|---|
Baseball | Basketball |
Basketball | Beach volleyball |
Cross country | Cross country |
Golf | Golf |
Soccer | Soccer |
Swimming and diving | Softball |
Tennis | Swimming and diving |
Track and field† | Tennis |
Volleyball | Track and field† |
Volleyball | |
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor. |
GCU Baseball has won four NAIA Baseball World Series in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1986. [21] A number of Alumni have gone on to Major League Baseball careers. [22] The program advanced to its first NCAA tournament in 2021 after winning the WAC baseball tournament [23] and followed it up in 2022 with its first at-large bid. [24]
Men's basketball is coached by Bryce Drew of NCAA tournament lore. GCU won three NAIA Men's Basketball Championships at the NAIA Division I level in 1975, 1978, and 1988, the 2007 PacWest Conference Championship and a berth in the 2007 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. [21] GCU has seen two Lopes basketball alumni go on to careers in the NBA, including: Horacio Llamas, the first Mexican-born player to play in an NBA game.; [25] and Bayard Forrest, former basketball player with the Seattle SuperSonics and Phoenix Suns. Croatian national team player Emilio Kovačić played his first university basketball seasons in Grand Canyon, before leaving to Arizona State. [26] [27] In 2021, the Lopes won their first WAC championship and made their first NCAA appearance. In 2024, making their third NCAA tournament appearance in four years, the Lopes claimed their first tournament win by upsetting Saint Mary's. [28]
Women's basketball won the 2007 PacWest Conference Championship and a berth in the 2007 NCAA Women's Division II Basketball tournament. [21]
Men's golf is coached by Mark Mueller whose father is GCU president Brian Mueller.
Men's soccer won the 1996 NCAA Men's Division II Soccer Championship with a 3–1 win over Oakland University. [21] The program qualified for its first NCAA Division I tournament in 2018 after winning the WAC tournament as the No. 4 seed. [29] The program also qualified in 2020 [30] and 2021 with at-large berths. [31]
Softball was added in 2004 and in 2010 the team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2010. 2010 also saw the Lopes set a new program record for most wins in a season going 42–11. [32] Under first-year head coach Shanon Hays, the program qualified for its first NCAA Division I tournament in 2022 after winning the WAC Tournament. [33]
Women's tennis won the 1981 NAIA national women's tennis championship. [34]
Men's track team won the 2012 NCAA Division II men's Indoor Track and Field Championship scoring 54 points. [35]
Men's lacrosse made a brief appearance as an NCAA sport from 2008 to 2011. The team played its first game on February 10, 2008, an 18–8 loss to Arizona (MCLA DI). [36] In 2010, GCU and other NCAA DII lacrosse programs in the Southwest formed the Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. In the Lopes' only season as a member of the WILA, the team recorded a 3–5 conference record. [37] After a number of below .500 seasons combined with increasing travel costs due to lack of NCAA DII competition in the region, the university announced in March 2011 it would end Division II lacrosse competition. [38]
In March 2016, the school announced that it would discontinue its wrestling program. [39] The program went 6-32 in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons [40] and competed independent of a conference.
The university has a robust club sports offering with programs not affiliated with the NCAA. With over 30 programs offered, GCU's club sports teams have dedicated coaching staffs, athletic trainers and sometimes travel for competition. [41]
After discontinuing its NCAA men's lacrosse program, GCU joined the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association. [42] The program joined the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference (SLC) and plays in the MCLA Division I level in the SLC's Pacific Division. In 2015 and 2017, GCU won the MCLA Division 1 National Championship. [43]
Men's rugby was added as a club sport in 2013. [44] The team began competing in the 2014–2015 academic year.
Men's ice hockey began as a club sport in 2016 at the ACHA DII and DIII levels until 2019 when the program was accepted at the DI level. [45] Women's ice hockey began in 2017 and is a member of the WWCHL and competes in DI of the ACHA. [46]
Grand Canyon University has several athletic facilities where its 21 NCAA athletic programs host home games.
*Brazell began working at the school as a coach and professor in 1953, but was first referred to as athletic director in 1962. [56]
Bryce Homer Drew is an American college basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Grand Canyon Antelopes. Previously he served as the head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores and in the same capacity at his alma mater, Valparaiso, having succeeded his father, Homer Drew. Drew has led his teams to the NCAA tournament on four occasions, including at least once at each of the three schools where he has been the head coach.
Andrew Neal Stankiewicz is the head coach of the USC Trojans baseball team in Los Angeles and is a former Major League Baseball middle-infielder.
The Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team represents Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. They are a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). They are led by head coach Bryce Drew and play their home games at Global Credit Union Arena. They made the jump to NCAA Division I and joined the WAC on July 1, 2013.
The Grand Canyon Antelopes men's soccer program represents Grand Canyon University in all NCAA Division I men's college soccer competitions. Founded in 1985, the Antelopes have competed in the Western Athletic Conference since 2013. GCU plays its home matches at GCU Stadium.
The Grand Canyon Antelopes baseball team represents Grand Canyon University, which is located in Phoenix, Arizona. The Antelopes, also known as the Lopes, are an NCAA Division I college baseball program competing in the Western Athletic Conference. They were in Division I from 1991 to 1998, the final four seasons with the Western Athletic Conference, and returned in 2014 with the WAC.
