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Grand Canyon changes course and leaves the WCC for the Mountain West Conference

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Less than six months after announcing its participation in the West Coast Conference, Grand Canyon announced Friday that it will join the Mountain West Conference beginning in July 2025.

This is the school's final year in the Western Athletic Conference.

GCU will not play football in the Mountain West, where there is football. There are no plans for GCU to host football.

It has always prided itself on being a basketball school.

The Lopes will compete against the likes of New Mexico, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming, San Jose State, Air Force, UTEP and Hawaii.

“We are incredibly grateful for the Mountain West Conference’s interest in GCU and their recognition of the value we provide to its members,” GCU President Brian Mueller said in a school release. “Lope Nation has grown primarily due to the innovative strategies and creative delivery models that allow us to offer cutting-edge academic programs both on our campus and across the country. This has created tremendous momentum that benefits our athletic programs.”

With Gonzaga being courted by the rebuilding Pac-12 and set to leave the WCC for that conference after this school year, GCU was left in limbo. The big draw for the WCC was Gonzaga for GCU. Gonzaga will be a non-football school competing in the Pac-12.

The Mountain West pursued Grand Canyon, which will play basketball games in much larger venues. The Pac-12 also expressed interest.

“We felt the long-term interests of the university would be best served by participation in the Mountain West Conference,” Mueller said.

A press conference will be held Monday before GCU opens its men's basketball season against Cal State Fullerton.

GCU has won the last two WAC tournament championships and three of the last four during coach Bryce Drew's tenure. Last season, the Lopes won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time, beating fifth-seeded Saint Mary's College as a No. 12 seed in the West Regional.

“Grand Canyon is a tremendous asset to the Mountain West,” Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in the school announcement. “We are excited to expand our footprint to the city of Phoenix and the state of Arizona.”

“Grand Canyon has been on an upward trajectory both academically and athletically over the past decade, and its addition to the league will increase competition across the Mountain West as we strive to earn NCAA postseason bids and compete for national championships .”

As with GCU in the WAC, the Mountain West will play its season-ending conference tournament in Las Vegas.

Richard Obert has covered high school sports for the Arizona Republic since the 1980s. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest ideas for human interest stories and other news stories, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

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