For nearly 65 years, the Western Athletic Conference has existed throughout the southwestern and pacific northwest regions of the United States.
Starting July 2026, it will cease to exist as the WAC as it undergoes a rebranding, becoming the United Athletic Conference.
Though just a remodeling, the conference will lose all “WAC” imagery and relevance in the ever-changing landscape of college athletics.
In the 63 years since its founding in July 1962, the WAC has housed 43 full members across 15 states.
Those 43 members have ranged from the Pacific coast with members like Fresno State University, Seattle University and California Baptist University, to Chicago State University, Colorado State University, Wyoming University and other programs that eventually moved on to bigger conferences.
Most recently, the WAC has been a mid-major powerhouse, producing programs such as Grand Canyon University, Utah Valley University and Abilene Christian University – all teams with March Madness appearances or wins since 2020.
The WAC has served programs by giving them a mid-major scene to grow and develop before moving on.
During the 1996 season, the conference housed 16 different teams. The teams were divided into divisions based on location. Eventually, the conference broke up, helping create what is now the Big 12 Conference and the Mountain West Conference.
Dave Chaffin, current Chief Financial Officer for the WAC, has served the conference for 31 seasons in various roles, including sports information, sports administration and work with the championships, before moving to the financial side of the WAC.
Chaffin said that while the conference got up to 16 members in 1996, it became “unwieldy” at the time, eventually forming the Mountain West.
“We went from 16, down to eight and had another couple of teams come in,” Chaffin said. “It rebuilt from there and became very successful again.”
With teams like Boise State University and the University of Nevada joining the WAC before moving to the Mountain West, it continued to serve as a building block and a space for improvement amongst mid-major programs.
“The WAC was a place where if you put the work and resources into it, you were able to move up and transition into something bigger,” Chaffin said.
As it rebrands to the UAC in July 2026, it will still serve a similar role for mid-major programs. However, the conference location will make a general shift to the South and South East as it welcomes programs like Eastern Kentucky University, Central Arkansas University and Little Rock University.
The UAC will still feature WAC staples like ACU, Tarleton State and the University of Texas-Arlington, while losing members like CBU, UVU and Southern Utah University.
This rebranding marks a significant shift in the conference’s complex history. The logos, trophies and slang will all change, moving away from the staples the mid-major members have come to know and love.
Broadcasters referring to conference play as “WACtion” will cease to use the clever word play, and the iconic basketball tournament token “WAC Vegas” will no longer hold its same postseason prestige.
The rebranding does not mean it will be forgotten, but rather remembered as a conference focused on the programs within its growth and movement toward larger scenes.