The Grand Canyon Antelopes softball team represents Grand Canyon University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Western Athletic Conference. The Lopes are currently led by head coach Shanon Hays. The team plays its home games at GCU Softball Stadium located on the university's campus.
The 2013–14 Grand Canyon Antelopes women's basketball team represented Grand Canyon University, during the 2013–14 college basketball season. It was head coach Trent May's seventh season at Grand Canyon. The Antelopes competed as new members of the Western Athletic Conference and played their home games at GCU Arena. This was year 1 of a four-year transition period from D2 to Division I. As a result, the Antelopes were classified as a D2 team for the 2013–14 season. The Antelopes weren't eligible to make the D1 or D2 basketball tournaments and did not participate in this season's WAC basketball tournament. However the Antelopes could have competed in the WNIT or WBI tournaments if they were invited. The Antelopes finished the season third in the WAC and were invited to participate in the WBI.
Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark is a college baseball stadium on the campus of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. It hosts the Grand Canyon Antelopes of the Western Athletic Conference.
The 2014–15 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team represented Grand Canyon University during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Dan Majerle's second season at Grand Canyon. This season was year 2 of a 4-year transition period from Division II to Division I. As a result, the Antelopes were not eligible to make the NCAA Tournament and did not participate WAC Basketball Tournament. However the Antelopes could compete in the NIT, CIT, or CBI tournaments should they be invited. They finished the season 17–15, 8–6 in WAC play to finish in a tie for second place. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they lost in the first round to Northern Arizona.
The 2015–16 Grand Canyon Antelopes women's basketball team represents Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, during the 2015–16 college basketball season. It was head coach Trent May's ninth season at Grand Canyon. The Antelopes compete as members of the Western Athletic Conference and played their home games at GCU Arena. This was year 3 of a 4-year transition period from D2 to D1. As a result, the Antelopes wasn't eligible to make the D1 or D2 Basketball Tournaments and will not participate in this season's WAC Basketball Tournament. However the Antelopes did compete in the WBI where they lost in the first round to North Dakota. They finished the season 16–15, 8–6 in WAC play to finish in a 3 tie for third place.
The Grand Canyon University Stadium is a collegiate soccer venue located on the campus of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. The soccer-specific stadium has a capacity of 6,000 and includes a full-sized soccer field. The field is located on the west end of the school's campus, sitting directly in front of Antelope Gymnasium, the university's secondary indoor athletic facility, and is in close proximity to Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark, home of the GCU baseball program. The facility debuted on August 19, 2016 when the stadium hosted 6,402 fans for a Grand Canyon Antelopes men's soccer game against the UCF Knights. The debut crowd featured the most fans to watch a collegiate soccer game in the state of Arizona. GCU Stadium hosts the school's men's and women's soccer teams.
The 2016–17 Grand Canyon Antelopes women's basketball team represents Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. It was head coach Trent May's tenth season at Grand Canyon. The Antelopes compete as members of the Western Athletic Conference and played their home games at GCU Arena. The 2016–17 season was year 4 of a 4-year transitional period for Grand Canyon from D2 to D1. In years 2–4 Grand Canyon is classified as a D1 school for scheduling purposes. They played a full conference schedule, and they could win the regular season conference title. However Grand Canyon couldn't participate in the conference tourney until the 2017–18 season, at which time they will also be able to enter the NCAA tournament, should they win the conference. Grand Canyon was eligible to participate in the WBI or WNIT should they be invited. They finished the season 15–12, 7–7 in WAC play to finish in fifth place.
The Grand Canyon Antelopes women's basketball team represents Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. They are a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
DeWayne DeShawn Russell is an American professional basketball player for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).
The 2020–21 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team represented Grand Canyon University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They are led by head coach Bryce Drew in his first season. The Antelopes play their home games at GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona as members of the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 17–7, 9–3 in WAC Play to finish a tie for the regular season championship. They defeated Seattle and New Mexico State to win the WAC tournament. They received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Iowa.
The 2021–22 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team represented Grand Canyon University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Bryce Drew in his second season. The Antelopes played their home games at GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona as members of the Western Athletic Conference.
Gregg Wallis is an American baseball coach and former infielder, who is the current head baseball coach of the Grand Canyon Antelopes. He played college baseball at UC Irvine under Dave Serrano. He held roles on college baseball coaching staffs at UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Tennessee, Grand Canyon and Ohio State before getting his first head coaching opportunity at GCU on July 8, 2022.
The 2022–23 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team represented Grand Canyon University during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Bryce Drew in his third season. The Antelopes play their home games at GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona as members of the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 24–12, 11–7 in WAC Play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place. They defeated UT Arlington, Seattle U, Sam Houston, and Southern Utah to win the WAC tournament. They received the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Gonzaga.
Shanon Hays is an American softball coach for the Grand Canyon Antelopes. Previously, he was the head coach at Texas Tech and remains the winningest coach in program history. He also has held several positions as a men's basketball coach and an athletic director.
The 2023–24 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team represented Grand Canyon University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Bryce Drew and played their games at GCU Arena as members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). They finished the season 30–5, 17–3 in WAC play, to win the regular season championship. As the No. 1 seed in the WAC basketball, they defeated Seattle in the semifinals and beat UT Arlington in the championship to win the WCC Tournament. Therefore, they received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where as the No. 12 seed in the West region, they upset Saint Mary's in the first round, before losing to Alabama in the second round.
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