The Clairemont Times: UCSD is Moving to the Big West Conference in the Fall of 2020

It was quite the spectacle in Rimac Arena at UCSD’s campus on Monday, November 27th. The pep band, media personnel, alumni, coaches, players, and even the mascot were in all attendance for an announcement that has “been a long time coming” for UCSD athletics.

UCSD’s athletic director, Earl Edwards, announced the big news of the day: The University will be moving to the division 1 level in the fall of 2020. More specifically, UC San Diego will be joining the Big West Conference.

At the event, Edwards, the Chancellor, the Mayor, and the former Mayor were all seated on the front of the stage. Each of these individuals took turns speaking about what this move means for UCSD and the community.

The school Chancellor, Pradeep Khosla, began the press event and said that the move will “significantly increase visibility” and “elevate the student experience.”

“The timing of this D1 move could not be better,” Khosla said. “UC San Diego is currently undergoing a physical, intellectual, and cultural transformation that is reshaping and re-envisioning our campus and the student experience.”

“This was made possible because of our students,” Khosla added.

Khosla also said that switching to the division 1 level “will heighten [UCSD’s] school pride and unity.”

After Khosla spoke, UCSD played a video demonstrating why the move to the division 1 level is important to the student-athletes.

Edwards then introduced San Diego Mayor, Kevin Faulkner, who spoke briefly about what this transition means for UCSD and the city of San Diego.

“What a great day for the University and a great day for San Diego,” Faulkner began.

“[This move] is about taking that reputation of excellence to the next level, by UC San Diego moving up to Division 1 athletics,” Faulkner said.

Like Khosla, Faulkner said that the change will increase “the overall student experience.”

Falkner concluded, “It was a lot of work to get here… Let’s go get em.”

After the mayor finished speaking, Edwards introduced former San Diego Mayor and current CEO of San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jerry Sanders.

Sanders said that this transition is a “win for our entire region.”

The former Mayor explained that UC San Diego attempted to make this move happen for many years and that UCSD as an institution is one of “the best-kept secrets in the nation.”

Like the other speakers, Sanders stated that moving to the D1 level is a “transformational moment for San Diego and UC San Diego.”

Edwards re-took the stage and introduced a video of the Big West commissioner, Dennis Farrell, welcoming UCSD into the conference. Farrell said that along with UCSD, CSU Bakersfield will also be joining the Big West to increase the teams in the conference from nine to 11.

Once the video finished, Edwards took the stage again.

“Division 1 athletics will provide the opportunity to positively impact the culture within the UC San Diego campus and within the San Diego community,” Edwards said.

He then added that UCSD will now “be able to tell their story on a local, regional, national, and global scale.”

Edwards ended the press conference by showing another student video describing how the college is “moving forward” with this transition.

All in all, it was an exciting event and an exciting Day for UCSD athletics.