Basketball Power Gonzaga Is Latest Program to Join Pac-12

Dusty Stromer #4 and Ben Gregg #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs react to a three point shot against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 23, 2024. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Pac-12 boosted its status as a high-powered basketball conference with the addition of Gonzaga.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are ending their 45-year affiliation with the West Coast Conference and will officially join the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026.

“We are delighted to welcome Gonzaga into the Pac-12 as they embark with us on this incredible path ahead,” Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement on Oct. 1.

“President McCulloh and Athletics Director Chris Standiford not only bring strategic expertise and forward thinking to the conference, but they are two incredible leaders who care deeply about student success and fortifying student-athlete academic and athletic experiences,” she added.

“We are excited to join a conference with great tradition and a commitment to innovating during this evolving time in collegiate athletics,” Gonzaga Athletics Director Chris Standiford said in a statement.

While Gonzaga does not have a football program, its men’s and women’s basketball teams are among the best in the nation.

The Gonzaga men’s basketball team has qualified for every NCAA Tournament since the 1998–99 season. The Bulldogs have advanced to the second round of the tourney for the past nine years and reached the national championship in 2021, where they lost to Baylor.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few was an assistant with the U.S. men’s basketball team that won a gold medal this past summer at the Paris Olympics.

The women’s program finished last season at 32–4 and advanced to the program’s fifth Sweet 16 appearance. The Bulldogs have advanced to seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments.

Lisa Fortier was named the Kathy Delaney-Smith Coach of the Year last season.

Gonzaga is another boost to the Pac-12, which was decimated by the departure of USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington to the Big Ten and Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley to the ACC.

In addition to Gonzaga, the Pac-12 boosted its membership by adding Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, California State University, Fresno, Utah State, and San Diego State, which advanced to the national championship game in men’s basketball in 2023. Those schools will also begin competition in the Pac-12 starting in the 2026–27 academic year.

However, the Pac-12 still has work to do.

Last month, Memphis, Tulane, South Florida, and the University of Texas at San Antonio decided to remain with the American Athletic Conference after overtures to join the Pac-12.

As a result, the Pac-12 will look to expand further with other programs.

“For over a century, the Pac-12 Conference has been recognized as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics,” Gould said in a statement on Sept. 12 after adding Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, and San Diego State.

“We will continue to pursue bold cutting-edge opportunities for growth and progress, to best serve our member institutions and student-athletes.”