Western Athletic
A former conference: seven schools on file. Our membership records under this name start in 2021; its titles go back further. 2022 champions: Abilene Christian and Stephen F. Austin.
2022 standings
| Team | Conf. | Overall | Poll | Elo | Last 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Abilene Christian | 4–2 | 7–4 | 1363 | WLWWL | ||
 Stephen F. Austin | 4–2 | 6–5 | 1336 | WWLLW | ||
 Sam Houston | 3–2 | 5–4 | 1381 | WWWLL | ||
 Utah Tech | 3–3 | 4–7 | 1195 | LWWWL | ||
 Southern Utah | 2–4 | 5–6 | 1244 | LLLWW | ||
 Tarleton State | 1–4 | 6–5 | 1277 | WLLLW |
Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied. Poll: the FCS coaches’ poll, final (else the final AP rank). Elo is our own rating, a measure of strength, not a prediction.
Against other conferences, 2022
Western Athletic teams are 16–14 outside the conference.
- FBS teams0–6
- Atlantic Sun Conference2–3
- Division II4–0
- Big Sky0–3
- MVFC1–2
- Southland Conference3–0
- SWAC3–0
- Others2–0
- Pioneer Conference1–0
The bar is the share of those games won. Games against teams from the FBS count together.
All-WAC teams, 1995
The newest teams on file are from 1995.
First team 27
| Position | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | Beau MorganAir Force | Air Force |
| Running back | George JonesSan Diego State | San Diego State |
| Winslow OliverNew Mexico | New Mexico | |
| Wide receiver | Will BlackwellSan Diego State | San Diego State |
| Marcus HarrisWyoming | Wyoming | |
| Charlie JonesFresno State | Fresno State | |
| Tight end | Chad LewisBYU | BYU |
| Offensive lineman | Bret CillessenAir Force | Air Force |
| James CreggColorado State | Colorado State | |
| Chris FinchSan Diego State | San Diego State | |
| Larry MooreBYU | BYU | |
| Steve ScifresWyoming | Wyoming |
| Position | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive lineman | Joe CummingsWyoming | Wyoming |
| Sean MoranColorado State | Colorado State | |
| John RaassBYU | BYU | |
| Brady SmithColorado State | Colorado State | |
| Linebacker | Michael ComerUTEP | UTEP |
| Brian McCrayAir Force | Air Force | |
| Shay MuirbrookBYU | BYU | |
| Stan RaassBYU | BYU | |
| Defensive back | Raymond JacksonColorado State | Colorado State |
| Harold LuskUtah | Utah | |
| Greg MyersColorado State | Colorado State | |
| Ricky ParkerSan Diego State | San Diego State |
| Position | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| Kicker | Cory WedelWyoming | Wyoming |
| Punter | Brian GragertWyoming | Wyoming |
| Return specialist | James DyeBYU | BYU |
Second team 27
| Position | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | Billy BlantonSan Diego State | San Diego State |
| Running back | Hema HeimuliBYU | BYU |
| Toraino SingletonUTEP | UTEP | |
| E.J. WatsonColorado State | Colorado State | |
| Wide receiver | Jahine ArnoldFresno State | Fresno State |
| Az-Zahir HakimSan Diego State | San Diego State | |
| Rocky HenryUtah | Utah | |
| Tight end | Henry LuskUtah | Utah |
| Offensive lineman | Jay KorthWyoming | Wyoming |
| Chris RaeUtah | Utah | |
| Kyle TurleySan Diego State | San Diego State | |
| Brandon TurnerNew Mexico | New Mexico | |
| Matt TynerNew Mexico | New Mexico |
| Position | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive lineman | Avo AvetisyanSan Diego State | San Diego State |
| Cameron CurryAir Force | Air Force | |
| La’Roi GloverSan Diego State | San Diego State | |
| Henry KaufusiUtah | Utah | |
| Linebacker | Karl BallardColorado State | Colorado State |
| Jason HolandaWyoming | Wyoming | |
| George NogaHawaii | Hawaii | |
| Craigus ThompsonSan Diego State | San Diego State | |
| Defensive back | LeRon HudginsAir Force | Air Force |
| Kelvin KingAir Force | Air Force | |
| Tim McTyerBYU | BYU | |
| Omar StoutmireFresno State | Fresno State |
| Position | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| Kicker | Dan PulsipherUtah | Utah |
| Punter | Noel PrefontaineSan Diego State | San Diego State |
From Wikipedia’s 1995 all-conference team article (CC BY-SA): each player on the best team any selector named him to (the coaches’, the media’s or the AP’s), in the article’s order. Players link to their pages where we could match them.
