The wait is over, CSUB officially joins Big West

A leap forward for CSUB Athletics

By California State University, Bakersfield

June 30^th, 2020

California State University, Bakersfield will achieve a 15-year dream on July 1, when the Roadrunners officially join the Big West Conference, a leap forward for CSUB Athletics and the scholar-athletes who bring distinction, excellence and the thrill of top-notch sports competition to our region.

“I cannot overstate how big this moment is for CSUB, the Athletics Department and Kern County as a whole,” said Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried, CSUB director of athletics.

“We have dreamed of this day for years and we are so excited it has finally arrived.”

“Dr. Zelezny has already ingrained herself in the Big West Board of Directors and has been an incredible advocate for our university,” Siegfried continued. “This move is the next step in the growth of our Athletics Department and I truly believe CSUB is prepared to excel on the next level.”

CSUB President Dr. Lynnette Zelezny calls the move to the Big West a win for scholar-athletes, the university and the community.

“A tremendous benefit of the Big West Conference is that the schools are all in California, except Hawaii,” President Zelezny said. “That means less travel time for our scholar-athletes, and more time spent on academics and service to the community. Our community will love the friendly rivalries that will develop with other California universities and the energy that will bring to our games. This is exciting news for every sports fan in our region.”

The wait is over, CSUB officially joins Big West

On Nov. 27, 2017, the Big West Conference Board of Directors voted to invite CSUB and UC San Diego to join the conference. On Wednesday, the `Runners and Tritons will round out a diverse group of universities by joining the Big West’s nine existing members – Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, Cal Poly, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis and the University of Hawai’i – to form a league of 11.

Bakersfield’s affiliation with the Big West began two years ago, on July 1, 2018, when representatives of CSUB were invited to begin attending Big West meetings. President Zelezny, Dr. Siegfried and other CSUB senior officials have been active voices in those council meetings, advocating on behalf of Bakersfield.

While excitement builds for the new era of competition, Bakersfield’s first season in the conference will be affected by necessary safety restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. CSUB Athletics is working tirelessly to prepare for the upcoming season and to afford its scholar-athletes the opportunity to compete while remaining safe and healthy.

“What’s happening now is nothing short of a worldwide revolution in the way athletes will compete,” Dr. Siegfried said. “At CSUB, we’re being proactive in planning what competition will look like going forward, in collaboration with the CSU, the NCAA and the Big West. There are many questions that still need to be answered, but we owe it to our scholar-athletes and the community to be prudent. We will have details soon.”

ABOUT THE BIG WEST CONFERENCE:

The Big West Conference entered its 51st year of operation with the 2019-20 season.

The conference sponsors 18 sports, including soccer, volleyball, cross country, basketball, softball, beach volleyball, track and field, golf and baseball.

Moving into its sixth decade of existence, the hallmark of the Big West is consistent academic and athletic excellence. While undergoing membership changes throughout its long history, the conference has enhanced its stability and national standing during a very unstable period of national conference realignment.

ABOUT CSUB ATHLETICS:

The CSUB Athletics Department – Bakersfield’s only NCAA Division I program - is committed to providing the best possible scholar-athlete experience, both in the classroom and in competition. The university has 16 teams, more than 300 student-athletes and the support of our entire community. For more on the program, visit GoRunners.com. The Roadrunner Scholarship Fund helps our students excel. To find out more, visit GoRunners.com/give.

The wait is over, CSUB officially joins Big West

A leap forward for CSUB Athletics

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