Augusta University men's, women's golf programs find new conference home. On the West Coast
The university announced Thursday that they are set to join the West Coast Conference as affiliate members, beginning with the 2025-26 academic year.
Augusta competed as an NCAA Division-I independent until joining the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) in 2014. The Jaguars joined the Southland Conference following the 2021 season.
"This is a great day for Augusta Golf," Augusta athletic director Ryan Erlacher said in a statement. "The West Coast Conference has an excellent reputation and will provide a wonderful new home for our golf programs. They've been beyond impressive to work with and we are grateful to their leadership for this tremendous opportunity. We look forward to representing the WCC exceedingly well for years to come."
Famously, the Augusta men won back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011. Coached by Josh Gregory at the time, those teams featured names like Henrik Norlander and 2018 Masters Tournament champion Patrick Reed. In 2018, Broc Everett brough home the induvial NCAA national title at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
In total, the Jaguars have advanced to the NCAA Championships 25 times, including top-5 finishes 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2025.
"This is an exciting announcement for our program," Augusta golf director and men's golf coach Steven Paine said in the release. "Joining the West Coast Conference positions our team among top-tier competition and opens new opportunities for growth, exposure, and championship play. Our players will embrace the challenge, and we're confident this move will elevate our program to even greater heights."
On the women's side, Augusta advanced to the NCAA Championships in 2023 and owns 11 NCAA Regionals appearances since 2006. Kennedy Carroll (2024) and and Zoe Pinillos (2025) were named Southland Conference individual champions, while Florida State star Mirabel Ting earned those honors ― along with an All-American nod ― in 2023 as a freshman with the Jags.
"It's a great opportunity for Augusta Women's Golf to compete at a higher level, grow as a team, and represent our university with pride," Augusta women's golf coach Ember Holloway said in the release. "We're ready for the challenge and grateful for the chance to be a part of something bigger."
The other members of the West Coast Conference include Gonzaga, Loyola Marymount, Pacific, Pepperdine, Portland, Saint Mary's, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Seattle. Gonzaga is set to join the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Steelers 2025 preseason opener: how to watch, time, date, opponent
The NFL preseason kickoff has finally arrived with the Hall of Fame Game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions — which begs the question: who are the Steelers playing in their 2025 preseason opener, and how can fans tune in to watch the action? Here is everything you should know about the upcoming 2025 Steelers preseason debut matchup, taking place in less than two weeks. Who do the Steelers play? Pittsburgh is set to kick off its 2025 preseason schedule on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers last faced off against their former AFC Central rivals two years ago, losing to the Jaguars 20–10 in Week 8 of the 2023 regular season. How to watch Steelers vs Jaguars preseason Week 1: Date: Aug. 9, 2025 Time: 7 p.m. ET Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida TV channel: KDKA-TV (CBS Pittsburgh) Streaming services: NFL + For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers 2025 preseason opener: how to watch, time, date, opponent
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
3 Steelers position battles to watch in preseason opener vs Jaguars
The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 preseason opener is just around the corner. While fans will have to make do without the exciting rookie Will Howard, there's still plenty of intrigue as the Steelers face off on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 9 — including these three existing positional battles to keep an eye on. Cameron Johnston vs. Corliss Waitman While not as exciting as some of the other positional battles, the now-healthy Johnston will apparently have to re-earn the starting punter spot. Waitman served admirably in place of the veteran punter last season, but if he wants to remain on the roster, he'll need a fantastic preseason performance. Kaleb Johnson vs. Kenneth Gainwell A battle no one was expecting — that is, until Johnson was surprisingly listed as the RB3 on the unofficial depth chart. Gainwell's experience and talents as a pass-catching back give him the edge over the third-round rookie, but Johnson's performance against Jacksonville could blow the competition wide open. Pat Freiermuth vs. Jonnu Smith Another shocking battle to watch during preseason — if the first-team offense plays a drive vs. the Jaguars — is Freiermuth and Smith for the TE1 role. Many assumed Freiermuth would remain the top tight end due to his experience with Pittsburgh, but the unofficial depth chart let us know that the top spot is up for grabs — and Smith could claim it with a dominant preseason outing. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers position battles to watch in preseason opener vs Jaguars
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jaguars veteran DT Arik Armstead now has a back injury that's sidelining him in camp
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Arik Armstead has yet to play a down in Jacksonville's training camp, a lingering absence that has the Jaguars concerned about his availability for the season opener. The 31-year-old defensive tackle opened camp last month watching from the sideline in what coach Liam Coen equated to giving him 'a little bit of a veteran start.' Now, two weeks later and with Armstead still without a practice rep, Coen said he is dealing with a back injury that has him on the shelf indefinitely. Although Coen expressed optimism that Armstead could be ready for the team's opener against Carolina on Sept. 7, he added 'it's hard for me to say right now.' 'Ultimately, he'll probably know how to get himself ready to go, I would hope,' Coen said Tuesday. 'The key is just making sure that he's healthy and ready to go for the first game. Ultimately, it's a long season, as we know. 'Not to say that early (games) aren't obviously as important as late ones, but it is a long season, and we're really just trying to get him to be as healthy as possible.' Armstead signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with Jacksonville in 2024 that included $28 million guaranteed. It was an eye-popping deal for a 6-foot-7, 290-pound player on the wrong side of 30 who missed 13 games over his final two seasons in San Francisco. Making the signing even more of a head-scratcher, Armstead was brought in to be a backup behind starting edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker — a decision the team believes will be fixed with Armstead now playing inside. 'Just being out there more I'm going to be more productive," Armstead said. 'They're not paying me as a situational player.' Although Armstead saw action in all 17 games last season, he finished with just two sacks. His lack of production prompted him to ask coaches in mid-October to move back to his more natural position as a tackle. They declined. But it was far from a lost year for Armstead. He received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given annually to one of 32 nominees to recognize their humanitarian efforts off the field. It was a career achievement that put Armstead in an exclusive club. But did it buy him any extra grace amid a new regime? Coen, first-year general manager James Gladstone and first-year executive vice president Tony Boselli already have dismantled most of what's widely considered the worst free-agent class in Jaguars history. Last year's group included cornerback Ronald Darby (cut), receiver Gabe Davis (cut), returner Devin Duvernay (cut), center Mitch Morse (retired) and safety Darnell Savage (fighting to make the 53-man roster). Armstead's roster spot appears safe for now, especially since he has a guaranteed salary of $14 million this season. The Jaguars also liked what they saw from him during organized team activities and believe the position switch inside could get him closer to being the guy who had 33½ sacks in nine years with the 49ers. 'I've got a good five years left in me,' Armstead said in the spring. 'I got a lot to prove, a lot to do, a lot to accomplish. I'm not stopping anytime soon. I still feel great. I know I can play at a high level. When that day comes where I feel like I can't play at a high level, I'll shut it down. But I don't see that happening anytime soon.' ___ AP NFL:
