COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West Conference today announced the addition of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as the eighth full-time member of the league, beginning competition for all conference sports on July 1, 2026.
“We are thrilled to welcome the University of Hawaiʻi to the Mountain West as a full-time member,” said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “Hawaiʻi has been a tremendous football-only member since 2012, and we’re excited to add their incredible national brand across all MW sports. As the flagship institution on the islands, with extraordinary academics and a celebrated athletics tradition, we look forward to providing their student-athletes with exceptional educational and athletic experiences.”
Starting with the 2026-2027 academic year, the Mountain West will feature the United States Air Force Academy, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Nevada, Reno, University of New Mexico, San José State University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of Texas, El Paso and the University of Wyoming.
Hawaiʻi will now compete in 15 conference-sponsored sports in the Mountain West. Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swim and dive, tennis, and volleyball. Men’s sports include basketball, baseball, football, golf, and tennis.
“The University of Hawaiʻi is honored to accept full membership in the Mountain West Conference, marking a pivotal moment in our athletic program’s history,” said UH President David Lassner. “This expanded partnership will build upon our strong football relationship and securely position us to thrive with our Mountain West colleagues in the incredibly dynamic landscape of intercollegiate athletics.”
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is recognized as a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution. UH Mānoa is ranked 48th among U.S. public universities in the level of extramural research expenditures ($317 million), and 37th among U.S. public universities in Federal research expenditures, according to the latest figures from the National Science Foundation. With these funds, UH Mānoa maintains a vibrant and active research program.
The University is ranked among the top world universities for its publications. According to the 2015 Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities, the University of Hawaiʻi is 186th overall, and 71st in the United States. This ranking provides a snapshot of the continuing efforts in research productivity, research impact and research excellence.
UH Mānoa is the only Division I school in the State of Hawai‘i and sponsors 21 men’s, women’s and coed sports. The school became a member of the NCAA in 1946 and joined its first major intercollegiate conference in 1979. UH boasts six team national championships and 11 individual national champions in its history.
“This is a momentous day for University of Hawai‘i Athletics,” said UH Athletics Director Craig Angelos. “We’ve had the privilege of being a football-only member in the Mountain West for the last dozen years. Now the majority of our sports will enjoy the same experience of competing in this exceptional conference. Joining the Mountain West allows us to renew historic rivalries, creates opportunities for increased exposure, and provides stability in the constantly evolving world of collegiate athletics.”
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