History of the Western Athletic Conference

1958: Representatives of Brigham Young, Oregon and Oregon State meet to discuss an "ideal conference" that would also include Arizona, Arizona State, Brigham Young, New Mexico and Washington State.

1960: Athletic directors at New Mexico and Arizona organize a meeting that included representatives of the same eight schools.

1960-61: Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State decide to realign with the other Pacific Coast institutions. Wyoming, New Mexico State and Utah State applied to fill the new vacancies, but only Wyoming was accepted as the final charter member.

1962: The WAC begins operation with 10 sports and six charter members -- Arizona, Arizona State, Brigham Young, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

1967: Texas-El Paso and Colorado State join

1978: Arizona and Arizona State withdraw; San Diego State joins.

1979: Hawaii joins.

1980: Air Force Academy joins.

1992: Fresno State joins.

1996: Rice, SMU and TCU from the disbanded Southwest Conference join the WAC, along with UNLV, San Jose State and Tulsa.

1998: Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah and Wyoming announce intention to leave conference after 1998-1999 season, saying a 16-team league is unmanageable.

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