Utah Valley officials explain why move to Big West ideal for state's largest university

OREM — The Wolverines are headed west, and in a big way.

The Big West announced the addition of Utah Valley University as a full member Wednesday morning beginning in 2026, making the largest public university in the state the only non-California member of the soon-to-be 11-team conference after Hawaii accepts full membership in the Mountain West in two years.

It's a pronounced step forward for the Wolverines, whose move leaves the Western Athletic Conference with just five members and comes less than three months after California Baptist announced the same move.

But with recent flights added to the expanding Provo Airport — located just over eight miles from the Orem campus — southern California has never been as close. So, too, are the conference men's and women's basketball tournaments in Henderson, Nevada.

Utah Valley made NCAA Tournament appearances in seven team sports coming out of the WAC, winning four women's soccer titles, two baseball championships and two women's volleyball championships, as well as titles in softball, men's soccer and women's basketball.

Athletically, the Wolverines will face upgraded competition from their new California-based rivals. UVU was recently eliminated from an NCAA baseball regional by Big West champion Cal Poly, for example.

But ...

"This move is about vision, opportunity, and long-term sustainability," said UVU vice president Peterson in the announcement. "Joining The Big West strengthens our reach in the West, enhances travel efficiency, supports competitive excellence, and places our student-athletes in one of the most respected mid-major conferences in the country."

Utah Valley's Jared Sumsion called the move "a launch point for a new era" at the university. KSL.com sat down with the sixth-year athletic director to discuss what it means for the state, keeping historic rivalries with WAC rivals, and shifting sights further west.

The interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

How does the move to The Big West bring "long-term stability" to Utah Valley, as noted by vice president Peterson?

"The WAC has been good to us, and we're grateful for what we've accomplished there. But like any evolving league, there's been a lot of change. The Big West offers something different — it's a stable group of like-minded institutions with strong regional ties and a long-term vision. That consistency allows us to plan ahead, build rivalries that will last, and create a better experience for our student-athletes. It also gives our fans and alumni something to rally around year after year — knowing who we're going to see on the schedule and who we're competing against."

What makes Utah Valley the right and best fit for The Big West, a league currently composed of all California-based schools?

"Utah Valley checks a lot of boxes for The Big West. We're a large, growing institution with over 46,800 students, and our athletic programs have shown they can compete and win at the Division I level. Geographically, it makes sense — California is our recruiting base in almost every sport, and we already compete against many Big West programs in nonconference play. I think The Big West saw a university and an athletic department that's still young in D-I terms, but trending in the right direction. We bring great facilities, a vibrant fan base, and a commitment to doing things the right way."

Go West

More conference realignment: Utah Valley to join Big West in 2026

The Wolverines are headed west — to the Big West, that is — as a full member beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, the university announced Wednesday morning.

What did you learn about Utah Valley through the process of finalizing the decision to join The Big West?

"It really underscored just how far we've come in such a short amount of time. Utah Valley is the only school in NCAA history to jump straight from the junior college ranks to Division I. We didn't even begin full D-I competition until the 2008-09 season and didn't have NCAA automatic qualifiers until we joined the WAC in 2013. Now, less than two decades later, we're being invited into one of the premier mid-major conferences in the country.

"That's an incredible trajectory. It's a credit to the vision of our leadership and the relentless work of our coaches, staff, and student-athletes. I also saw just how aligned we are institutionally — especially President Tuminez, Val Peterson, and our trustees — everyone understood the opportunity and rallied behind it. We're not just climbing the ladder anymore — we're helping shape what's next."

What does Utah Valley's conference move mean for future associations with in-state rivals Southern Utah and Utah Tech?

"We have loved our friendly rivalries with Southern Utah and Utah Tech. All three athletic directors are committed to playing nonconference games in 2026 and beyond, where available. It makes sense for the fans, it is good for our student-athletes, and it helps with travel."

Did California Baptist's recent move to the Big West play a role in UVU's decision to move?

"It wasn't the driver, but it was definitely a factor we considered. CBU is a great institution, and we've built a strong competitive rivalry over the years. Our programs mirror each other in a lot of ways—both young, ambitious D-I departments, and both committed to long-term growth. Knowing that another familiar face will be there makes the transition smoother, and I think the Big West saw value in bringing in two schools with that kind of energy and shared momentum."

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