UH-Hilo soon can swipe out a trip to Laie for another stop in L.A. ADVERTISING UH-Hilo soon can swipe out a trip to Laie for another stop in L.A. The Pacific West Conference on Wednesday formerly welcomed Biola University as
UH-Hilo soon can swipe out a trip to Laie for another stop in L.A.
The Pacific West Conference on Wednesday formerly welcomed Biola University as its newest member. Biola, a private school with approximately 4,000 undergraduate students in La Mirada, Calif., was accepted into the NCAA Division II membership process. The school has been an NAIA member since 1964.
“We are thrilled to welcome Biola University into NCAA Division II and the PacWest Conference,” league commissioner Bob Hogue said in a release. “The Eagles will be an excellent addition with their strong athletic and academic tradition.”
The Eagles will begin competing in the PacWest in the 2017-18 season, keeping league membership at 14 as BYU-Hawaii on Oahu prepares to get out of the business of college athletics.
Biola is a member of the Golden State Athletic Conference. In the past six years, the PacWest has added five other former members of the GSAC: Azusa Pacific, California Baptist, Concordia, Fresno Pacific and Point Loma.
The Eagles will follow a similar membership process and be ineligible for the NCAA postseason until 2019-20.
The school intends to compete in all 15 sports sponsored by PacWest.
“Biola is ready for the next era of competition in intercollegiate athletics,” school president Barry Corey said in a release.
The Eagles bagged five GSAC titles last season, finishing in the top 10 of the NAIA directors’ cup rankings for the first time.
“Membership will allow Biola to become part of an organization that aligns closely with our vision and values,” Corey said. “I believe we have a great deal to offer one another.”
Over the past five years, Biola sent 44 teams to NAIA national tournaments.
• Holy Names finished its membership process, becoming eligible for the postseason. Concordia has another year to go.
• The fall PacWest season will be Dixie State’s first as the Trailblazers. In April, Dixie dumped its former nickname, the Red Storm, and introduced Brooks the Bison as its new mascot.
