Yavapai College plans to move its athletics programs into a new collegiate association and conference beginning in the 2027-28 academic year. The Prescott-based college announced it will join the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, becoming a member of the Great Southwest Athletic Conference as part of the change.
The transition will include all seven of the college’s intercollegiate programs. Yavapai currently competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association, or NJCAA. The move will place the Roughriders in the NAIA and the GSAC when the new academic year begins.
### Seven programs included
Yavapai sponsors baseball, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball. Each is scheduled to compete in the GSAC starting in 2027-28.
The announcement sets out the timing and scope of the change but does not provide details about future schedules or how the transition will affect individual teams. The shift will take place after the college’s current period of competition in the NJCAA.
### A record in the NJCAA
Yavapai College reports that its athletics programs have won 16 NJCAA national championships. The college’s records include seven national titles in men’s soccer, four in baseball, two in women’s softball and two in cross country. Its baseball championships include titles in 1993 and 2016.
The college says its athletics programs have competed for five decades. Joining a different association will give the Roughriders a new conference setting while carrying forward the college’s existing intercollegiate sports programs.
The college’s acting president, Doug Berry, described the move as a significant point in the history of Yavapai athletics and connected it to the program’s national championship record. Governing Board Chair Steve Bracety also pointed to the athletics program’s longstanding connection with the community and said the board supports the transition.
### About the NAIA
The NAIA is a governing organization for small-college athletics, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. According to information provided by Yavapai College, the association was established in 1937 and emphasizes education alongside athletic competition. The organization reports that more than 87,000 student-athletes compete in NAIA sports each year, with more than $1.3 billion in financial aid awarded and opportunities to take part in 30 national championships.
Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers across Yavapai County. It offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, six baccalaureate degrees, and student and community services, as well as cultural events and activities. The athletics affiliation change is scheduled for the 2027-28 academic year; until then, the college’s teams remain in the NJCAA.