Competitive Edge

Seattle University is mere months away from returning to the West Coast Conference—it’s happening officially on July 1, 2025—and from student athletes to alumni, faculty and staff to diehard college sports fans alike, excitement is building.  

The move marks the return to a very competitive conference with members that include fellow Jesuit institutions Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount, along with West Coast Catholic schools including the University of Portland and the University of San Diego, with whom SU has forged deep institutional ties over many decades. 

With its member schools espousing a faith-based approach to education, the WCC aligns well with SU’s mission and commitment to excellence in academics, athletics and community engagement. In turn, the conference’s national profile will provide greater visibility for the university and amplify its national profile. Just as this move to the WCC elevates us as a university, so, too, does it elevate the WCC as a conference.  

Tammy Herdener, ’94, Senior Vice Provost for Academic and Student Affairs, saw the benefits of being part of the conference when she was in a leadership role at the University of Portland, a member of the WCC. Being part of the conference will be a boon for SU and for the city of Seattle, says Herdener. For SU it means greater national exposure and competing against schools with similar values and missions including Jesuit and Catholic universities. It can also help with recruitment and retention of students. For current students the pitch is that being part of the WCC means a slew of competitive, exciting games, notes Herdener, where they can flex their school spirit and their Redhawk pride. 

“This is about much more than athletics; it’s about building pride and engagement among our students, alumni and supporters, as well as creating memorable experiences that extend beyond the court or field,” Herdener says. “The excitement surrounding games and the pride of being part of something bigger contribute to a stronger, more unified student body.” 

Men’s soccer player excited for what’s to come with return to WCC.

Andre Philibbosian was first kicking around a soccer ball at age 4. By age 8 he was in competitive play and when in high school was recruited to play collegiate soccer as a Redhawk. A redshirt freshman on the team, Philibbosian was instrumental in helping men’s soccer secure its sixth Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title. 

This past season Philibbosian played in all 20 games—scoring two goals and three assists—and was named to the WAC All-Freshman Team. Recruited by Men’s Soccer Coach Nate Daligcon, Philibbosian knew he made the right decision with how everything clicked within the team and culture.  

“From my first visit to Seattle University I noticed it was like a family and there was clear unity within the team,” says Philibbosian, a pre-business major. “Even with new guys coming in and other players (graduating), everyone has a positive attitude, everyone is like a brother and we have each other’s backs. It’s a fun group to be around.” 

Growing up in San Diego, Philibbosian naturally gravitated toward soccer and as he continued up the competitive ladder his resolve for the sport never wavered. He loves the global nature of soccer (or “football”) and marvels at how it brings together such an eclectic mix of people, something he’s witnessed firsthand when he has caught international matches during travel to France and Spain. “Soccer is wherever you go in the world,” he says.  

Being part of the SU team to win the WAC Championship was especially meaningful for Philibbosian, considering it was his first year playing and competing as a Redhawk.  

“It wasn’t an easy road. After a difficult start we started to find our groove,” he says. The team was buoyed by a win against California Baptist University at a critical point in the season. “After that game, we had the confidence and were hitting our peak at the right time. It was a good season for us to win the WAC Championship.” 

Philibbosian is amped about the university joining the WCC and what it will mean not only in terms of competition but also for raising the school’s profile nationally. And he is especially excited to be joining what he calls a “powerhouse conference.”  

“There are a lot of very strong teams as part of the conference,” says Philibbosian, citing the University of San Diego and Oregon State University, among others. “And we are right up there with them. It will require us to play stronger but it’s a a huge move for us and for the soccer program, really all our programs. 

“It’s going to demand a lot out of each and every program to be competitive,” he continues. “In joining the WCC we will attract a lot more attention” and this should instill pride across and encourage more of the campus community to turn out to support their teams.  

He is also looking forward to returning to his home city to compete against USD: “It will be very exciting for me to return home and play in front of my friends and family. I have a couple of close friends that play for USD so I’m super excited for that match against them and it’s definitely going to be a fun one!” 

