The Big West School Spotlight: UC Irvine

3/6/2026 9:00:00 AM

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

University of California, Irvine (UCI) was established in 1965 as part of the California Master Plan for Higher Education to accommodate post-war population growth. The 1,000-acre campus was designed by architect William Pereira on former Irvine Ranch land, with the Irvine Company selling the site for one dollar. It was officially dedicated by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

The University of California, Irvine is celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2025-26, and athletics has been at the forefront of the university’s success. UC Irvine has won 28 national championships and captured 64 individual NCAA titles. Anteater teams have won 131 Big West championships (85 postseason, 46 regular season), most recently in a men's soccer double (regular season and postseason) this past fall.

SCHOOL FACTS

Location:	Irvine, Calif.
Founded	1965
Nickname:	Anteaters
Enrollment:	36, 621
Alumni:	240,000+
Chancellor:	Howard Gillman
Athletic Director:	Paula Smith
Big West Member Since:	1977
Big West Championships:	131 (85 postseason, 46 regular season)

BOLD MOMENTS

Recent Success Across All Sports

2024-25 Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner's Cup

UC Irvine captured the 2024-25 Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner's Cup awarded annually to The Big West institution that has the highest degree of success in all conference-sponsored sports during the academic year. It was the first time the Anteaters stood on top, tallying 148.8 points, the second highest total all-time. Women’s outdoor track & field claimed their first ever Big West title, while baseball and men’s water polo were regular season champions.

The 2023-24 season was dubbed “The Year of The Anteater” by the department, as it was one of the most successful years as seven teams made NCAA appearances. UC Irvine was fourth in the nation in the LEARFIELD Director's Cup D-IAAA (non-football) final standings. Six teams (women's soccer, men's water polo, men's volleyball, men's tennis, women's water polo, baseball) ended the year nationally ranked, including three teams in the top 5 during the season.

Recent Big West Champions

2024 Women's Basketball

2025 Women's Track & Field

2025 Men's Tennis

Men's Volleyball National Champions

UC Irvine won four NCAA men's volleyball national championships in seven years, winning in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2013. The Anteaters swept both final matches in 2012 and 2013, 3-0 against USC and BYU, respectively.

Under head coaches John Speraw (2007, 2009, 2012) and David Kniffin (2013), the Anteaters became the first team in 17 years to repeat as champions in 2012 and 2013, with stars like Carson Clark and Connor Hughes.

2013 National Champions

NOTABLE ALUMS IN THE PROS/OLYMPICS

David Smith

Keston Hiura

Scarlett Camberos

Greg Louganis

ACADEMICS

The ranking measures how a college provides a high-quality education (academics, reputation, resources) for a relatively low net price (tuition, fees, and room/board after financial aid). [2025]
The ranking measures return on investment for low- and moderate-incomes [2022]
A Money magazine 5-star rating, used in their "Best Colleges in America" list, signifies that an institution is a top-tier, high-value, and affordable school with excellent student outcomes. [2023]
UC Irvine is a public institution that has maintained a ranking within the top 10 nationwide for a full decade, demonstrating sustained high performance. [2022]
Forbes' ranking is based on a 7-metric formula prioritizing return on investment, high alumni salaries, low student debt and high graduation rates. [2025]
As of 2025, UC Irvine alumni, faculty, and researchers have earned 5 Nobel Prizes and 7 Pulitzer Prizes.
The Association of American Universities (AAU) is an invitation-only organization founded in 1900, comprising 71 leading public and private research universities in the US and Canada.