It’s official! UC San Diego, one of the world’s leading universities, has attained NCAA Division I status by accepting an invitation to join the Big West Conference. This action culminates a historic process in which Loma has played a key supporting role.
“A great day for the university, and a great day for San Diego,” said Mayor Kevin Faulconer at a major campus media event produced by Loma that announced the landmark occasion.
Loma presents UC San Diego’s vision for Division I success, a formula based on a proven combination of best practices and innovative excellence.
And “landmark” it was. The national conversation about UC San Diego via news outlets and social media platforms increased over 1,000% in the 48 hours following the event.
The story began in 2015, when the university called on us to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of D-I reclassification. Through analysis of best practices from more than a dozen comparable institutions, the study indicated that Division I could help extend the university’s culture of excellence, align it with peer academic institutions, improve the student experience, strengthen the UC San Diego brand, increase alumni engagement and further community connection.
The student body then voted overwhelmingly in favor of the move to D-I athletics, a decision strongly endorsed by the Academic Senate.
“UC San Diego is absolutely doing this the right way,” says Loma principal (and UC San Diego grad) John DeBello, who has worked with more than 20 major university athletic programs, including Stanford, Harvard, Northwestern, UCLA and the University of Virginia. “I see tremendous opportunity for UC San Diego,” he says. “D-I competition will amplify its culture of excellence and elevate its world-class reputation. All of us at Loma are proud to play a part.”
Loma continues its broad scope of work on behalf of Triton Athletics, supporting enhanced outreach to the national media, regional community, campus institutions and prospective student-athletes.
