#GCCWaterPolo - With the recent decision by the Big West Conference to sponsor the sport of men's water polo, and the subsequent decision by the West Coast Conference to also officially sponsor the sport, the Fall 2022 men's collegiate water polo season will be the last before all six Golden Coast Conference (GCC) members depart for new leagues.  The Big West and West Coast Conferences will officially begin play in Fall 2023.

Long Beach State, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara will move to their primary affiliated conference, the Big West, while Pepperdine, Pacific and San Jose State will join the West Coast Conference.  Pepperdine and Pacific are primary members of the WCC while San Jose State will be an affiliate member.

"We are seeing growth in the sport, which is great, and that growth is causing realignment," said GCC Commissioner Dan Smith.  "While we are very disappointed that men's water polo will be played for the final time in the GCC this Fall, we know that all six of our great institutions will be moving to new homes under the umbrellas of parent conferences which is great for the sport.  The GCC has arguably and consistently been one of the most competitive water polo conference's in the country.  We rest well knowing we gave our student-athletes a championship experience and a chance to compete at the highest levels of the sport."

All six men's institutions will compete for the GCC Championship in 2022 with the season opening the first weekend of September.  The season will culminate with the GCC Championships on Nov. 18-20 and will be hosted by UC Santa Barbara. 

The GCC began in the Spring of 2014 with women's water polo. In the Fall of 2016 the league added men's water polo.  Women's water polo will be competing in its 10th season within the GCC in the Spring of 2023.

"With men's water polo being eliminated from the GCC after this Fall, that decision will not result in nor have any impact whatsoever on the women's division of the GCC," said Smith.  "The GCC will continue to serve as home for its eight outstanding women's institutions that are also extremely competitive."

The women's GCC institutions include Azusa Pacific, California Baptist, Concordia-Irvine, Fresno State, Loyola Marymount, Pacific, San Diego State and Santa Clara.

#GCCWaterPolo