Azusa Pacific University announces a new era in Cougar Athletics with the return of its football program, set to take the field for the 2026 season. After a five-year hiatus, the university is excited to reinstate this beloved sport and foster a renewed sense of school spirit and community engagement.
In conjunction with the program’s revival, APU athletics will transition to NCAA Division III. APU will compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), having received a unanimous vote from member institutions’ presidents. This strategic move aligns with the university’s commitment to prioritizing the academic and athletic balance of its student athletes, while fostering a competitive and enriching athletic environment. APU’s addition will mark the third expansion of the SCIAC in the past 35 years showcasing the stability of the third-oldest Division III conference.
“The return of football is momentous for APU,” said President Adam J. Morris, PhD. “This decision reflects our dedication to providing a well-rounded educational experience, where students can excel in the classroom and on the field. We are confident that our membership in SCIAC and transition to Division III will allow us to maintain this balance while continuing our athletic excellence and building a successful and competitive football program."
Azusa Pacific sponsored football for more than 60 years and moved onto the national stage in the 1980s, nearly making the NAIA playoffs in 1985 following the sensational season of soon-to-be NFL standout running back Christian Okoye ’86. The Cougars landed that elusive playoff berth in 1998 and ran the table all the way to the NAIA championship under head coach Vic Shealy. The Cougars advanced to the NAIA playoffs another seven times, which included a pair of semi-final appearances, and then qualified for the NCAA DII playoffs twice.
The university now begins its search for a head coach and assembling a coaching staff with extensive experience in Division III athletics. APU will look for candidates who possess a proven track record of success, a commitment to academic excellence, and a passion for developing student athletes both on and off the field.
We are committed to building a football program that embodies the enduring values and principles of APU Athletics and DIII philosophy. Our goal is to create a culture of excellence, where student athletes are empowered to reach their God-given potential academically, athletically, and spiritually. We are excited to welcome talented and dedicated individuals who share this vision.Gary Pine, Athletic Director
The university anticipates that the return of football will bring energy and enthusiasm to APU students, alumni, and the local community, serving as a source of pride and unity for all.
APU alumnus and former NFL player Christian Okoye shares his alma mater’s enthusiasm, “I learned the game at APU, having arrived to pursue track and field. Coaches poured into me, drawing out my skills and challenging me on and off the gridiron. I’m thrilled that more young men will get to experience the same kind of transformation I did attending this Christ-centered university. I’m thrilled that Homecoming will include a football game again and am looking forward to seeing former teammates.”
“What an amazing time it is to be an APU Cougar,” said Travis Gray ’26, Student Government Association president. “I am so excited to see football come back because it not only unites the team but also the student body. I cannot wait to see what happens!”
The SCIAC is made up of nine academically rigorous institutions that also excel on the national level, capturing 12 team and 10 individual titles in the last three years alone. The SCIAC was formed in 1915 when five Southern California institutions combined for the purpose of promoting and governing competition in intercollegiate sports with the fundamental principle of the conference being to encourage the highest ideals of amateur sports in an environment of high academic standards.
Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution on the West Coast, equips students to become compassionate leaders who impact the world for Christ. APU’s 18-sport intercollegiate athletics program has become a model for collegiate athletic success in terms of student impact, integrity, and leadership, with 48 national championships.
Further details regarding the coaching search and the inaugural season schedule will be released in the coming months. Visit athletics.apu.edu and follow @apucougars on Instagram and X, and @azuspacificathletics on Facebook to learn more.
More than 330 student athletes compete in Azusa Pacific University’s 18-sport intercollegiate athletics program. APU has become a model for collegiate athletic success in terms of student impact, integrity, and leadership, with 48 national championships. For seven of the past eight years, APU has finished in the top 20 of the Learfield Directors’ Cup, which ranks all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II athletics programs’ success. APU has hosted more NCAA West Regional playoffs over the past nine years than any other school, and is the four-time defending Pacific West Conference (PacWest) Commissioner’s Cup champion as the conference’s best all-around athletics program.