Making a difference on and off the field, Philibbosian last spring won the D’Vonne Pickett, Jr. Mission Award for his volunteerism at Seattle’s St. Francis House. The award honors a student athlete who exemplifies the mission of Seattle University and who go above and beyond in their service. 

Just over a year ago Philibbosian started volunteering at St. Francis House, which works to provide everything from clothing and toiletries to diapers, sleeping bags and transportation assistance for those most in need throughout King County. It was after returning from the holiday break and while the team was in the off-season some of his teammates mentioned they were going to volunteer at St. Francis House and asked if he wanted to join them. And he has continued to devote time every week since. While honored to receive the Pickett award, for Philibbosian it’s especially rewarding knowing he’s helping make a difference.  

“I would encourage others to get out there and volunteer,” he says. “It’s a good thing to do, to know that I’m doing good and giving something back to the city of Seattle.” 

Though Philibbosian still has a few years left of his college soccer career, his ultimate dream is to land with a professional soccer club after he graduates. And considering the Seattle Sounders FC have a history of picking up former Redhawks perhaps that dream will be realized without leaving the zip code.  

True-blue basketball supporters are gearing up for SU’s return to the WCC.

Tom Clark has been a fan of Seattle University men’s basketball for more than 70 years. Yes, you read that correctly—nearly three quarters of a century. Before he attended Seattle University, where he would ultimately graduate in 1960 with a degree in business, he was familiarizing himself with his future university while attending basketball games while still in high school. And beginning in 1961, he was joined at the games by his wife Dorothy, whom he married that same year. The couple have been season ticket holders ever since.

“I enjoyed the team while in school and always looked forward to the games,” says Tom, “and we personally knew a couple of the players.”  

Though it might be difficult to pinpoint the most memorable game or experience when you’ve literally attended hundreds of games over the years, Tom and Dorothy have no trouble conjuring up their favorite memories.

“For me, it was in 1966, giving NCAA champion Texas Western (now University of Texas at El Paso) their only loss in front of a capacity crowd at Seattle Center,” says Tom.  

For Dorothy, it happened this season: “The game against University of Texas at Arlington when John Christofilis made the winning basket with less than a second left,” she says. “It was a total team effort, which is something we’ve witnessed (in games) that we have watched in the last few years. How exciting can it get!” 

As diehard, longstanding basketball supporters, Tom and Dorothy have followed the program through highs and lows, through moments of triumph and heartbreaking losses and from changing divisions and conferences. They were here when SU was originally part of the West Coast Conference and believe the return signifies that this is where the Redhawks rightly belong.  

They are also aware of the inherent benefits of being part of the WCC. Tom cites increased visibility overall, along with more challenging conference games and less travel—“a huge benefit to players and alumni as it will be easier for them to attend away games.” 

“Seattle University aligns much better in every way with the schools in the WCC,” says Tom, noting that even beyond basketball, he sees the move as a potential boon for recruitment, particularly in California, and an overall more competitive landscape that will extend to other sports like soccer and softball. It will also allow the university and its place in the city to shine on a grander stage with greater exposure to a wider TV viewing audience. This in turn can aid recruitment, retention and fundraising, notes Tom.  

The Clarks are looking forward to the school pride aspect as well, building enthusiasm, sparked by games with conference teams such as Saint Mary’s College, Santa Clara University and the University of San Francisco. Tom says it’s been great to see the uptick in students turning out for games in recent seasons and that the SU Pep Band is a great addition to really ramping up the energy and infectiousness of college basketball.  

“In the 1960’s and 1970’s SU was the premier college basketball team in the state and it was where the top local high school players went, including several future NBA players,” says Tom. “SU also brought into the program some of the top players from all over the country including New York and Washington, D.C. With all the advantages we have in Seattle, plus this move, there is no reason we cannot get to that level again.” 

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A campus-wide event is planned to officially celebrate Seattle University joining the WCC on July 1, 2025. Watch this space for details to come.