CAL PAC MEMBERSHIP PATHWAY TAKES POSITIVE TURN
The California Pacific Conference membership changes have taken a positive turn, with three institutions agreeing to join forces with the conference beginning in 2025-26. Stanton University has applied for membership in the NAIA and the Cal Pac, Northern New Mexico is moving from the Continental Athletic Conference in select sports, and Walla Walla University of the Cascade Conference will join in men's volleyball only.
The result of the planned additions secures the Cal Pac access to national championships in the NAIA in all 14 of its sports.
"We owe a lot of gratitude to our partner leagues," said Cal Pac commissioner Dr. Don Ott. "The willingness of some of our neighbors to help us is what college sports in the NAIA is supposed to look like."
Stanton, based in Anaheim, has been awarded a campus visit by the NAIA – a major step toward full membership. The Elks, with basketball, soccer, volleyball, cross country, golf, track, and tennis, are aggressively growing and fit the Cal Pac model of competitive teams in a unique academic setting. "Stanton has competed on an even footing with many of the programs in their region. We're thrilled to have them desire to join both the NAIA and the Cal Pac, and we're working closely with them to assure they excel in the NAIA membership process."
Northern New Mexico will shift from the CAC to the Cal Pac in Fall 2025. The Eagles, from Espanola, NM, boost the Cal Pac's basketball and cross country/track fortunes and are looking to grow in more sports as well. "This wouldn't be possible without the close collaboration of the Continental conference and their commissioner Meg Schebler," said Ott. "The CAC is a unique league, sometimes hampered by literally being spread across the continental US. NNMC aligns with the Cal Pac in its key sports, and we welcome the unique ability to include the Eagles in the conference."
Walla Walla, from College Park, Wash., is a full member of the Cascade Conference. But the Wolves also sponsor men's volleyball, the only Cascade school to do so. WWU will join a creative scheduling partnership with the Cal Pac in that sport only, competing in jamboree-type weekends of play and taking part in the league tournament. "WWU men's volleyball was sitting all alone, and their addition gives them not only a home but a pathway toward NAIA nationals with our teams. We're glad to help them continue to grow their program," said Ott.
Founded in 1995, the Cal Pac has been a membership way station for over 30 different institutions. As recently as 2022, the conference was one of the largest in the NAIA's west, with 15 members. Realignment and pandemic-related institutional closures have decimated the conference, prompting an aggressive rebuild to assure character-driven sports were still possible for its remaining core members.
Moving forward, Simpson University, Pacific Union College, Providence Christian College, and Westcliff University form the foundation of the league. In close alignment with the newest members, and in collaboration with the NAIA national office, the Cal Pac is helping other small colleges in the West join the NAIA "Pathway Program" for membership in the Association. It is hoped as many as four additional schools – all already in the program – can add to the Cal Pac's footprint in the next two years.
The Cal Pac will continue with 14 championships for men and women. "All our sports will have league champions declared," Ott explained. "And 12 of our 14 sports have direct NAIA national championship qualification. Two, baseball and softball, will partner with other leagues for that NAIA bid."
"We've been saddened by departures of our members," Ott admitted. "The relationships on those campuses are priceless, and we're proud to have had a hand in the sustenance and growth of so many quality programs. While we wish them the best, our core institutions have been incredibly supportive of these aggressive additions to assure all our student-athletes a meaningful educational and competitive experience."