PacWest Conference Increases Membership to 14

By Fred Guzman

You’ve got give Bob Hogue plenty of credit.  Since the former sportscaster and state senator took over as commissioner a few years ago, the Pacific West Conference has been steadily growing, to the point that it has emerged as the largest NCAA Division-II athletic league in the west.

The PacWest includes all four of Hawaii’s D-II programs:  Hawaii Pacific, Chaminade, BYU-Hawaii and UH-Hilo, and now plans to expand to 14 members beginning next fall..

California schools Azusa Pacific, Fresno Pacific, Holy Names and Point Loma Nazarene are all leaving the NAIA to join the PacWest, giving the conference a footprint in four states.

The other members are:  Grand Canyon of Arizona; Academy of Art, Dominican and Notre Dame de Namur in California, and Dixie State in Utah.

Landing Azusa Pacific and Fresno Pacific were major coups for Hogue.  Azusa Pacific has won six straight Directors’ Cup awards at the NAIA level. The Cup recognizes the combined success of all athletic programs. Azusa Pacific qualified participants for national championships in 16 of its 17 sports last season.

Fresno Pacific has 11 NAIA national-title banners hanging in its gym, including four straight in women’s volleyball.

The PacWest currently has 11 sports and intends to add men’s tennis and women’s golf in 2012-13.