(Image Credit: IMAGN) January 17, 2015; Carson, CA, USA; National running back Terrell Watson (33) of Azusa Pacific runs the ball against American during the first half of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Azusa, California – After a five-year absence, Azusa Pacific University is reviving its football program, aiming for a return to the field by fall 2026. The small Christian university, which originally launched its football team in 1965, shut it down in 2020, citing the decline of college football in California.
Now, APU is making a fresh start in NCAA Division III as part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). University president Adam J. Morris called the move “momentous,” emphasizing the school’s commitment to balancing academics and athletics. “We are confident that our membership in SCIAC and transition to Division III will allow us to maintain this balance while continuing our athletic excellence and building a successful and competitive football program,” Morris said in a statement.
The university is already searching for a head coach and coaching staff with Division III experience.
Among the program’s most famous alumni is former NFL running back Christian Okoye, who played for the Kansas City Chiefs. Okoye, who first came to APU for track and field before transitioning to football, credits the school with shaping his athletic career. “Coaches poured into me, drawing out my skills and challenging me on and off the gridiron,” he said. “I’m thrilled that Homecoming will include a football game again and am looking forward to seeing former teammates.”
APU’s football history includes an NAIA national championship win in 1998 and multiple playoff appearances at both the NAIA and NCAA Division II levels. The return to the field marks a new chapter for the Cougars, who are looking to build on their legacy in a new division.
