Sept. 22, 2005
SPOKANE, Wash. - Humboldt State University, one of the 10 charter members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, has announced its intentions to withdraw from the GNAC effective in the fall of 2006. HSU will join 11 other California institutions in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
The CCAA approved the addition of Humboldt by a unanimous vote of the conference's presidents and athletic directors Wednesday.
"It is unfortunate to lose Humboldt as a conference member," GNAC Commissioner Richard Hannan said. "They have been a valuable asset to the conference and we hate to see them leave, but we understand their situation.
"We have enjoyed a positive relationship with President (Dr. Rollin C.) Richmond, (athletic director) Dan Collen and all of their athletic staff and we will miss that working relationship."
Humboldt's move into the CCAA will afford it more visibility within the state of California, consistent with its student recruiting efforts. "This is a perfect fit for Humboldt State," Collen said. "The timing was right for us to realign with our sister schools in the CSU system and the move enhances the entire university's presence in our home state from a marketing prospective."
"The change in conference affiliation continues our strong support for athletics," Richmond said. "We remain committed to all of our athletic programs, including football. Improving our name recognition, recruitment and retention of students, especially California students, is our primary concern."
Humboldt State currently competes in the GNAC in the sports of football, men's and women's cross country, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, softball and men's and women's track-and-field and also is an independent in crew.
With the announced move of Central Washington University and Western Washington University to the North Central Conference in football next fall, HSU was also due to become an independent in football next fall as well.
The departure of Humboldt leaves the GNAC with nine schools competing in volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball and men's and women's cross country, eight in men's and women's track-and-field, six in softball and women's soccer and three in men's soccer.
The GNAC has four member schools that compete in baseball and seven that compete in men's and women's indoor track-and-field. Humboldt currently does not sponsor teams in those sports.
Humboldt will join Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State L.A., Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State Stanislaus, Cal State Chico, UC San Diego, San Francisco State, Sonoma State and Cal State Monterey Bay in the CCAA.
Cal State Bakersfield announced in August it has made application to gain NCAA Division I status and is expected to relinquish its CCAA membership.
