Big Sky Conference season in the Big Sky, giving the conference five members with at least 40 years of continuous membership. Eastern Washington University joined the Big Sky Conference in 1987, followed by Portland State University and Sacramento State in 1996. The Big Sky became a nine-team league in 2006 with the addition of the University of Northern Colorado.
Founded: 1963 Women’s Sports Added: 1988 Member Schools: Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, Portland State, Sacramento, State, Southern Utah Sponsored Sports: Football, Soccer (W), Volleyball, Basketball (M/W), Golf (W), Cross Country (M/W), Tennis (M/W), Indoor Track & Field (M/W), Outdoor Track & Field (M/W) Mailing Address 2491 Washington Blvd., Ste. 201 Ogden, Utah 84402 Office Phone: (801) 392-1978 Fax: (801) 392-5568 Website: www.bigskyconf.com Commissioner: Doug Fullerton
A new era in the Big Sky Conference begins in 2012-13 as the league enters its 50th year of athletic competition, and its 25th sponsoring women’s collegiate athletics. The Division I Big Sky Conference welcomes the University of North Dakota and Southern Utah University into the fold as full members. Cal Poly and UC Davis join the league as affiliate members in football, where the league competes at the Championship Subdivision level (formerly I-AA). The additions of North Dakota and Southern Utah give the stable Big Sky 11 full institutions and 13 football members. The current lineup includes four of the six charter members: Idaho State University, The University of Montana, Montana State University and Weber State. Northern Arizona enters its 43rd School Eastern Washington Idaho State Montana Montana State Northern Arizona Northern Colorado North Dakota Portland State Sacramento State Southern Utah Weber State
44
Mascot Eagles Bengals Grizzlies Bobcats Lumberjacks Bears -Vikings Hornets Thunderbirds Wildcats
The league has become one of the strongest Division I conferences in the West and is a national leader in the Football Championship Subdivision. Six times, Big Sky teams have won the Division I National Championship, including Eastern Washington in 2010. A Big Sky team has played for the national championship in three of the past four seasons. The Big Sky Conference was established in 1963 by six charter members – Idaho, Idaho State, Gonzaga, Montana, Montana State and Weber State. Those six schools formed the foundation of the Big Sky before the league expanded in 1970 by adding Boise State and Northern Arizona. Gonzaga left the Sky in 1979 and was replaced by Nevada, which gave the league eight members. The conference grew to nine schools in 1987 with the addition of Eastern Washington.
On Feb 25, 1963, the name Big Sky was adopted by the six presidents of the charter members as the name of the new conference. The name Big Sky originated in a novel written by the late A.B. (Bud) Guthrie of Great Falls, Mont., in 1947 entitled “The Big Sky.” Jack Hollowell, a former Montana advertising director, promoted the Big Sky theme for the Treasure State. While on a track and field trip from Pocatello, Idaho, to Missoula, Mont., legendary Dubby Holt of Idaho State saw a “Welcome to Big Sky Country” sign as his team entered Montana. Holt, and his athletes thought “Big Sky” would be a perfect name for the new conference. Harry Missildine of the Spokane Spokesman-Review called for the newly formed league to be named the Big Sky Conference in his column dated Feb. 20, 1963. The Big Sky sponsors championships in 15 sports, including men’s and women’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, basketball and tennis. In addition, there are also championships in football, and women’s volleyball, golf and soccer. This upcoming spring, the Big Sky will sponsor a softball championship for the first time. In 1988-89, the Big Sky Conference first began sponsoring women’s sports. The former Mountain West Conference existed from 1982-88, sponsoring championships for women’s sports at the same institutions the Big Sky had men’s programs. The Big Sky merged with the Mountain West in 1988, forming one league for both men and women.
The 1990s saw change in the makeup of the league, beginning in 1992 when Nevada departed and put the Big Sky back at eight teams. In 1996 Boise State and Idaho left and at the same time the conference added Portland State, Sacramento State and Cal State Northridge. The Big Sky maintained nine teams for five years be- Doug Fullerton, the fifth commissioner of the fore Cal State Northridge departed in the spring Big Sky Conference, is in his 18th year at the helm. Fullerton took over the Big Sky on July of 2001. 1, 1995, replacing longtime commissioner Ron The Big Sky now includes nine states spanning Stephenson, who passed away in 2011. Stefrom the Pacific Ocean to the Red River Val- phenson served the league for 14 years. Steve ley of North Dakota. The league is represented Belko was the commissioner from 1977-81, along the entire west coast with institutions in while John Roning held the post from 1971-77. Washington, Oregon and California. League The first league commissioner was Jack Friel, schools also range up and down the Rocky who served from 1963-71. Mountains with institutions in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Colorado.
Location Cheney, Wash. Pocatello, Idaho Missoula, Mont. Bozeman, Mont. Flagstaff, Ariz. Greeley, Colo. Grand Forks, N.D. Portland, Ore. Sacramento, Calif. Cedar City, Utah Ogden, Utah
2011 Men’s Big Sky Finish 7th (167) 6th (134) 4th (122) 3rd (86) 1st (26) 8th (224) NA 9th (236) 5th (131) NA 2nd (42)
2011 Women’s 2012 Men’s 2012 Women’s Big Sky Finish Preseason Poll Preseason Poll 8th 8th 7th (192) 7th 4th 2nd (50) 6th 3rd 5th (116) 3rd 5th 4th (89) 2nd 3rd (82) 1st 9th 8th (215) 10th 10th NA 9th 11th 11th 9th (273) 4th 7th 6th (139) 5th 6th NA 1st (40) 2nd 1st
Five-Time Defending Big Sky Men’s Champions