LA JOLLA, Calif. – A new era is here! UC San Diego has begun its transition to NCAA Division I and the Big West Conference. As part of the move to Division I, UCSDtritons.com introduces our fans to the Big West and the other 10 members - our new conference foes.
Today on our new rival series, we highlight UC Irvine. Get to know all about the Anteaters below.
School: University of California Irvine
Nickname(s): UC Irvine, UCI, Anteaters
Location: Irvine, Calif.
Founded: 1965
Undergrad Enrollment: 37,269
Joined Big West: 1977
Mascot: Peter the Anteater was selected to be the UCI mascot 50 years ago. When students were tasked to pick a fierce mascot, they wanted to go against the status quo and pick one that embraced the power of being different.
Website: University |
Athletics
Social: Facebook |
Instagram |
Twitter
Tickets: https://ucirvinesports.com/sports/tickets
Last NCAA Title:
Division I: 2013 (Men's Volleyball)
Did You Know?
- UCI is #1 on Forbes magazine's list of America's Best Value Colleges.
- Planet of the Apes and Ocean's Eleven were both filmed on the campus.
Notable Alumni:
- Keston Hiura (MLB, Milwaukee Brewers)
- Darren Fells (NFL, Houston Texans)
- Brad Evans (MLS, Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders)
Triton Connections:
UC San Diego men's basketball coach
Nick Booker coached basketball at UCI for six seasons and UC San Diego men's golf coach
Fred Hanover is a UCI alumnus. UCI baseball coach
J.T. Bloodworth coached at UC San Diego for six years.
Distance from UC San Diego: 70 miles
Be sure to check UCSDtritons.com on Monday to learn more about UC Riverside.
Meet Our New Rivals Series
Big West
Cal Poly
Cal State Bakersfield
Cal State Fullerton
CSUN
Long Beach State
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Riverside
UC Santa Barbara
Hawai'i
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide more than 1,300 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
