UNLV's New Home Will be Mountain West Conference
Presidents and new commissioner announce eight-team league's name.
October 26, 1998
LAS VEGAS - It's official.
UNLV's new league will be named the Mountain West Conference.
Commissioner Craig Thompson and the presidents of the eight universities that will make up the
Mountain West announced the name Monday.
UNLV will be joined by Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State,
Utah and Wyoming when the conference officially begins on July 1, 1999.
"Mountain West Conference was the name that rose to the top and a name that seems to resonate
with people," Colorado State president Albert C. Yates, who also is serving as president of
the league, said. "The Mountain West Conference name also brings to mind the geographic
setting of our conference, and soon will be synonymous with the excellence in academics and
athletics of the institutions involved."
A transition team met weekly to review possible names and research trademark issues and
marketing potential. A logo for the new conference is currently being developed.
Thompson, the current commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference, was named to lead the new
league earlier this month. The next major announcement by the conference will be a selection
of the league's headquarters.
