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West Coast Conference Faces Uncertain Future After Gonzaga, Bennett Departures
Longtime league must adapt to major shifts in top programs and leadership.
Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:55pm
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The West Coast Conference is facing significant changes after the departures of powerhouse program Gonzaga University and longtime Saint Mary's College head coach Randy Bennett. The conference, centered in California, must now chart a new path forward without its most dominant basketball team and one of its most respected coaches.
Why it matters
The West Coast Conference has long been overshadowed by the larger and more prominent Pac-12, but Gonzaga's rise to national prominence in recent decades helped elevate the WCC's profile. The loss of Gonzaga, along with the retirement of Saint Mary's legendary coach Randy Bennett, leaves a major void that the conference will need to fill to maintain its relevance and competitiveness.
The details
Gonzaga, which has been a member of the West Coast Conference since 1979, announced it would be departing the league to join a new, yet-to-be-named conference. The move comes after Gonzaga's men's basketball team has won 18 of the last 23 WCC regular season titles and made 24 NCAA Tournament appearances. Additionally, Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett, who has led the Gaels for 22 seasons, announced his retirement effective at the end of the current season.
- Gonzaga announced its departure from the West Coast Conference in February 2026.
- Randy Bennett will retire as Saint Mary's head coach at the end of the 2025-26 season.
The players
Gonzaga University
A private Catholic university in Spokane, Washington that has been a dominant force in the West Coast Conference, winning 18 regular season titles in the last 23 years and making 24 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Randy Bennett
The longtime head coach of the Saint Mary's College men's basketball team, who has led the Gaels for 22 seasons and is set to retire at the end of the 2025-26 season.
West Coast Conference
A NCAA Division I college athletic conference located primarily in California that has included Gonzaga University as a member since 1979.
What they’re saying
“Gonzaga's departure is a major blow to the West Coast Conference. They've been the face of the league for decades.”
— Jon Wilner, Sports Columnist
What’s next
The West Coast Conference will need to work quickly to find a replacement for Gonzaga and determine how to maintain its relevance and competitiveness without its most successful program. The conference will also need to identify a new leader to replace the retiring Randy Bennett at Saint Mary's.
The takeaway
The departures of Gonzaga and Randy Bennett represent a seismic shift for the West Coast Conference, which must now chart a new course forward without its most dominant basketball program and one of its most respected coaches. The conference's ability to adapt and find new sources of strength will be crucial in determining its future standing within the NCAA landscape.
