The University of Hawaii’s men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo and men’s swimming/diving programs will not need to change addresses in 2026. On Friday, the Big West approved a measure allowing those four UH teams to remain in the league as affiliate members. ADVERTISING “I think it’s great,” UH volleyball coach Charlie Wade said. “It’s what we were hoping for. It’s a win-win for both our school and our department, and the league. … It’s great not only for Hawaii fans to be able to keep the familiar rivalries that we have, but also the possibility to host Big West championships that have been great for our community and the fans of Hawaii.” Fifteen UH sports are set to join the Rainbow Warrior football team as members of the Mountain West Conference on July 1, 2026. The Warriors has been a football-only member of the Mountain West since 2012. Most of UH’s non-football sports competed in the Big West. But the Mountain West does not sponsor men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo or men’s swimming/diving. During the Big West’s monthly meeting on Friday, the board of directors — comprised of the presidents or leaders of the league’s 11 member schools — voted to allow those four UH sports to remain as affiliates. The league waived a rule that capped a school from having no more than three affiliates. Acting UH athletic director Lois Manin said the affiliate fee is $27,500 for all four teams. The Mountain West is expected to cover the $750,000 exit fee for the 15 UH teams leaving the Big West. Although UH has been a member of the Big West for 12 years, UH’s men’s volleyball team competed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation through 2017. Back in 2010, Wade, Jim Donovan and Dennis Farrell met to discuss the possibility of the Big West creating its own men’s volleyball league. At the time, Donovan was UH’s athletic director and Farrell was commissioner of the Big West. That became a reality in January 2018. Since then, the volleyball Warriors have won 39 of 50 regular-season matches against Big West opponents. “We’ve added value to the league all the way back to Jim Donovan and I meeting with Dennis Farrell in 2010,” Wade said. “This really is the genesis of the Big West men’s volleyball league. We’ve been a part of it for a long time, well before it ever started. … I’ve been here from the beginning. I’m proud to see what the Big West has done in men’s volleyball. Not only our success, but all the teams in the league have proven it’s the best league in the country.” Since the league was formed, the Big West has won four of six NCAA Tournament championships — UH in 2021 and 2022, and Long Beach State in 2018 and 2019. There was no championship in 2020 because of the pandemic.

University of Hawaii men's volleyball will remain in Big West

In 2026, the men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo, and men’s swimming/diving programs at the University of Hawaii will continue to call the same league home. The Big West ratified a decision on Friday that permits these four UH teams to stay in the league as affiliate members. ADVERTISING “I’m thrilled about this,” stated UH […]

In 2026, the men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo, and men’s swimming/diving programs at the University of Hawaii will continue to call the same league home.

The Big West ratified a decision on Friday that permits these four UH teams to stay in the league as affiliate members.

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“I’m thrilled about this,” stated UH volleyball coach Charlie Wade. “It’s exactly what we hoped for. This is beneficial for our university, our department, and the league as a whole. … It’s fantastic for our Hawaii fans to maintain the rivalries we cherish, along with the opportunity to host Big West championships that have greatly benefited our community and Hawaii supporters.”

On July 1, 2026, fifteen UH sports will join the Rainbow Warrior football team in the Mountain West Conference. The Warriors have been participating in the Mountain West as a football-only member since 2012, while the majority of UH’s non-football sports have competed in the Big West.

However, the Mountain West does not feature sponsorship for men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo, or men’s swimming/diving.

At the Big West’s monthly assembly on Friday, the board of directors — consisting of the presidents or leaders of the league’s eleven member institutions — voted in favor of allowing those four UH sports to maintain their affiliate status.

The league made an exception to a regulation that restricts a school to no more than three affiliates.

Acting UH athletic director Lois Manin disclosed that the affiliate fee totals $27,500 for all four teams. The Mountain West is anticipated to cover the $750,000 exit fee for the fifteen UH teams transitioning from the Big West.

Despite being a part of the Big West for twelve years, UH’s men’s volleyball team was a participant in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation until 2017. In 2010, Wade, Jim Donovan, and Dennis Farrell convened to explore the possibility of the Big West forming its own men’s volleyball league. At that time, Donovan served as UH’s athletic director and Farrell was the Big West commissioner. This initiative came to fruition in January 2018. Since then, the volleyball Warriors have achieved a record of 39 wins in 50 regular-season encounters against Big West rivals.

“We’ve contributed to the league dating back to the initial discussions between Jim Donovan and myself with Dennis Farrell in 2010,” Wade remarked. “This is truly the foundation of the Big West men’s volleyball league. We’ve been engaged in this process for a long time, well before it launched. … I’ve been part of this from the outset. I take pride in the progress the Big West has made in men’s volleyball. Not just in our achievements, but every team in the league has demonstrated that it is the premier league in the nation.”

Since its inception, the Big West has secured four out of six NCAA Tournament titles — UH in 2021 and 2022, along with Long Beach State in 2018 and 2019. There was no championship held in 2020 due to the pandemic.