IRVINE, Calif. – Seattle University men's and women's swim programs have accepted invitation to join The Big West Conference as affiliate members beginning with the 2025-26 season.
"The Big West provides a great opportunity for our student athletes to compete amongst the top talent in the West and participate in a premier conference championship experience," Director of Athletics Shaney Fink said.
Joining the Redhawks in the announcement of the affiliate membership by The Big West are Grand Canyon University and University of San Diego. All three programs will be immediately eligible upon entry to vie for The Big West Championships and to represent The Big West in NCAA championships.
"Since adding men's and women's swimming and diving for the 2024-25 season, the Big West has looked for ways to bolster and strengthen our western foothold and overall competitiveness," Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly said. "The addition of these five programs is a positive step in strengthening swimming and diving and we welcome these highly competitive programs and their fans into The Big West."
Seattle U has competed in the Western Athletic Conference since 2012-13 and will conclude competition in the WAC at the end of the 2024-25 season as the university transitions to fulltime membership with the West Coast Conference. In 2023-24, the Redhawk swim programs set 10 new school records at the 2024 WAC Championships and send seven student athletes to the National Invitational Championships hosted by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America.
"We are thrilled to be joining The Big West for swimming along with fellow WCC members GCU and USD," Head Coach Joe Dykstra said. "It is a logical fit geographically and provides us with top flight Division I competition up and down the west coast."
These additions of Seattle U and GCU gives The Big West seven competing programs in men's swimming and diving, joining Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield, Hawai'i, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. The addition of Seattle U, GCU and USD, on the women's side brings the total number of Big West programs to nine with UC Davis also competing alongside each program who also sponsors the sport on the men's side.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a gift to Seattle University Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly impacts all Redhawk student athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Thank you for supporting Seattle University Athletics!
Follow Along With the Action
Stay connected with Seattle U swimming and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.
"The Big West provides a great opportunity for our student athletes to compete amongst the top talent in the West and participate in a premier conference championship experience," Director of Athletics Shaney Fink said.
Joining the Redhawks in the announcement of the affiliate membership by The Big West are Grand Canyon University and University of San Diego. All three programs will be immediately eligible upon entry to vie for The Big West Championships and to represent The Big West in NCAA championships.
"Since adding men's and women's swimming and diving for the 2024-25 season, the Big West has looked for ways to bolster and strengthen our western foothold and overall competitiveness," Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly said. "The addition of these five programs is a positive step in strengthening swimming and diving and we welcome these highly competitive programs and their fans into The Big West."
Seattle U has competed in the Western Athletic Conference since 2012-13 and will conclude competition in the WAC at the end of the 2024-25 season as the university transitions to fulltime membership with the West Coast Conference. In 2023-24, the Redhawk swim programs set 10 new school records at the 2024 WAC Championships and send seven student athletes to the National Invitational Championships hosted by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America.
"We are thrilled to be joining The Big West for swimming along with fellow WCC members GCU and USD," Head Coach Joe Dykstra said. "It is a logical fit geographically and provides us with top flight Division I competition up and down the west coast."
These additions of Seattle U and GCU gives The Big West seven competing programs in men's swimming and diving, joining Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield, Hawai'i, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. The addition of Seattle U, GCU and USD, on the women's side brings the total number of Big West programs to nine with UC Davis also competing alongside each program who also sponsors the sport on the men's side.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a gift to Seattle University Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly impacts all Redhawk student athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Thank you for supporting Seattle University Athletics!
Follow Along With the Action
Stay connected with Seattle U swimming and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.