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Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, which is starting a DII team, is apparently planning on moving up to D-I...

Russ Pennell will remain a college head coach in Arizona after all.
The Wildcats' interim head coach of 2008-09 has been hired as the head coach of Grand Canyon University, a Division-II college in Phoenix.

After guiding the Wildcats to a 21-14 record and Sweet 16 appearance in 2008-09, Pennell was offered a multi-year contract with what sources say is a substantial financial package to lead Grand Canyon, which finished with a 13-14 record last season.

While Grand Canyon is currently Division II, the school has applied for Division-IA status and in two years will be able to join a D-I conference. In four years, Grand Canyon will be eligible to participate in the NCAA tournament.

Between that and a new 6,000-seat arena that will be built at the end of the year, the Grand Canyon job is a great opportunity for Pennell.

"I think the unique thing is it will be another Division-I program in the Phoenix area," Pennell said. "The state of Arizona doesn't have many Division-I options as it is. With the general population growing in Phoenix, it will be a great opportunity for kids to stay at home, get an education and play ball."

Pennell first heard from Grand Canyon about a month ago but because the Wildcats were still in season, he didn't want to immediately discuss his future.
http://arizona.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=933665

Sounds almost as ridiculous as D-II Minnesota State-Moorhead wanting to move up to D-I for hockey (and they don't even have a hockey program) and play the likes of Minnesota, St Cloud State, UND, etc...

dbackjon wrote:Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, which is starting a DII team, is apparently planning on moving up to D-I...

Russ Pennell will remain a college head coach in Arizona after all.
The Wildcats' interim head coach of 2008-09 has been hired as the head coach of Grand Canyon University, a Division-II college in Phoenix.

After guiding the Wildcats to a 21-14 record and Sweet 16 appearance in 2008-09, Pennell was offered a multi-year contract with what sources say is a substantial financial package to lead Grand Canyon, which finished with a 13-14 record last season.

While Grand Canyon is currently Division II, the school has applied for Division-IA status and in two years will be able to join a D-I conference. In four years, Grand Canyon will be eligible to participate in the NCAA tournament.

Between that and a new 6,000-seat arena that will be built at the end of the year, the Grand Canyon job is a great opportunity for Pennell.

"I think the unique thing is it will be another Division-I program in the Phoenix area," Pennell said. "The state of Arizona doesn't have many Division-I options as it is. With the general population growing in Phoenix, it will be a great opportunity for kids to stay at home, get an education and play ball."

Pennell first heard from Grand Canyon about a month ago but because the Wildcats were still in season, he didn't want to immediately discuss his future.
http://arizona.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=933665

At least a word about football on a football forum would be good.

I am really surprised GCU is moving to DI, they are mostly a commuter/online school. The athletics in the PacWest are not exceptionally good either.

kemajic wrote:

dbackjon wrote:Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, which is starting a DII team, is apparently planning on moving up to D-I...

Russ Pennell will remain a college head coach in Arizona after all.
The Wildcats' interim head coach of 2008-09 has been hired as the head coach of Grand Canyon University, a Division-II college in Phoenix.

After guiding the Wildcats to a 21-14 record and Sweet 16 appearance in 2008-09, Pennell was offered a multi-year contract with what sources say is a substantial financial package to lead Grand Canyon, which finished with a 13-14 record last season.

While Grand Canyon is currently Division II, the school has applied for Division-IA status and in two years will be able to join a D-I conference. In four years, Grand Canyon will be eligible to participate in the NCAA tournament.

Between that and a new 6,000-seat arena that will be built at the end of the year, the Grand Canyon job is a great opportunity for Pennell.

"I think the unique thing is it will be another Division-I program in the Phoenix area," Pennell said. "The state of Arizona doesn't have many Division-I options as it is. With the general population growing in Phoenix, it will be a great opportunity for kids to stay at home, get an education and play ball."

Pennell first heard from Grand Canyon about a month ago but because the Wildcats were still in season, he didn't want to immediately discuss his future.
http://arizona.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=933665

At least a word about football on a football forum would be good.

That is why I didn't think I needed to say the "Football" team as the one they are starting, since it this is the football forum...


Still trying to get confirmation on this story, BTW...

dgreco wrote:I am really surprised GCU is moving to DI, they are mostly a commuter/online school. The athletics in the PacWest are not exceptionally good either.

Uh, so is Liberty, that doesnt have anything to do with their athletics. Liberty has some pretty successful athletic teams, and if I remember right they are a power in their football conference.

Most universities, public and private, now offer degrees online. Times, they are a changing.

But GCU hardly has a ground campus they are a for-profit school and they are owned by an investment group... I believe. They are not a traditional college. Moving DI might help them establish that, but I still find it odd that they are making this move.

I also know classes are offered online by most schools. I go to UMiami and even though I am ground almost half of my classes are online.

dgreco wrote:But GCU hardly has a ground campus they are a for-profit school and they are owned by an investment group... I believe. They are not a traditional college. Moving DI might help them establish that, but I still find it odd that they are making this move.

I also know classes are offered online by most schools. I go to UMiami and even though I am ground almost half of my classes are online.

What? I think you're thinking of U of Phoenix or Apollo College or something. GCU is a Baptist university, has a beautiful campus just west of I-17 in Phoenix, with dorms and everything!

