The Big West School Spotlight: UC Riverside

12/5/2025 9:00:00 AM

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

Before UC Riverside was established, the land the current university sits on was used by the University of California system as its Citrus Experimentation Station. The same orange groves and plant sites are still used for research to this day. By the 1950s, California's growing population made it necessary for the campus to become a full-fledged member of the UC system, and it was so designated in 1959. UC Riverside began enrolling graduate students in 1961.

UC Riverside has been a member of The Big West since 2001. At the Division II level, the Highlanders won four national championships (baseball in 1977 and 1982, women's volleyball in 1982 and 1986) before making the transition to The Big West and Division I. To date, UC Riverside has won 10 Big West postseason championships and five Big West regular-season titles.

SCHOOL FACTS

Location:	Riverside, Calif.
Founded	1954
Nickname:	Highlanders
Enrollment:	71,069
Alumni:	143,000+
Chancellor:	Dr. S. Jack Hu
Interim Athletic Director:	Michelle Almazan
Big West Member Since:	2001
Big West Championships:	15 (10 postseason, 5 regular season)

BOLD STORIES

2022 Men’s Soccer Season

The UC Riverside men’s soccer team had a historic 2022 season, winning The Big West regular-season and championship titles together for the first time in program history. The Highlanders won the regular-season trophy and secured the No. 1 seed in The Big West Championship with a 5-2-2 conference record. In the process eight Highlanders were named to the All-Big West Team, and took home Goalkeeper of the Year (Carlos Gonzalez) and Coach of the Year (Tim Cupello) honors.

UCR defeated No. 4 seed CSUN, 4-1, in the semifinals and No. 2 seed UC Santa Barbara, 1-0, in the title match to take the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Kyle Owens

Former UC Riverside men’s basketball forward Kyle Owens will forever be remembered by the Highlander nation — for the way he played, the way he fought, and the way he cared for those around him. Forever a Highlander.

Owens spent two seasons with UC Riverside (2022–24), where he was a steady contributor and trusted teammate. He appeared in 51 games for the Highlanders, highlighted by a game-winning buzzer-beater against Cal State Bakersfield and a double-double performance in the team's Vegas Championship victory over Wright State.

Beyond the court, Kyle's fight against leukemia rallied support across the Big West and beyond. His courage led to a partnership between the league and NMDP, raising awareness for the need for blood stem cell donors and inspiring countless individuals to take action. Even throughout his battle, Kyle was known to find ways to show support, whether by surprising his teammates at practice or cheering from the stands at the SRC Arena. UC Riverside encourages those who are able to consider joining the blood stem cell registry through NMDP, helping give hope to patients and families in need. More information can be found at: https://www.nmdp.org/get-involved/join-the-registry

NOTABLE ALUMS IN THE PROS

Brenda Martinez

Aaron Long

Troy Percival

ACADEMICS

UC Riverside was named the No. 1 university in terms of social mobility, helping economically disadvantaged students into higher-income classes.
According to the National Science Foundation, UC Riverside ranks No. 3 in the number of Hispanic STEM graduates, nationwide.
UC Riverside was ranked No. 6 in the Public University for Making a Public Impact category by Princeton Review. The ranking covers community service opportunities, student government, sustainability efforts, and on-campus student engagement.
UC Riverside came in at No. 9 in Princeton Review's sustainability rankings amongst public schools. The ranking reflects a commitment to environmental practices, health, and career preparedness.
UC Riverside was ranked No. 22 by U.S. News & World Report in its Most Innovative School list. The ranking measures advancements in curriculum, technology, student life, and facilities, based largely on peer assessments from other academic leaders.
UC Riverside admitted a total of 71,069 first-year and transfer students for fall 2025, a new record. It far exceeded the previous record of 51,345, set in 2024. Click here to read more.

FAMOUS ALUMNI & STORIES

UC Riverside baseball alum Jonas Never has a career as a muralist, working on large-scale pieces that feature local legends and cultural icons.

Never is most famous for massive murals of Los Angeles sports legends throughout the city, including one of fellow UC Riverside baseball alum and then-Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly.

Pieces that Never has painted include Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Ronda Rousey and Kobe Bryant. He’s also done out-of-state work like a mural of Prince that he did in Minneapolis.