Golden State Athletic Conference

Last updated
Golden State Athletic Conference
Golden State Athletic Conference logo.png
Association NAIA
Founded1986
CommissionerMike Daniels (2012–)
Sports fielded
  • 17
    • men's: 8
    • women's: 9
No. of teams8 (9 in 2024-25)
Headquarters Aliso Viejo, California
Region Western United States
Official website gsacsports.org
Locations
GSAC conference map.png

The Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference commissioner is Mike Daniels. Conference leadership is shared among the member institutions. Seven of the eight members of the GSAC are Christian colleges located in California and Arizona. Conference teams have won 22 national championships.

Contents

History

Golden State Athletic Conference
Golden State Athletic Conference
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300km
200miles
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Saint Katherine
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BU Mesa
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Park–Gilbert
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ERAU Prescott
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OUAZ
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Life Pacific
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Menlo
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Jessup
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ACU
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The Master's
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San Diego Christian
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Hope International
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Vanguard
  
Location of GSAC members: Yellow pog.svg current, Black pog.svg departing, and White pog.svg future

The Golden State Athletic Conference was formed in the fall of 1986, with Azusa Pacific University, California Lutheran University, Fresno Pacific University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Vanguard University and Westmont College as the charter members. California Baptist University and Concordia University joined the GSAC in the fall of the following year (1987). Cal Lutheran left the GSAC after the spring of 1989. Biola University joined the GSAC in the fall of 1994. Hope International University and San Diego Christian College joined the GSAC in the fall of 1999. The Master's University, joined the GSAC in the fall of 2001. Lewis–Clark State College of Lewiston, Idaho joined the GSAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's tennis in 2016.

Recent years

In recent years, the conference has seen changes with members leaving the GSAC and the NAIA for the NCAA. In 2011 Cal Baptist left the GSAC to join the Pacific West Conference followed by the announcement that Azusa Pacific, Fresno Pacific and Point Loma Nazarene joined Cal Baptist in the PacWest in 2012. [1] Concordia then left to join the PacWest in 2015, and Biola applied to make the same move in 2017. To replace these schools, the GSAC has added Arizona Christian, Menlo and William Jessup (now known as Jessup). Life Pacific joined in 2017 and Ottawa (AZ) joined in 2018 to bring the GSAC to 10 members.

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

The GSAC currently has eight full members, all are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [lower-alpha 1]
Arizona Christian University Glendale, Arizona 1960 Nondenominational 820 Firestorm 2012
Hope International University Fullerton, California 1928Nondenominational987 Royals 1999
Jessup University Rocklin, California 1939Nondenominational1,743 Warriors 2014
Life Pacific University San Dimas, California 1923 Foursquare Gospel 686 Warriors 2017
The Master's University Santa Clarita, California 1927Nondenominational2,600 Mustangs 2001
Menlo College Atherton, California 1927 Nonsectarian 750 Oaks 2015
Ottawa University–Arizona Surprise, Arizona 2015 American Baptist 750 Spirit 2018
Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, California 1920 Assemblies of God 2,552 Lions 1986
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

Future members

The GSAC will have four future full members; all are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoining [lower-alpha 1] ColorsCurrent
conference
Benedictine University at Mesa Mesa, Arizona 2013 Catholic
(Benedictines)
340 Redhawks 2024–25    California Pacific (CalPac)
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University–Prescott Prescott, Arizona 1978 Nonsectarian 1,700 Eagles 2024–25     
Park University–Gilbert Gilbert, Arizona 2018Nonsectarian300 Buccaneers 2024–25   
University of Saint Katherine San Marcos, California 2010 Eastern
Orthodox
240 Firebirds 2024–25  
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

Affiliate members

The GSAC currently has two affiliate members, both are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [lower-alpha 1] GSAC
sport(s)
Primary
conference
University of Saint Katherine San Marcos, California 2010 Eastern
Orthodox
240 Firebirds 2020–21m.ten.;
2020–21w.ten.
men's tennis;
women's tennis
California Pacific (CalPac)
Westcliff University Irvine, California 1993 For-profit 2,000 Warriors
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