AZGrizFan wrote:

dgreco wrote:But GCU hardly has a ground campus they are a for-profit school and they are owned by an investment group... I believe. They are not a traditional college. Moving DI might help them establish that, but I still find it odd that they are making this move.

I also know classes are offered online by most schools. I go to UMiami and even though I am ground almost half of my classes are online.

What? I think you're thinking of U of Phoenix or Apollo College or something. GCU is a Baptist university, has a beautiful campus just west of I-17 in Phoenix, with dorms and everything!

According to USNews they are Proprietary, christian non-denominational, They are a for-profit christian university and as I said I am almost certain they are owned by an investment group. Just because they have a religious affiliation and dorms doesn't mean they are not: for-profit, online based, and not traditional.

Everyone is getting so defensive about this school too!

Let me clear this up for you:

Grand Canyon University started as a traditional, Baptist College. It has dorms, and an existing athletic program. Very good baseball team that tried D-I a few years ago.

The University tried to grow too fast, and went bankrupt. It was bought by a for-profit company, which took it into distance/on-line learning, while continuing to grow it's existing traditional college campus, and has been very sucessful in doing so.

dgreco wrote:But GCU hardly has a ground campus they are a for-profit school and they are owned by an investment group... I believe. They are not a traditional college. Moving DI might help them establish that, but I still find it odd that they are making this move.

I also know classes are offered online by most schools. I go to UMiami and even though I am ground almost half of my classes are online.

I hear you, when I got my MBA most of the classes were online.

to be honest with you, depending on the degree. I think most masters should be online. I learned so much more in my online classes and it challenged me to better understand the things on my own before meeting dates.

dgreco wrote:to be honest with you, depending on the degree. I think most masters should be online. I learned so much more in my online classes and it challenged me to better understand the things on my own before meeting dates.

I agree.

GCU used to be in the WAC for baseball, they were going to drop to the NAIA when the (for profit) thing happened. Have they done a study about moving up yet. like UNA did? GWC could use another school they have 7 all sports members and only 5 for fb. If GCU moves up I think football could end up on the back burner with all the costs of being D-I

GWC would be a unique fit for Grand Canyon. I really didn't see a conference for the, but that is a good conference and it could be a permanent conference for them---Unlike some of the teams.

Fresno St. Alum wrote:GCU used to be in the WAC for baseball, they were going to drop to the NAIA when the (for profit) thing happened. Have they done a study about moving up yet. like UNA did? GWC could use another school they have 7 all sports members and only 5 for fb. If GCU moves up I think football could end up on the back burner with all the costs of being D-I

Really don't know. I need to contact the GCU AD's office once this settles down.

This was the first GCU to D-I I had heard of.

I figure the Summit will add UND & USD after their provisional membership up. Oklahoma City, Grand Canyon could replace them in 2011 or 2012. If Seattle doesn't get in the WCC they could also be added, keeping this conference alive.

I feel like Seattle would be taking a step backwards. Of course a conference is better than no conference. I just can not see the WCC holding out forever.

Personally i like the idea of Grand Canyon University getting a team. Mainly because the location would be a perfect spot for them to join the great west. And what with Utah Valley planning on a team either in 2010 or 2011 (not the april fools thing, actual athletic directors words) that would bring it to a 7 team football conference, enough to earn an autobid. And if Seattle moves up and gets football that would be great as well and if the rumors are true Central Washington may move up because of the limited scheduling in D2. Who knows in the next 5 years the Great West could look something like this:

Great West Conference
-Cal Poly
-UC-Davis
-Southern Utah
-North Dakota
-South Dakota
-Seattle University
-Grand Canyon University
-Central Washington

Not to shabby if you ask me. And it would also help the Big Sky conference in terms of OOC scheduling so they can avoid body bag games if they so choose to.

SUU, that would be great if UVU adds football. Are they really or is it just wishful thinking? I don't know if Grand Canyon can afford to move to D-I and add football. Seattle I don't see them getting a football team.

On the D-II board they CWU people say they don't have near enough money to move up, plus the GNAC is being proactive in bringing in new members. Simon Fraser is join the GNAC. They are also trying to get, UBC, S.Oregon, Menlo.

Yes it is true, utah valley is planning on getting a football team in the near future. They were hoping to be able to field a team for the 2009-2010 season but money and other complications came up so they are now shooting for either 2010 or 2011. I talked with the AD of the Wolverines a few days ago for about 15 minutes and he told me that they are in the beginning process to field a team. Here is a link i found on Championship sub division news from an article posted a little while back in the Salt Lake Tribune.

http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews. ... h-v?blog=2

UPDATE:

I spoke with the Grand Canyon Director of Athletics today.

Grand Canyon has table the football start up for the time being. They do want to add the team, and see the potential, but want to make sure the existing teams are in order.

Grand Canyon to D-I - not at this time, something they will explore in the future. First goal is to return GCU sports to the upper levels of D-II in terms of competitiveness.

is 2012 still a possibility? I think 3-4 years will be a good amount of time for them to build up their programs.

dgreco wrote:is 2012 still a possibility? I think 3-4 years will be a good amount of time for them to build up their programs.

Maybe. He said once the moratorium is lifted, they will re-visit.

Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona offers ground and ... 5 D-I transfers to Grand Canyon, it's an exciting thing for Phoenix.nevada tours