FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 12, 2021) – Northern Arizona Athletics and Arizona Athletics have agreed upon a 10-year scheduling series between the two institutions beginning in 2021-22 for non-conference competition for all sports that are sponsored by both athletics departments. The decade-scheduling partnership will be used to strengthen the in-state partnership between the two institutions while providing increased scheduling consistency for both departments.
"The University of Arizona Department of Athletics in general and, Dave Heeke in particular, have been unbelievable resources for our program as we have navigated COVID-19," said NAU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
Mike Marlow. "This scheduling series is an offspring of conversations centered on the way Intercollegiate Athletics may look in our state and region for the immediate future. An emphasis on regionalized scheduling is certainly something that has become a priority. Our student-athletes, coaches and fans will very much look forward to competing more regularly with the Wildcats in both Tucson and at 7,000 feet in Flagstaff."
The Lumberjacks and Wildcats are already scheduled for non-conference dates in football through 2027, and this partnership will add four dates in between the 2030 and 2036 seasons. The gap in between games from 2027 through 2030 is due to previous contractual obligated scheduling commitments.
"Continuing our scheduling efforts with Northern Arizona for the next decade is an exciting initiative for our athletics department, university and state," said Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. "Ensuring our sport programs compete within our great state enhances the student-athlete experience, generates excitement for our fans, eases non-conference scheduling challenges and creates a stronger economic impact within our state's footprint. I look forward to watching student-athletes compete in our state while representing these outstanding Arizona universities."
The agreement is a scheduling partnership and not the formation of a competitive series or trophy competition between Northern Arizona and Arizona with sports competing in a home-and-home format when possible.
The two schools' men's basketball programs will look to open each season of the scheduling partnership with a head-to-head meeting at Arizona's McKale Center in Tucson.
For some sports, fans in Flagstaff will get a rare look at the Wildcats. In volleyball, Arizona has not traveled north since 1990. Furthermore, the two schools' volleyball programs have not met at all since their last meeting in 2010. In men's and women's tennis, the two schools have not met in Flagstaff since 1987 and 2006 respectively.
For others, the scheduling partnership will continue a recent trend of regular meetings in Flagstaff and Tucson between cross country, soccer and women's basketball.
Sports Sponsored by Arizona and Northern Arizona
