LOS ANGELES - San José State is proud to announce its acceptance into the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) as a full member in women’s water polo, beginning with the 2026–27 academic year.
The Golden Coast Conference, founded in 2014, has quickly established itself as one of the premier women’s water polo leagues in the NCAA. With the addition of San José State and UC Davis, the conference continues to grow in strength, regional presence, and national prestige.
“The opportunity to join the GCC provides our program with a competitive and geographic fit that makes sense for our student-athletes and our future,” said Jeff Konya, San José State Director of Athletics. “We look forward to contributing to the continued growth and prestige of the conference.”
San José State brings a rich tradition of excellence in women’s water polo. Since the early 2000s, the Spartans have finished in the national Top 10 a remarkable 20 times, including consecutive years from 2001 to 2014 and again in 2020 and 2021. The program has produced 22 different All-America honorees, earning a total of 38 All-America selections since 1998. The academic performance of Spartan student-athletes remains equally strong, with eight Spartans earning MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete honors in the 2025 season alone.
“We are extremely excited to welcome UC Davis and San Jose State to the Golden Coast Conference in 2026-27,” said GCC Commissioner Dan Smith. "Being able to add two additional Top-20 teams will be a tremendous asset to our league as we continue to position the GCC as one of the premier women’s water polo conferences in the country. Both of these great institutions will help strengthen our conference and will be immediate contenders for a conference title. We couldn’t be happier with their addition to our league.”
With this move, San José State joins a conference that includes Azusa Pacific, California Baptist, Fresno State, Loyola Marymount, University of the Pacific, San Diego State, and Santa Clara.
The Spartans' entrance into the Golden Coast Conference marks a new chapter in the program’s legacy—one that honors its decorated past while aligning with a future of competitive growth, academic achievement, and regional synergy.
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