U.S. athletic conference
The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA ) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level.[ 1] All of its current members are public universities, and upon UC San Diego's departure on July 1, 2020, all are members of the California State University system.[ 2]
It was founded in December 1938 and began competition in 1939. The commissioner of the CCAA is Allen Hardison. CCAA offices are located in Aliso Viejo, California .[ 3] The CCAA is the most successful conference in NCAA Division II, as its former and current members have won 155 National Championships.[ 4]
Cal State Dominguez Hills
Location of CCAA members:
– Full member
– Future member
Chronological timeline [ edit ]
1938 - The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) was founded. Charter members included Fresno State Normal School (now California State University, Fresno or Fresno State University), San Diego State College (now San Diego State University), San Jose State College (now San Jose State University) and Santa Barbara State College (now the University of California, Santa Barbara), effective beginning the 1939–40 academic year.
1945 - George Pepperdine College (now Pepperdine University) and California State Polytechnic College (now California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo) joined the CCAA, effective in the 1945–46 academic year.
1946 - The College of the Pacific (now the University of the Pacific) joined the CCAA, effective in the 1946–47 academic year.
1949 - Pacific (Cal.) left the CCAA to join the Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA Independent , effective after the 1948–49 academic year.
1949 - San Jose State left the CCAA to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA Independent , effective after the 1949–50 academic year.
1950 - The Los Angeles State College of Applied Arts and Sciences (now California State University, Los Angeles) joined the CCAA, effective in the 1950–51 academic year.
1954 - Pepperdine left the CCAA to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA Independent , effective after the 1953–54 academic year.
1956 - Long Beach State College (now California State University, Long Beach) joined the CCAA, effective in the 1956–57 academic year.
1961 - San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University, Northridge) joined the CCAA, effective in the 1961–62 academic year.
1967 - California State College at Fullerton (now California State University, Fullerton) and California State Polytechnic College, Kellogg-Voorhis (now California State Polytechnic University, Pomona) joined the CCAA, effective in the 1967–68 academic year.
1969 - Cal State–Los Angeles, Fresno State, Long Beach State, San Diego State and UC Santa Barbara left the CCAA to join the Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and form the Pacific Collegiate Athletic Association (PCAA; now known as the Big West Conference), effective after the 1968–69 academic year.
1969 - The University of California, Riverside joined the CCAA, effective in the 1969–70 academic year.
1972 - California State College, Bakersfield (now California State University, Bakersfield) joined the CCAA, effective in the 1972–73 academic year.
1974 - Cal State–Fullerton left the CCAA to join the PCAA, effective after the 1973–74 academic year.
1974 - Cal State–Los Angeles re-joined back to the CCAA, effective in the 1974–75 academic year.
1978 - Chapman College (now Chapman University) joined the CCAA, effective in the 1978–79 academic year.
1980 - California State University, Dominguez Hills joined the CCAA, effective in the 1980–81 academic year.
1990 - Cal State–Northridge left the CCAA to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent (who would later join the American West Conference , effective beginning the 1994–95 academic year), effective after the 1989–90 academic year.
1991 - California State University, San Bernardino joined the CCAA, effective in the 1991–92 academic year.
1993 - Chapman left the CCAA to join the NCAA Division III ranks as an NCAA D-III Independent , effective after the 1992–93 academic year.
1994 - Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo left the CCAA to join the NCAA Division I ranks and the American West, effective after the 1993–94 academic year.
1994 - Grand Canyon University joined the CCAA, effective in the 1994–95 academic year.
1998 - California State University, Chico , California State University, Stanislaus , San Francisco State University , Sonoma State University and the University of California, Davis joined the CCAA, effective in the 1998–99 academic year.
2000 - UC Riverside left the CCAA to join the NCAA Division I ranks and the Big West Conference , effective after the 1999–2000 academic year.
2000 - University of California, San Diego joined the CCAA, effective in the 2000–01 academic year.
2004 - Two institutions left the CCAA to join their respective new home primary conferences: Grand Canyon as an NCAA D-II Independent (who would later join the Pacific West Conference (PacWest), effective beginning the 2005–06 academic year), and UC Davis to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent (who would later join the Big West, effective beginning the 2007–08 academic year), effective after the 2003–04 academic year.
2004 - California State University, Monterey Bay joined the CCAA, effective in the 2004–05 academic year.
2006 - Humboldt State University (now California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt) joined the CCAA, effective in the 2006–07 academic year.
2007 - Cal State–Bakersfield left the CCAA to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent (who would later join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), effective beginning the 2013–14 academic year), effective after the 2006–07 academic year.
2009 - California State University, East Bay joined the CCAA, effective in the 2009–10 academic year.
2015 - California State University, San Marcos joined the CCAA, effective in the 2015–16 academic year.
