MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho has accepted an invitation to join the Big West in men's golf, beginning with the 2024-25 season.
Idaho joins Sacramento State in joining the Big West after the Big Sky Conference dropped men's golf after falling to just four teams. It was announced last week that Weber State and Northern Colorado would join the Summit League.
Idaho is familiar with the Big West, having been a full member of the conference from 1996 to 2005. The Vandals won the Big West men's golf title in 2000 and had two other top-three finishes. Every season for at least the last 11 years, Idaho has competed in at least one tournament hosted by a Big West team, signifying long-standing relationships across the conference.
Idaho first fielded men's golf in 1933, and the Vandals have five conference team titles, including Pacific Coast Conference, Big Sky and Big West titles. Three Vandals have also earned individual conference titles, including
Joe Sykes who advanced to the Stanford Regional this season.
"We appreciate The Big West and its member institutions for the opportunity to compete in men's golf," Idaho Athletic Director Terry Gawlik said. "I am excited for our team to build on its success over the past few years and play in a league where we have a conference title to our name. The Big West is an outstanding men's golf league, and we are excited to compete with some of the best teams on the West Coast."
Idaho has a pair of regular-season tournament wins and a pair of runner-up finishes over the last two seasons and the Vandals are ready to continue the rise in a new league.
The Big West hosts its annual championship at the La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, California, near Palm Springs.
"I'm excited to be part of the historic Big West," Idaho head coach
David Nuhn said. "We are familiar with the teams in the league and are comfortable with the high level of golf being played in the Big West. The competition top to bottom in the conference will make our team better. I'm excited for the opportunity to compete for a Big West Championship in 2025 and I know our players feel the same way."
The additions of Sacramento State and Idaho will give The Big West 12 competing programs, joining Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, Hawai`i, Long Beach State, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara.
