Golden State Athletic Conference

The Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) is a college athletics conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference commissioner is Mike Daniels. Conference leadership is shared among the member institutions. Nine of the ten members of the GSAC are Christian colleges located in California and Arizona. Conference teams have won 20 national championships.

Golden State Athletic Conference
GSAC
Established1986
AssociationNAIA
DivisionDivision I
Members10
Sports fielded
  • 13
    • men's: 6
    • women's: 7
RegionWestern United States
Region II of the NAIA
HeadquartersAzusa, California
CommissionerMike Daniels (2012–)
Websitegsacsports.org
Locations

History

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 College, 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. Life Pacific joined in 2017 and Ottawa (AZ) joined in 2018 to bring the GSAC to 10 members.

Member schools

Current members
Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Joined
Arizona Christian University Phoenix, Arizona 1960 Private (Christian) 820 Firestorm 2012
Hope International University Fullerton, California 1928 Private (Christian) 987 Royals 1999
Life Pacific College San Dimas, California 1923 Private (Foursquare Gospel) 686 Warriors 2017
The Master's University Santa Clarita, California 1927 Private (Christian) 1,348 Mustangs 2001
Menlo College Atherton, California 1927 Private (Nonsectarian) 750 Oaks 2015
Ottawa University Surprise, Arizona 2015 Private (American Baptist) 750 Spirit 2018
San Diego Christian College Santee, California 1970 Private (Evangelical) 916 Hawks 1999
Vanguard University Costa Mesa, California 1920 Private (Assemblies of God) 1,923 Lions 1986
Westmont College Santa Barbara, California 1937 Private (Christian) 1,308 Warriors 1986
William Jessup University Rocklin, California 1939 Private (Christian) 1,200 Warriors 2014

Former members
Institution Location Founded Nickname Joined Left Current
Conference
Azusa Pacific University Azusa, California 1899 Cougars 1986 2012 Pacific West
(NCAA D-II)
Biola University La Mirada, California 1908 Eagles 1994 2017 Pacific West
(NCAA D-II)
California Baptist University Riverside, California 1950 Lancers 1987 2011 Western Athletic
(NCAA D-I)
California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, California 1959 Kingsmen & Regals 1986 1989 Southern California
(NCAA D-III)
Concordia University–Irvine Irvine, California 1976 Eagles 1987 2015 Pacific West
(NCAA D-II)
Fresno Pacific University Fresno, California 1944 Sunbirds 1986 2012 Pacific West
(NCAA D-II)
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, California 1902 Sea Lions 1986 2012 Pacific West
(NCAA D-II)

Membership timeline

 Full member (non-football) 

Sports sponsored
Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
BaseballY
BasketballYY
Cross CountryYY
SoccerYY
SoftballY
TennisYY
Track & Field OutdoorYY
VolleyballY

References
  1. Staff (June 2, 2011). "PacWest conference expands to 14 schools". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
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