|
THE MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FEDERATION
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) was established during the 1992-1993 academic year to serve the competitive needs of member institutions from the Big West, Pacific-10, Mountain West, Western Athletic and West Coast Conferences and other selected universities in the western United States; and to provide championship competition for Division I intercollegiate Olympic sports in a conference setting. The MPSF was originally formed to provide enhanced competition and championship opportunities for sports without conference affiliation; to contain the costs of competition; and to ensure the survival of sports impacted by Title IX and other fiscal pressures. The Federation has served as an incubator for emerging women's sports and as a safe harbor for sports impacted by conference realignments. In 2006-2007, the Federation celebrated its 15th year of competition and is affirmed that is more relevant today than at any other time since its inception. As a testament to its viability, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation continues to successfully ride the ever-changing wave of college sports by fostering contraction and expansion of its intercollegiate athletics portfolio to meet the dynamic needs of its member institutions and conferences. Since its inception, MPSF teams have won 49 NCAA team championships and many individual titles as well. In 2008-2009, the MPSF will again provide competition in nine Olympic intercollegiate sports while serving over 1,500 student-athletes and approximately 75 head coaches from 32 universities in 12 western states. All MPSF teams compete at the NCAA Division I level in men's soccer, men's and women's water polo, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's gymnastics, women's lacrosse and men's volleyball. All MPSF champions are eligible to compete in NCAA Championships with MPSF men's soccer, men's and women's water polo, and men's volleyball champions earning automatic qualification into NCAA championship events. In 2007-2008, five MPSF teams won NCAA championships to total 53 NCAA team titles since the Federation's first season of competition in 1992-93. Almost a score of Federation teams and hundreds of student-athletes competed in NCAA post-season competition. CALIFORNIA started things off by winning their second-consecutive NCAA men's water polo title last fall. ARIZONA STATE pulled off a double win with both the Sun Devils' men's and women's indoor track and field teams taking NCAA crowns, after the women won both the MPSF and NCAA titles for the second year in a row. OKLAHOMA then won the NCAA men's gymnastics title, also after taking the MPSF championship. This was the Sooners fifth NCAA crown in seven seasons and fourth-consecutive MPSF title with nine outright or co-conference titles in the past 10 seasons. UCLA capped the season by repeating as NCAA women's water polo champions after winning the MPSF title, pulling off dual titles for the second year in a row. Other Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Champions for the 2007-2008 season include NEW MEXICO's fourth-consecutive conference title in men's soccer, the Lobos' sixth in seven years; OREGON won it's first-ever MPSF men's indoor track and field championship while UC DAVIS added the Aggies' first MPSF women's gymnastics title. PEPPERDINE won its fourth MPSF men's volleyball title before losing to Penn State in the NCAA final. Al Beaird has been the Federation's only executive director, taking the reigns after being selected by the MPSF Administrative Committee in December 1997 after a national search. Beaird's position was established as a result of the Federation's continued growth and emerging tradition of NCAA and national championship caliber play, including 38 NCAA team championships during his tenure. Beaird, who formerly served on the athletics staff at his alma mater UC Davis, where the integration of student and athlete is a long-rooted philosophy, oversees the administration of all Federation sports, having worked closely with administrators and coaches from more than 40 different universities over the course of his administration. Beaird presided over the transition of the Federation from what was initially a scheduling alliance to what is now a nationally recognized NCAA Division I multi-sports conference. Beaird directs all aspects of MPSF competition, including championships, officiating, rules compliance, scheduling, media relations, broadcasting, sponsorships and NCAA relations, while also shaping conference legislation, facilitating annual meetings and providing direction and communication for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Administrative and Executive Committees. In 2004, Beaird completed a four-year term, three years as chair, on the NCAA Men's Water Polo Championships Committee and one year as chair of the inaugural NCAA Men's and Women's Water Polo Rules Committee. Beaird feels privileged to work with coaches and student-athletes who compete at the highest levels, including many who compete on USA national teams as coaches or players in international and Olympic competition. With his high level of involvement in NCAA Olympic sports, Beaird is often called upon to serve as liaison to the national governing bodies for amateur athletics in the United States and the United States Olympic Committee. Beaird received his undergraduate degree in physical education from UC Davis in 1977 before attaining his Masters of Business Administration (Marketing emphasis) from California State University, Sacramento in 1993. Beaird, who lives in Woodland, California, has two daughters who are active in high school and club sports. The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation... 1992-1993 to 2006-2007... The MPSF... featuring tomorrow's Olympians today! |
 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation About Us
 |