2020 - UC San Diego left the CCAA to join the NCAA Division I ranks and the Big West, effective after the 2019–20 academic year.
2025 - The University of California, Merced will join the CCAA, effective in the 2025–26 academic year.[ 5]
As of 2024[update] , the CCAA has 12 full members, all of which are public schools in the California State University system.
Institution
Athletic brand
Location[ a]
Founded
Affiliation
Enrollment(Fall 2018) [ 6]
Nickname
Joined
Colors
Division
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Cal Poly Humboldt
Arcata
1913
Public [ b]
5,858
Lumberjacks
2006
North
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Cal Poly Pomona
Pomona
1938
27,173
Broncos
1967
South
California State University, Chico
Chico State
Chico
1887
13,840
Wildcats
1998
North
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Cal State Dominguez Hills
Carson
1960
15,530
Toros
1980
South
California State University, East Bay
Cal State East Bay
Hayward
1957
15,189
Pioneers
2009
North
California State University, Los Angeles
Cal State Los Angeles
Los Angeles
1947
26,029
Golden Eagles
1950; 1974[ c]
South
California State University, Monterey Bay
Cal State Monterey Bay
Seaside
1994
7,046
Otters
2004
South
California State University, San Bernardino
Cal State San Bernardino or CSUSB
San Bernardino
1965
19,467
Coyotes
1991
South
California State University San Marcos
Cal State San Marcos
San Marcos
1989
13,469
Cougars
2015
South
California State University, Stanislaus
Stanislaus State
Turlock
1957
10,154
Warriors
1998
North
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State
San Francisco
1899
24,765
Gators
1998
North
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State
Rohnert Park
1960
6,566
Seawolves
1998
North
Notes
^ All cities are located within the State of California.
^ Part of the California State University System.
^ Cal State LA left the CCAA after the 1968–69 school year to join the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA; now known as the Big West Conference), but re-joined back to the CCAA, effective in the 1974–75 school year.
Notes
^ All cities are located within the State of California, unless noted in parentheses the state where the institution is located by that city.
^ Part of the University of California System.
^ Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
The CCAA had 16 former full members, all but four were public schools. Institutional names and nicknames reflect those used in the final academic year of CCAA membership:
Institution
Location[ a]
Founded
Affiliation
Enrollment
Nickname
Joined
Left
Current conference
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo
1901
Public [ b]
21,306
Mustangs
1945
1994
Big West [ c]
California State University, Bakersfield
Bakersfield
1965
8,720
Roadrunners
1972
2007
Big West [ c]
California State University, Fresno
Fresno
1911
25,341
Bulldogs
1939
1969
Mountain West [ c] (Pac-12 [ c] in 2026)
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton
1957
40,235
Titans
1967
1974
Big West [ c]
California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach
1949
37,776
49ers [ d]
1956
1969
Big West [ c]
California State University, Northridge
Northridge
1958
39,916
Matadors
1961
1990
Big West [ c]
University of California, Davis
Davis
1905
Public [ e]
36,441
Aggies
1998
2004
Big West [ c]
University of California, Riverside
Riverside
1954
22,921
Highlanders
1969
2000
Big West [ c]
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla
1960
33,735
Tritons
2000
2020
Big West [ c]
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara [ f]
1891
24,346
Gauchos
1939
1969
Big West [ c]
Chapman University
Orange
1861
Disciples of Christ
10,001
Panthers
1978
1993
Southern California (SCIAC) [ g]
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix (Arizona)
1949
Nondenominational /For-profit [ h]
25,000
Antelopes
1994
2004
Western (WAC) [ c] (Mountain West [ c] in 2026)
University of the Pacific
Stockton
1851
United Methodist
6,652
Tigers
1946
1949
West Coast (WCC) [ c]
Pepperdine University
Malibu [ i]
1937
Churches of Christ
6,000
Waves
1945
1954
West Coast (WCC) [ c]
San Diego State University
San Diego
1897
Public [ b]
35,578
Aztecs
1939
1969
Mountain West [ c] (Pac-12 [ c] in 2026)
San Jose State University
San Jose
1857
33,025
Spartans
1939
1950
Mountain West [ c]
Notes
^ All cities are located within the State of California, unless noted in parentheses the state where the institution is located by that city.
^ a b Part of the California State University System.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
^ Long Beach State fully rebranded its athletic program as "The Beach" since the 2020–21 school year.
^ Part of the University of California System.
^ Mailing address; the campus is in the adjacent community of Isla Vista .
^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
^ Grand Canyon's for-profit status is disputed. The U.S. Department of Education considers it to be for-profit, but the Internal Revenue Service, the state of Arizona, and the NCAA all consider it a nonprofit.
^ Mailing address; the campus is in unincorporated Los Angeles County .
