While the two old logos of the Mountain West Conference were inspired by the “Mountain” theme, the current one is more elaborate and goes beyond the first symbol that comes to mind.
Initiated in 1999, the Mountain West Conference was the brainchild of eight founding institutions: Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah, and Wyoming. This inception was a strategic move to create a cohesive and competitive athletic alliance within the collegiate sports landscape. A pivotal moment in its trajectory was the adoption of football, which significantly raised the conference’s profile. The Mountain West has carved a niche in NCAA history, particularly through its member schools’ performances in key bowl games and basketball tournaments. Today, the Mountain West stands as a dynamic and influential entity in NCAA Division I sports, continually expanding and striving for a balance of athletic prowess and academic integrity among its diverse roster of member universities.
What is Mountain West Conference?
The Mountain West Conference represents a coalition of universities competing under the NCAA Division I umbrella, primarily known for its robust football and basketball programs. It embodies a fusion of athletic competitiveness and academic dedication, distinguishing itself as a significant contributor to the NCAA’s diverse athletic culture.
The original Mountain West Conference logo (1999) featured the name of the conference paired with a snowcapped mountain above.
In the following version (2005), the word “Conference” disappeared, while the word “West” grew larger. The shade of purple became slightly darker.
The current emblem, which was adopted in 2011, dropped the mountain design altogether. Now, there is a 3D cube with the letter “M” on one side and the “W” on the other. The two letters look like a mirror reflection of each other.