NCAA board approves CBU’s Division 1 membership status

Riverside, Calif. (Aug. 8, 2022) – California Baptist University has been granted active status as a Division I institution effective for the 2022-23 academic year by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors.

“This is an exciting day for California Baptist University,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president. “Division I is the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics and making the transition to full membership represents a significant step forward for CBU. It’s another way we demonstrate our continual pursuit of excellence, and I am convinced that our student-athletes will compete strongly on the national stage.”

With active status, CBU student-athletes now have the opportunity to compete for berths in NCAA Division I championships.

“Years of preparation went into this and I am thankful for all of the hard work by our campus leadership and staff members to make this a reality,” said Tyler Mariucci, Director of Athletics. “We are ready for this new opportunity of postseason eligibility.”

CBU first announced its plans for a move to the next level in a press conference on Jan. 13, 2017. During the four-year transition process, CBU Athletics teams experienced considerable success including winning 11 conference championships, logging 24 top-three conference finishes and qualifying 14 teams for postseason tournaments involving Division I programs. The Lancers are now immediately eligible for NCAA Division I postseason play, including all Western Athletic Conference Championships, in the 2022-23 season.