Champions
Most titles
| BYU | 19 | last 1996 |
| Boise State | 8 | last 2010 |
| Wyoming | 7 | last 1993 |
| Arizona State | 7 | last 1977 |
| Hawai’i | 4 | last 2010 |
| Fresno State | 3 | last 1999 |
| Air Force | 3 | last 1998 |
| Colorado State | 3 | last 1997 |
| New Mexico | 3 | last 1964 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2 | last 2011 |
By year
| 2022 | Abilene Christian, Stephen F. Austin (shared) |
| 2021 | Sam Houston |
| 2012 | Utah State |
| 2011 | Louisiana Tech |
| 2010 | Boise State, Hawai’i, Nevada (shared) |
| 2009 | Boise State |
| 2008 | Boise State |
| 2007 | Hawai’i |
| 2006 | Boise State |
| 2005 | Boise State, Nevada (shared) |
| 2004 | Boise State |
| 2003 | Boise State |
41 earlier seasons, back to 1962
| 2002 | Boise State |
| 2001 | Louisiana Tech |
| 2000 | TCU, UTEP (shared) |
| 1999 | Fresno State, Hawai’i, TCU (shared) |
| 1998 | Air Force |
| 1997 | Colorado State |
| 1996 | BYU |
| 1995 | Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Utah (shared) |
| 1994 | Colorado State |
| 1993 | BYU, Fresno State, Wyoming (shared) |
| 1992 | BYU, Fresno State, Hawai’i (shared) |
| 1991 | BYU |
| 1990 | BYU |
| 1989 | BYU |
| 1988 | Wyoming |
| 1987 | Wyoming |
| 1986 | San Diego State |
| 1985 | Air Force, BYU (shared) |
| 1984 | BYU |
| 1983 | BYU |
| 1982 | BYU |
| 1981 | BYU |
| 1980 | BYU |
| 1979 | BYU |
| 1978 | BYU |
| 1977 | Arizona State, BYU (shared) |
| 1976 | BYU, Wyoming (shared) |
| 1975 | Arizona State |
| 1974 | BYU |
| 1973 | Arizona, Arizona State (shared) |
| 1972 | Arizona State |
| 1971 | Arizona State |
| 1970 | Arizona State |
| 1969 | Arizona State |
| 1968 | Wyoming |
| 1967 | Wyoming |
| 1966 | Wyoming |
| 1965 | BYU |
| 1964 | Arizona, New Mexico, Utah (shared) |
| 1963 | New Mexico |
| 1962 | New Mexico |
Conference titles as each program’s Wikipedia infobox lists them (CC BY-SA), shared titles counted for every co-champion; the conference’s earlier names count as the same conference.
Schools
Every school and its years (7)
Members
- Abilene Christian 2021–2022
- Sam Houston 2022
- Southern Utah 2022
- Stephen F. Austin 2021–2022
- Tarleton State 2021–2022
- Utah Tech 2021–2022
- Lamar 2021
Football membership as CollegeFootballData.com records it under this conference’s name, from 2021; a school’s separate stays are listed apart.
Who came and went
| Season | School | Move | Announced | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Abilene Christian | Left for UAC (football only) | Source | |
| 2023 | Sam Houston | Left for Conference USA | November 5, 2021 | |
| 2023 | Southern Utah | Left for UAC (football only) | Source | |
| 2023 | Stephen F. Austin | Left for UAC (football only) | Source | |
| 2023 | Tarleton State | Left for UAC (football only) | Source | |
| 2023 | Utah Tech | Left for UAC (football only) | Source | |
| 2022 | Lamar | Left for Southland Conference | Source | |
| 2022 | Southern Utah | Joined from Big Sky | January 14, 2021 | |
| 2021 | Abilene Christian | Joined from Southland Conference | January 14, 2021 | |
| 2021 | Lamar | Joined from Southland Conference | January 14, 2021 | |
| 2021 † | Sam Houston | Joined from Southland Conference | January 14, 2021 | |
| 2021 | Stephen F. Austin | Joined from Southland Conference | January 14, 2021 | |
| 2021 | Tarleton State | Joined (independent before) (football only) | January 14, 2021 | |
| 2021 | Utah Tech | Joined (independent before) (football only) | January 14, 2021 |
Football moves from Wikipedia’s lists of NCAA Division I conference changes; the season is the first one played in the new conference, and the date the one the lists or their sources give for the announcement. † Our membership records (CollegeFootballData.com) date the move to another season, or don’t show it. SportsDataverse’s football memberships agree with ours in all 11 team-seasons from 2021. Conference realignment: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA); memberships: SportsDataverse.
The money
The Western Athletic Conference is a nonprofit. Its IRS Form 990 for the year to June 2026 reports $10.7 million in revenue, $2.6 million of it from NCAA basketball tourney, and $15.7 million in expenses; it ended the year with $7.0 million in assets. Its best-paid, commissioner Rebekah Ray, was paid $373,000.
By year
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Top pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | $10.7M | $15.7M | $7.0M | $373K |
| 2024-25 | $15.1M | $18.9M | $11.8M | $161K |
| 2023-24 | $13.8M | $10.6M | $15.7M | $483K |
| 2022-23 | $12.0M | $9.5M | $11.9M | $391K |
| 2021-22 | $9.1M | $8.0M | $8.3M | |
| 2020-21 | $5.8M | $5.2M | $7.9M | $354K |
| 2019-20 | $5.3M | $6.4M | $7.2M | |
| 2018-19 | $6.0M | $6.5M | $8.1M | $334K |
| 2017-18 | $6.2M | $6.1M | $8.4M | |
| 2016-17 | $6.4M | $5.8M | $8.4M | |
| 2015-16 | $4.5M | $4.5M | $7.7M | |
| 2014-15 | $4.6M | $4.9M | $7.9M | |
| 2013-14 | $7.3M | $5.0M | $8.1M | |
| 2012-13 | $17.3M | $17.0M | $5.7M | |
| 2011-12 | $12.1M | $11.4M | $5.5M | |
| 2010-11 | $21.1M | $18.5M | $4.8M |
Best paid, 2025-26
| Rebekah Ray, commissioner | $373,000 |
| Drew Speraw, sr associate | $158,000 |
| Russell Warren, sr associate | $154,000 |
| Dave Chaffin, CFO | $102,000 |
Grants it lists, 2025-26
| Abilene Christian | student assistance | $1.0 million |
| Southern Utah | student assistance | $829,000 |
| University of Texas – Arlington | student assistance | $433,000 |
| Tarleton State | student assistance | $413,000 |
| Utah Tech | student assistance | $226,000 |
From the organization’s IRS Form 990, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and the IRS’s e-file data. Fiscal years end in June; top pay is the best-paid person’s total compensation on the return, listed for e-filed years (2018 on). Grants are the ones the conference lists on Schedule I; bowl payments are the ones bowls list on theirs. See every filing at ProPublica (EIN 84-0516838).