SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Santa Barbara has accepted a formal invitation to join the West Coast Conference (WCC) beginning July 1, 2027.

"UC Santa Barbara is recognized as one of the nation's leading public research universities, delivering an academically rigorous and socially rewarding experience, and committed to excellence," said Chancellor Dennis Assanis. "We are thrilled to join the West Coast Conference, creating broader exposure and visibility for our athletics and academic programs. Sharing our story of success with new audiences will provide expanded opportunities for world-class academic and athletics experiences for our Gaucho community."

UC Santa Barbara will begin competing in the WCC in 2027-28 in all sports programs in which the conference sponsors.  UCSB is committed to ensuring affiliate conference membership for all programs that do not compete in the West Coast Conference.  The Gauchos will be returning to the WCC, having previously been a member between 1965-1969.

"This is a transformative moment for UC Santa Barbara Athletics, one that will bring together and excite our campus and community," said Kelly Barsky, The Arnhold Director of Athletics. " We are appreciative of the invitation from the West Coast Conference, and believe this is the right time to join with their expanded West Coast Regional profile and demonstrated academic and athletic excellence. We are grateful for our longstanding history with The Big West Conference, and as we enter into this new chapter both celebrate the history of our Gaucho programs as well as look forward to elevating our exposure, growing our programs and deepening our service to our student-athletes and community."

"We are delighted and honored to welcome UC Santa Barbara into the West Coast Conference," said Christopher Callahan, President of University of the Pacific and Chair of the West Coast Conference Presidents' Council. "UC Santa Barbara brings to the conference athletic excellence and superb academics while preserving our geographic profile, enabling our schools to stay true to the mission of providing superior student-athlete experiences in all of our sports."

"This is a monumental moment for the West Coast Conference as we grow our membership to 12 institutions for the first time in our history and enhance our national profile with the addition of UC Santa Barbara, " said West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson. "We have been energized to expand our full membership to 12, a stated goal of the West Coast Conference Presidents' Council, while bringing in a valued pattern that aligns with the conference mission.  Our regional expansion has been guided by strengthening our competitive excellence and national exposure, with a continued focus on providing an enriching student-athlete experience.  UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Dennis Assanis and Director of Athletics Kelly Barsky have demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting athletics and positioning their programs for success in today's NCAA environment.  UC Santa Barbara augments the West Coast Conference as an esteemed partner as We Rise in the West."

The West Coast Conference will have 12 full members in 2027-28, with the addition of UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego. Beginning in 2027-28, the WCC membership will consist of: UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, Loyola Marymount University, University of the Pacific, Pepperdine University, University of Portland, Saint Mary's College, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and Seattle University. UC Santa Barbara, along with UC San Diego, will become the first public institutions in the West Coast Conference since 1979.

A press conference will be held on Monday, April 13 at 11 a.m. at UC Santa Barbara in the Winnie and Lynn Reitnouer Auditorium on the first floor of the Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) Building.
 
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA
At UC Santa Barbara, we offer a dynamic environment that prizes academic inquiry and interpersonal connection to inspire scholarly ambition, creativity, and discoveries with wide-ranging impact. We're inquisitive, community-driven and globally-focused. Across our campus, you'll find independent thinkers and consensus builders, Nobel Laureates and leaders chasing noble causes. But no matter how you define us, we are above all Gauchos — diverse in our pursuits, yet connected in our collective drive toward excellence. 
 
UC Santa Barbara alumni, faculty, and researchers have included eight Nobel Prize laureates, founders of 90+ companies, 1 Fields Medalist, 50 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 34 members of the National Academy of Engineering, and 56 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The faculty also includes two Academy and Emmy Award winners and recipients of a Millennium Technology Prize, an IEEE Medal of Honor, a National Medal of Technology and Innovation, and a Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

ABOUT UC SANTA BARBARA ATHLETICS
UC Santa Barbara athletics is committed to developing successful and resourceful people who lead, who inspire and innovate, who persevere through challenges to reach their full potential, who drive for excellence, and make a positive difference in the world. Our commitment extends further to serving and continuing to grow a deeply connected and engaged Gaucho community.  We are student-centered, people-focused, and community-engaged as we build upon a strong and sustainable foundation for extraordinary achievement in and out of the athletics arena.

UC Santa Barbara Athletics has established itself as one of the premier D1 mid-major programs. Defined by excellence, UC Santa Barbara has won two National Championships, 188 conference championships, 16 Olympians, and, most recently, earned the 2024-25 Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association All-Sport Trophy. Over the last several years, the Gauchos have been home to the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, Manu Duah, the No. 2 overall draft pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Tyler Bremner and 2024-25 NBA Champion Ajay Mitchell, who was selected 38th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

ABOUT THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE
The West Coast Conference was formed in 1952 and has grown to become a nationally recognized and competitive force in Division I intercollegiate athletics. We Rise in the West with a footprint that represents the western region's largest metropolitan areas, including Gonzaga, LMU, Pacific, Pepperdine, Portland, Saint Mary's, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara  and Seattle. Across 16 sports, we are fueled by a conviction to achieve our championship goals with strong core values of integrity, respect, collaboration, innovation, and inclusiveness. For more information, visit WCCsports.com.