Grand Canyon University Athletics
WAC adds more Texas tinge with UT Arlington
1/21/2022 1:04:00 PM | General, Paul Coro
Mavericks expand conference to 15 programs for 2022-23
The WAC's Texas imprint will grow again in the fall with UT Arlington joining the conference.
UT Arlington joins Southern Utah and Incarnate Word as new WAC members in 2022-23, when it will have 15 members with seven hailing from the Lone Star State.
UT Arlington, a former WAC member (2011-13), moves from the Sun Belt Conference with a 15-team athletic program. The 420-acre campus in suburban Dallas carries an enrollment of 41,515 students, making it the fourth largest university in Texas.
GCU president Brian Mueller served as WAC Board of Directors chairman in exploring and executing the addition.
"We are extremely excited to welcome The University of Texas at Arlington to the Western Athletic Conference," WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton said. "UTA will be a great addition to the league. During this process, it became clear that this partnership would be mutually beneficial. UTA brings a stellar academic reputation and commitment to excelling athletically. Our Board of Directors was extremely impressed with UTA's focus on the total student-athlete experience while preparing them for life beyond their time on campus."
The Mavericks have claimed three Vic Bubas Cup titles as the top overall program in the Sun Belt and finished seventh last year, when its women's tennis team won a conference title and the baseball and women's basketball teams had third-place finishes.
The men's basketball team has posted the second-best average NCAA Evaluation Tool ranking over the past seven years. The Mavericks claimed three conference championships since 2004 and went to the NCAA tournament in 2008. The women's basketball team qualified for the 2005 and 2007 NCAA tournaments.
Much like GCU, UT Arlington plays in a 10-year-old arena that holds 7,000 fans — the College Park Center.
"We are thrilled to join the Western Athletic Conference and help bolster a league that shares a similar strategic vision, is in the best interest of our student-athletes and enhances the university's profile," UT Arlington Director of Athletics Jim Baker. "The WAC's short- and long-term objectives, goals and overall mission run parallel to UTA's, and we envision this move being advantageous for all parties."
After Tarleton and Dixie State (soon-to-be Utah Tech) joined the WAC last year, the conference added four Texas members for this school year with Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. Chicago State is leaving the WAC after this school year, creating a 15-member conference for 2022-23 with the additions.
UT Arlington joins Southern Utah and Incarnate Word as new WAC members in 2022-23, when it will have 15 members with seven hailing from the Lone Star State.UT Arlington, a former WAC member (2011-13), moves from the Sun Belt Conference with a 15-team athletic program. The 420-acre campus in suburban Dallas carries an enrollment of 41,515 students, making it the fourth largest university in Texas.
GCU president Brian Mueller served as WAC Board of Directors chairman in exploring and executing the addition.
"We are extremely excited to welcome The University of Texas at Arlington to the Western Athletic Conference," WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton said. "UTA will be a great addition to the league. During this process, it became clear that this partnership would be mutually beneficial. UTA brings a stellar academic reputation and commitment to excelling athletically. Our Board of Directors was extremely impressed with UTA's focus on the total student-athlete experience while preparing them for life beyond their time on campus."The Mavericks have claimed three Vic Bubas Cup titles as the top overall program in the Sun Belt and finished seventh last year, when its women's tennis team won a conference title and the baseball and women's basketball teams had third-place finishes.
The men's basketball team has posted the second-best average NCAA Evaluation Tool ranking over the past seven years. The Mavericks claimed three conference championships since 2004 and went to the NCAA tournament in 2008. The women's basketball team qualified for the 2005 and 2007 NCAA tournaments.
Much like GCU, UT Arlington plays in a 10-year-old arena that holds 7,000 fans — the College Park Center.
"We are thrilled to join the Western Athletic Conference and help bolster a league that shares a similar strategic vision, is in the best interest of our student-athletes and enhances the university's profile," UT Arlington Director of Athletics Jim Baker. "The WAC's short- and long-term objectives, goals and overall mission run parallel to UTA's, and we envision this move being advantageous for all parties."
After Tarleton and Dixie State (soon-to-be Utah Tech) joined the WAC last year, the conference added four Texas members for this school year with Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. Chicago State is leaving the WAC after this school year, creating a 15-member conference for 2022-23 with the additions.
2022-23 WAC members
- Abilene Christian
- California Baptist
- Grand Canyon
- Incarnate Word
- Lamar
- New Mexico State
- Sam Houston
- Seattle U
- Southern Utah
- Stephen F. Austin
- Tarleton
- Utah Tech
- Utah Valley
- UT Arlington
- UT Rio Grande Valley
Friday, July 17
Thursday, June 25
Thursday, June 25
Thursday, June 25