Azusa Pacific Cougars

Last updated
Azusa Pacific Cougars
Apu athletic logo.svg
University Azusa Pacific University
Conference PacWest (primary)
PCSC (swimming and diving)
GCC (women's water polo)
NCAA Division II
Athletic directorGary Pine
Location Azusa, California
Varsity teams16 (6 men's, 10 women's)
Basketball arenaFelix Event Center
Baseball stadiumCougar Baseball Complex
Softball stadiumCougar Softball Complex
Soccer stadiumCougar Soccer Complex
Tennis venueMunson and Bavougian Tennis Complex
Outdoor track and field venueCougar Athletic Stadium
MascotFreddy Cougar
NicknameCougars
ColorsBrick and black [1]
   
Website athletics.apu.edu
Team NCAA championships
2

The Azusa Pacific Cougars are the athletic teams that represent Azusa Pacific University, located in Azusa, California, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) for most of its sports since the 2012–13 academic year; while its women's swimming & diving team competes in the Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference (PCSC) and its women's water polo team competes in the Golden Coast Conference (GCC). The Cougars previously competed in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1986–87 to 2011–12. On July 11, 2011 Azusa Pacific began the three-year transition process to becoming a member of the NCAA. [2] Azusa Pacific University decided to end its football program in December 2020 due to financial restructuring. [3] The team was revived in March 2025 with plans of playing in NCAA Division III and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference starting in 2026. [4]

Contents

The Cougars also maintain a secondary association with the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). They won four NCCAA men's basketball championships titles from 1969 to 1972 and returned to NCCAA competition during their transition to NCAA Division II. [5]

Azusa Pacific Athletics achieved eight consecutive wins of the Directors’ Cup from 2005 to 2012, with a total of 108 GSAC Championships and 36 NAIA National Championships. [6] Since joining NCAA Division II, the program has added 45 PacWest Conference Championships, four GNAC championships in football, and two NCAA national championships.

Varsity teams

Azusa Pacific competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include acrobatics and tumbling, basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, water polo.

National championships

Team

SportAssociationDivisionYearOpponent/Runner-upScore
Women's basketball (1) NAIA Division I 2011 Union (TN) 65–59
Women's cross country (1)NAIA Single 2008 Cedarville 66–97
Football (1)NAIA Single 1998 Olivet Nazarene 17–14
Men's soccer (1)NAIA Single 2007 Concordia Irvine 2–0
Women's soccer (1)NAIA Single 1998 Simon Fraser 2–1
Men's tennis (1)NAIA Single 2005Santa Fe (NM)5–3
Men's indoor track and field (8)NAIA [7] Single 1996 Oklahoma Baptist 91–83 (+8)
2002 Doane 72–37.5 (+34.5)
2003 MidAmerica Nazarene 61–43.5 (+17.5)
2004 Lindenwood 75–47.5 (+27.5)
2007Oklahoma Baptist83–62 (+21)
2008Oklahoma Baptist64.75–64 (+0.75)
2009 Dickinson State 78.5–55 (+23.5)
2010 Wayland Baptist 71–56 (+15)
Women's indoor track and field (3) NAIA Single [8] 2003 Doane 121–51
2004 Simon Fraser 95–65
2012 Oklahoma Baptist 108–107
Men's outdoor track and field (15)NAIA Single 1983 Saginaw Valley State 94–36 (+58)
1984Saginaw Valley State93–77 (+16)
1985 Wayland Baptist 94–76 (+18)
1986Wayland Baptist112–86 (+25)
1987Wayland Baptist108–82 (+26)
1988 Prairie View A&M 112–63 (+48)
1989 Adams State 115–70 (+45)
1991 Central State (OH)
Lubbock Christian
87–42 (+45)
1992Central State (OH)93–76 (+17)
1994Central State (OH)82–66 (+16)
1995Lubbock Christian105⅓–104 (+1⅓)
2001Life97–50 (+47)
2002Life54–50 (+4)
2008 Dickinson State 61–57 (+4)
2009Dickinson State80–71 (+9)
Women's outdoor track and field (6) NAIA (4) Single [9] 2003 Lindenwood 86–78 (+8)
2004Lindenwood104–76 (+28)
2007 Cedarville 73–58
2010 Oklahoma Baptist 61–60 (+1)
NCAA (2) Division II 2021 Grand Valley State 81–77
2023 Minnesota State 66-57

References

  1. Azusa Pacific University Graphics Standards Guide (PDF). Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  2. Reinsch, Joe. "Azusa Pacific Accepted Into NCAA Division II Membership Process". Azusa Pacific University. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  3. "Football Draws to a Close at Azusa Pacific".
  4. "APU Announces Return of Football, Transition to NCAA Division III" (Press release). Azusa Pacific University. March 17, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  5. "Cougar Athletic History". athletics.apu.edu. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  6. "Azusa Pacific University Athletics - Official Athletics Website".
  7. "NAIA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship Results" (PDF). Men’s Championship History. NAIA. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  8. "NAIA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship Results" (PDF). NAIA. NAIA.org. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  9. "NAIA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship Results" (PDF). NAIA Sports Information Directors Manual. NAIA. Retrieved 26 May 2022.