Azusa Pacific University has received a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, providing a monumental boost to the highly anticipated relaunch of the Cougar football program in fall 2026. This transformational contribution will fully fund the program’s initial startup costs and first year of operations, ensuring the team is equipped and ready to take the field.
Following a six-year hiatus, the revival of football coincides with a dynamic shift for the university: a strategic transition to NCAA Division III and membership in the prestigious Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCAIC). Operating at the DIII level places significant emphasis on the academic experience for all student athletes, while allowing Cougar Athletics to function with exceptional efficiency, which not only makes the financially sustainable return of football a reality, but also creates the operational capacity for APU to proudly add two new women’s sports programs in the near future.
Bringing a collegiate football program back requires significant upfront investment. This generous donation more than covers these critical expenses. The funds will be allocated toward essential gear and infrastructure, including player uniforms, helmets, and pads. It will also cover on-field necessities such as yard and field markers, advanced communication equipment for the coaching staff, and initial coaching salaries.
“I continue to be grateful for and amazed at God’s providence and timing, as evidenced by this incredible $1 million gift to support Cougar football,” said Gary Pine, APU athletic director.
The excitement surrounding the program’s return is palpable among the coaching staff, who are actively recruiting and building the foundation of the new team. Head football coach A.J. Parnell emphasized the immediate difference the donation will make for his roster.
“This generous gift to APU Football is truly impactful,” Parnell said. “We are excited to attract talented student athletes who want to grow in their faith while continuing to play the sport they love at a high level. This gift pushes forward the re-establishment of God First Football at APU!”
For APU leadership, the return of football represents an expansion of the university's core mission. APU is one of only three Christian universities in California with a football program, offering athletes who want to grow spiritually, academically, and personally the chance to excel on and off the field.
“I am grateful for the faithful stewardship and generosity of the donors within our community,” said APU President Adam J. Morris, PhD. “I join the entire APU community in praising God for His abundant provision as we celebrate the return of Cougar football. This gift is more than an investment in a program; it is an important step forward in discipling a new generation of young men. Instructing them to use their God-given talents for His glory—not only as elite athletes on the field, but as Christ-centered leaders within their future careers and the communities they are called to serve.”
The Cougars will start their season on Sept. 5 at the University of La Verne, followed by APU’s first home game on Sept. 19 against Whittier College.
More than 310 student athletes compete in Azusa Pacific University’s 18-sport intercollegiate athletics program. APU has become a model for collegiate athletic success in terms of student impact, integrity, and leadership, with 48 national championships. For seven of the past eight years, APU has finished in the top 20 of the Learfield Directors’ Cup, which ranks all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II athletics programs’ success. APU has hosted more NCAA West Regional playoffs over the past nine years than any other school, and is the four-time defending Pacific West Conference (PacWest) Commissioner’s Cup champion as the conference’s best all-around athletics program.