Former members

The GSAC had nine former full members, all were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [lower-alpha 1] Left [lower-alpha 2] Subsequent
conference(s)
Current
conference
Azusa Pacific University Azusa, California 1899 Interdenominational 8,539 Cougars 19862012 Pacific West (PacWest) [lower-alpha 3]
(2012–present)
Biola University La Mirada, California 1908 Nondenominational 5,942 Eagles 19942017 Pacific West (PacWest) [lower-alpha 3]
(2017–present)
California Baptist University Riverside, California 1950 Baptist 11,491 Lancers 19872011 Pacific West (PacWest) [lower-alpha 3]
(2011–18)
Western (WAC) [lower-alpha 4]
(2018–present)
California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, California 1959 Lutheran ELCA 3,298 Kingsmen &
Regals
19861989 NAIA/D-III Independent
(1989–91)
Southern California (SCIAC) [lower-alpha 5]
(1991–present)
Concordia University–Irvine Irvine, California 1976 Lutheran LCMS 2,564 Eagles 19872015 Pacific West (PacWest) [lower-alpha 3]
(2015–present)
Fresno Pacific University Fresno, California 1944 Mennonite 3,700 Sunbirds 19862012 Pacific West (PacWest) [lower-alpha 3]
(2012–present)
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, California 1902 Nazarene 3,487 Sea Lions 19862012 Pacific West (PacWest) [lower-alpha 3]
(2012–present)
San Diego Christian College Santee, California 1970Nondenominational916 Hawks 19992023N/A [lower-alpha 6]
Westmont College Montecito, California 1937 Christian 1,313 Warriors 19862023 Pacific West (PacWest) [lower-alpha 3]
(2023–present)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  4. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
  5. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  6. San Diego Christian suspended all their athletic programs after 2022–23.

Former affiliate members

The GSAC had two former affiliate members, one was a public school and one was a private school:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [lower-alpha 1] Left [lower-alpha 2] GSAC
sport(s)
Primary
conference
Lewis–Clark State College Lewiston, Idaho 1893Public4,200 Warriors &
Lady Warriors
2015–16m.ten.;
2015–16w.ten.
2016–17m.ten.;
2016–17w.ten.
men's tennis;
women's tennis
Cascade (CCC)
Marymount California University Rancho Palos Verdes, California 1932 Catholic
(R.S.H.M.)
923 Mariners 2020–21m.ten.;
2020–21w.ten.
2021–22m.ten.;
2021–22w.ten.
Closed in 2022
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

Membership timeline

Park University GilbertEmbry–Riddle Aeronautical University, PrescottBenedictine University at MesaWestcliff UniversityUniversity of Saint KatherineMarymount California UniversityOttawa University ArizonaLife Pacific UniversityCascade Collegiate ConferenceFrontier ConferenceLewis–Clark State CollegePacific West ConferenceMenlo CollegePacific West ConferenceJessup UniversityArizona Christian UniversityThe Master's UniversitySan Diego Christian CollegeHope International UniversityPacific West ConferenceBiola UniversityPacific West ConferenceConcordia University IrvineWestern Athletic ConferencePacific West ConferenceCalifornia Baptist UniversityPacific West ConferenceWestmont CollegePacific West ConferenceVanguard UniversityPacific West ConferencePoint Loma Nazarene UniversityPacific West ConferenceFresno Pacific UniversitySouthern California Collegiate Athletic ConferenceCalifornia Lutheran UniversityPacific West ConferenceAzusa Pacific UniversityGolden State Athletic Conference

 Full member (non-football)  Associate member (sport) 

Sports sponsored

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball Green check.svg
Basketball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Cross Country Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Soccer Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Softball Green check.svg
Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Track & Field Outdoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Volleyball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Beach Volleyball Green check.svg
Golf Green check.svgGreen check.svg

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References

  1. Staff (June 2, 2011). "PacWest conference expands to 14 schools". Honolulu Star-Advertiser . Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  2. https://www.sdcchawks.com/general/2022-23/releases/Athletics_Message