Membership timeline [ edit ]
Full member (all sports)
Full member (non-football)
Associate member (football-only)
Associate member (sport)
The CCAA sponsors seven sports for women and six sports for men. Cross country, soccer and volleyball are fall sports; basketball is a winter sport; golf, outdoor track & field, softball, and baseball are spring sports. Throughout the years, CCAA teams have won 155 NCAA championships in their sports, which is best among all Division II conferences.
The CCAA has a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which is made up of student-athletes from each member institution.
School
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Soccer
Track & Field Outdoor
Total CCAA Sports
Cal Poly Humboldt
Y
Y
Y
Y
4
Cal Poly Pomona
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
5
Cal State Dominguez Hills
Y
Y
Y
Y
4
Cal State East Bay
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
6
Cal State Los Angeles
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
5
Cal State Monterey Bay
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
5
Cal State San Bernardino
Y
Y
Y
Y
4
Cal State San Marcos
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
6
Chico State
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
6
San Francisco State
Y
Y
Y
Y
4
Sonoma State
Y
Y
Y
Y
4
Stanislaus State
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
6
Totals
11
12
9
8
12
7
59
Future member
UC Merced
Y
Y
Y
Y
4
A CSUEB soccer player attempting to take the ball from a University of California, San Diego attacker
School
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Track & Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Total CCAA Sports
Cal Poly Humboldt
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
6
Cal Poly Pomona
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
5
Cal State Dominguez Hills
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
5
Cal State East Bay
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
7
Cal State Los Angeles
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
6
Cal State Monterey Bay
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
7
Cal State San Bernardino
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
6
Cal State San Marcos
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
7
Chico State
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
7
San Francisco State
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
6
Sonoma State
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
7
Stanislaus State
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
6
Totals
12
11
6
12
10
12
12
75
Future member
UC Merced
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
5
School
Men
Women
Track & Field Indoor
Volleyball [ a]
Water Polo [ b]
Wrestling
Beach Volleyball [ c]
Rowing
Swimming & Diving
Tennis
Track & Field Indoor
Water Polo [ b]
Cal Poly Humboldt
MPSF
GNAC
Cal State Dominguez Hills
IND
Cal State East Bay
PCSC
WWPA
Cal State Los Angeles
IND
IND
PWC
IND
Cal State Monterey Bay
WWPA
Stanislaus State
PWC
IND
San Francisco State
MPSF
IND
UC Merced
TBA[ d]
WWPA
TBA
WWPA
Locations of CCAA members, 2009-2015
School
CCAA Championships(thru 6/2014) [ 7]
Cal Poly Pomona
58
Chico State
52
Cal State Los Angeles
34
Cal State Dominguez Hills
31
Cal State San Bernardino
24
Sonoma State
14
Cal Poly Humboldt
11
Stanislaus State
9
Cal State Monterey Bay
9
San Francisco State
1
Cal State East Bay
0
Cal State San Marcos
0
Conference facilities [ edit ]
School
Baseball Stadium
Capacity
Basketball Arena
Capacity
Soccer/ Track & Field Stadium
Capacity
Cal Poly Humboldt
non-baseball school
Lumberjack Arena
2,000
Redwood Bowl & College Creek Field
7,000 N/A
Cal Poly Pomona
Scolinos Field
1,000
Kellogg Arena
3,000
Kellogg Field
2,000
Chico State
Nettleton Stadium
4,200
Acker Gymnasium
1,997
University Soccer Stadium & Chico State Stadium
3,800 6,000
Cal State Dominguez Hills
Toro Field
500
Torodome / Dave Yanai Court
3,602
Toro Stadium
3,000
Cal State East Bay
Pioneer Field
CSUEB Physical Education Complex
3,500
Pioneer Stadium
5,000
Cal State LA
Reeder Field
500
Eagle's Nest Arena
3,400
Jesse Owens Track
5,000
Cal State Monterey Bay
CSUMB Baseball/Softball Complex
The Kelp Bed
1,000
CSUMB Soccer Complex
660
Cal State San Bernardino
Fiscalini Field & San Manuel Stadium
2,000
Coussoulis Arena
4,140
Coyote Premier Field
300
Cal State San Marcos
CSUSM Baseball Field
1,000
The Sports Center
1,400
Mangrum Track & Soccer Field
Stanislaus State
Warrior Baseball Field
1,500
Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena
2,000
Warrior Stadium & Al Brenda Track
2,000
San Francisco State
Maloney Field
100
Main Gym at Don Nasser Family Plaza
2,000
Cox Stadium
5,000
Sonoma State
Seawolf Diamond
Open
The Wolves' Den
2,000
Seawolf Field
2,000
UC Merced
non-baseball school
Hostetler Court
600
Bobcat Field[ a]
—
^ Bobcat Field is used for soccer only. UC Merced has no on-campus track and field venue.
Current members Future member
Atlantic Central East Midwest South South Central Southeast West Division II