The Big West School Spotlight: Long Beach State

11/7/2025 9:00:00 AM

See the full 2025-26 School Spotlight Series - About, UCSB, CB, LBSU

Long Beach State was established in 1949 as Los Angeles-Orange County State College and welcomed its first students in 1950. Enrollment surged in the 1960’s, leading to curriculum expansion. In 1972, the campus was elevated to university status, becoming California State University, Long Beach.

Long Beach State has been a member of The Big West since the conference's inception in 1969. Then known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA), the five founding members are Fresno State, Long Beach State, San Diego State, San Jose State and UC Santa Barbara. To date, Long Beach State has won seven NCAA national crowns, 82 Big West postseason championships and 81 Big West regular-season titles.

SCHOOL FACTS

Location:	Long Beach, Calif.
Founded	1949
Nickname:	Beach
Enrollment:	39,530
Alumni:	400,000+
President:	Dr. Jane Close Conoley
Athletic Director:	Bobby Smitheran
Big West Member Since:	1969
Big West Championships:	163 (82 postseason, 81 regular season)

BOLD MOMENTS

Dominance in Volleyball

The Long Beach State men's volleyball team are the reigning national champions. The Beach have won the NCAA title four times in 1991, 2018, 2019, and 2025.

The women's volleyball team has also been competitive with five national titles in women's volleyball - 1972, 1973, 1989, 1993 and 1998 - the first two being AIAW championships. The team's most famous alumna is Misty May, who won three Olympic gold medals in beach volleyball in 2004, 2008, and 2012.

The beach volleyball program started competition in 2012 and is only 14 years old. The Beach are consistently in the national rankings and have made the NCAA Championship three times.

Baseball

Jered Weaver

The Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball program was founded in 1954 and has a rich history, including four College World Series appearances in 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1998.

The program gained national prominence under head coach Dave Snow from 1989 to 2001, winning five Big West championships. Mike Weathers took over for Snow in 2002 and made six NCAA appearances in nine seasons.

Some notable Dirtbag alums include Jason Giambi, Troy Tulowitzki, Evan Logoria, Jered Weaver, Jarren Duran, Marco Estrada, Steve Trachsel and Jason Vargas.

NOTABLE MUSTANGS IN THE PROS

Jason Giambi

Misty May

Troy Tulowitzki

ACADEMICS

Long Beach State was named the No. 3 university in terms of social mobility, helping economically disadvantaged students into higher-income classes.
The university provides the No. 4 value in the west for the cost of education, effectively educating and graduating students at a reasonable price.
This ranking refers to an evaluation based on the university's values, specifically how well they serve students in terms of access, affordability, outcomes, and promotion of public service.
Long Beach State was ranked No. 63 by U.S. News & World Report in its public school rankings.