A New Era in Cougar Athletics

Azusa Pacific University will begin a new era in Cougar athletics with the return of its football program, set to take the field for the 2026 season after a five-year hiatus. The university is excited to reinstate this beloved sport and foster a renewed sense of school spirit and community engagement.

“This is an incredibly exciting announcement; we know how unique football is to the history and identity of Azusa Pacific,” said director of athletics Gary Pine ’84, MBA ’05. “Since the 1950s, football has brought together the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Azusa Pacific while engaging the local community members and developing deep relationships. Whether it was the beauty of the field on Hillside Campus, the new amenities of Cougar Stadium, or the overwhelming sound of thundersticks at Citrus Stadium, football has always been a memorable experience at Azusa Pacific.”

In conjunction with the program’s revival, APU athletics will transition to NCAA Division III. APU will compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) after receiving a unanimous vote from the presidents of member institutions. This strategic move aligns with the university’s commitment to prioritizing the academics/athletics balance of its student-athletes, while fostering a competitive and enriching athletics environment. The decision comes after 18 months of study and review by APU’s executive leadership, with the help of consultants from Bowlsby Sports Advisors.

The return of football is momentous for APU. This decision reflects our dedication to providing a well-rounded educational experience where students can excel in the classroom and on the field. We are confident that our membership in SCIAC and transition to Division III will allow us to maintain this balance while continuing our athletic excellence and building a successful and competitive football program.

President Adam J. Morris, PhD

Azusa Pacific fielded a football team for more than 50 years and moved onto the national stage in the 1980s, nearly making the NAIA playoffs in 1985 following the sensational season of soon-to-be NFL standout running back Christian Okoye ’86. The Cougars landed that elusive playoff berth in 1998 and ran the table all the way to the NAIA championship under head coach Vic Shealy. The Cougars advanced to the NAIA playoffs another seven times, which included a pair of semifinal appearances, and qualified for the NCAA DII playoffs twice.

The university now begins its search for a head coach and will assemble a coaching staff with extensive experience in Division III athletics. APU is looking for candidates who possess a proven track record of success, a commitment to academic excellence, and a passion for developing student-athletes on and off the field.

“We are committed to building a football program that embodies the enduring values and principles of APU athletics and DIII philosophy,” Pine said. “Our goal is to create a culture of excellence where student-athletes are empowered to reach their God-given potential academically, athletically, and spiritually. We are excited to welcome talented and dedicated individuals who share this vision.”

The university anticipates that the return of football will bring energy and enthusiasm to APU students, alumni, and the local community, serving as a source of pride and unity for all.

Okoye, who went on to become the Kansas City Chiefs all-time leading rusher and the 1989 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, shared his alma mater’s enthusiasm. “I learned the game at APU, having arrived to pursue track and field,” Okoye said. “Coaches poured into me, drawing out my skills and challenging me on and off the gridiron. I’m thrilled that more young men will get to experience the same kind of transformation I did attending this Christ-centered university. I’m looking forward to coming back to APU for Homecoming and seeing my former teammates.”

Azusa Pacific ended its football program in 2020, a decision that reflected the decline of California football over the previous 30 years. During that time, 14 California four-year colleges dropped football from their intercollegiate rosters, and APU was the only remaining NCAA Division II school in California offering a football program, and one of only four on the West Coast. APU football became an extremely expensive endeavor with six road games a year, all of which required air travel. In fact, APU was the only Division II school in the nation that had to fly to all of its away games. In addition to the monetary cost, student-athletes missed valuable class time.

In joining the SCIAC, APU will play close to home—all nine member institutions are located within a 70-mile radius of Azusa. Competing with colleges in such close proximity will allow APU student-athletes to quickly return to campus after away games to continue their studies. Founded in 1915, the SCIAC is one of the longest-running athletic conferences in the NCAA, and its current membership still includes its five charter members from 110 years ago—California Institute of Technology, Occidental College, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, University of Redlands, and Whittier College—along with California Lutheran University, Chapman University, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, and University of La Verne. In the last decade, SCIAC schools have captured 23 national championships across 11 sports.

At a time when college athletics across the country are experiencing great disruption, with numerous institutions shutting down or reducing programs, APU’s bold decision to transition to Division III allows the university to extend its sports offerings— by bringing back football, but also by introducing a women’s flag football team and another women’s sport (to be determined in the next three years). By adding three sports to the university’s athletics portfolio, APU expects to bring an additional 150+ student-athletes to campus.

The largest of the NCAA’s three divisions, DIII provides a unique balance of fierce competition and the pursuit of rigorous academics while affording student-athletes the ability to better experience the full spectrum of college life. Often referred to as the “pure sport” division, DIII encourages student-athletes to compete for the love of the game rather than financial incentives, bolstering the ideals of character, discipline, and teamwork.

Looking ahead to the transition, the Cougars will remain in the Pacific West Conference for the 2025-26 year, competing for DII and conference championships. Swimming and diving (Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference), water polo (Golden Coast Conference), and acrobatics and tumbling (National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association) will also retain their respective affiliations next year. For 2026-27 and ’27-28, APU will play a SCIAC schedule, along with nonconference games against NAIA and other DIII schools, while adjusting its operations. In 2028-29, APU expects to be an active DIII member and compete again for NCAA championships.

As APU ushers in a new era in Cougar athletics, some things will remain the same: The program’s impact will continue to reach beyond championships, building athletes of character who are transformed to impact the world for Christ.

“Our coaches minister to their players,” said Vice President Emeritus Cliff Hamlow ’56, PhD, the architect of Cougar athletics who had a 58-year career in intercollegiate sports. “That’s always been true of all our coaches here at APU. That’s why I believe in this place.”