The University of Hawaii’s men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, women’s water polo, and men’s swimming and diving programs will be allowed to remain in the Big West Conference as affiliate members once most of the school’s other teams leave for the Mountain West Conference in 2026. The decision was made by the Big West Board of Directors following four days of meetings in Irvine, California. The move ensures that the successful UH programs can continue competing at a high level in the conference.
The University of Hawaii will pay the Big West an annual affiliate fee of $25,000 per sport. UH beach volleyball coach Evan Silberstein expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating that it will allow the school to maintain important relationships and continue competing against top competition in the Big West. The agreement with the Big West is seen as a significant milestone for the UH athletics program, guaranteeing that student-athletes in the four sports can continue competing at the highest level.
Had the vote not gone in UH’s favor, the school would have had to seek membership in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, which includes programs from power conferences like Stanford, USC, and UCLA. The decision to remain in the Big West is expected to benefit both UH and the conference, with UH’s successful programs bringing positive attention and press to the Big West. UH men’s volleyball, in particular, has a strong championship pedigree, having won two national championships under coach Charlie Wade.
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