DU has longed for West Coast Conference membership since rejoining Division I athletics in 1998, according to Athletic Director Josh Berlo during the joint WCC/DU virtual press conference announcing DU’s acceptance of the conference’s membership offer. The deal was finalized in lightning speed as it took less than two weeks to seal final acceptance.

WCC commissioner Stu Jackson cited informal social contact, especially over the past year, as the start of discussions. Then, after a series of meetings across both organizations, after less than two weeks of in-depth discussions, the WCC extended an offer to the Pioneers. DU’s administration, athletic department, and Board of Trustees showed rare combined agility, speed, and alignment in accepting the offer to join the West Coast Conference. DU is the conference’s 11th member, and Jackson confirmed that the search will continue for a 12th, noting that a dozen members matches the conference’s ideal membership vision. Continue reading The Decision: Nimble DU Navigates Rapid West Coast Membership Offer →

Finally!

We have waited years for this to happen. Friday, a tweet by ESPN’s Pete Thamel confirmed it – DU is moving from the Summit League to the West Coast Conference on July 1, 2026. The Denver Post followed the tweet with an article citing the tweet and the move of nine DU sports to the West Coast Conference (WCC). Denver will be joining a conference of equals – largely private schools with similar size, funding and academic profile in alignment with the University. The move will increase DU’s academic profile and give the University greater visibility to the valuable California student market while basketball most certainly will receive a boost in national interest.

Continue reading Breaking: Denver to Join West Coast Conference →

According to numerous sources, colleges and universities are conducting risk assessments and budgeting accordingly, anticipating lawsuits over Title IX legislation. As the Power Four conferences look to profit-share up to $20 million with student-athletes, they have a difficult and potentially costly decision to make. Either equitably split the revenue spoils with their male and female athletes or allocate the money to revenue-producing sports (or a mix of the two options). The same goes for in-house generated NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) funds.

Lawsuits are sure to follow. Continue reading Universities Brace for Title IX Lawsuits →

An article by Mark Novicoff in The Atlantic contends that the end of Division I college sports as we currently know them is coming. The author considers all niche, non-revenue sports outside of football and basketball as dodo birds, headed for certain extinction. We, of course, heartily disagree. Continue reading The End of Niche College Sports? →