Cal Poly Wins Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner’s Cup
5/26/2026 11:00:00 AM | General
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The Big West announced Tuesday that for the second time in school history, Cal Poly has won the Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner's Cup, presented to the highest achieving athletic department in the Big West.
Cal Poly finished with the highest point total in the 26 years the Cup has been awarded, finishing with 163.3 points. That broke the previous record of 149.4 that Cal Poly had set when it won in 2024.
“This recognition is a tremendous point of pride for Cal Poly Athletics and a reflection of the extraordinary work happening across our department every single day,” said Cal Poly Director of Athletics Carter Henderson. "To earn the Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner’s Cup while claiming 11 Big West championships - the most in a single year in Cal Poly history - is an incredible accomplishment for our coaches, student-athletes and staff, whose dedication and relentless effort made this possible. On behalf of President Jeff Armstrong, I also want to recognize and thank former Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman, whose leadership helped build the foundation for the success we are experiencing today, as well as the donors and stakeholders who continue to invest in our success."
The Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner's Cup is awarded annually to the Big West institution that has the highest degree of success in all men's and women's conference-sponsored sports during the academic year.
Points are distributed based on the order of finish during either the regular season (for the sports of baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's tennis, men's and women's volleyball) or in The Big West Championship (for the sports of beach volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's tennis, men's and women's track and field, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and men's and women's water polo). First awarded after the 1998-99 season, it is given to the institution with the highest average point total following the 21 conference-sponsored sport seasons.
The Big West Commissioner's Cup is named in honor of Dennis Farrell, who served as Big West Commissioner for 28 years before his retirement in 2020.
Cal Poly had an outstanding year across the board in its sports. The Mustangs won 11 Big West titles throughout the year, the most in school history and the most in a single year by a Big West school. Men's and women's cross country, volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, beach volleyball, women’s golf, men’s tennis, men’s track and field, and baseball all won Big West titles. Men’s golf and women’s tennis finished second in the Big West standings while women’s track and field finished third to help the department to victory.
In addition to the team success, Cal Poly saw 106 student-athletes receive All-Conference honors, win 10 individual major conference awards, have six coaches win Conference Coach of the Year, 13 individual conference titles winners, and eight All-Americans.
"The Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner’s Cup represents the highest level of broad-based athletic excellence in our conference, and Cal Poly’s achievement this year was truly remarkable," said Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly. "To win this award for the second time in three years — while setting a new conference record for points and capturing 11 Big West championships — reflects an extraordinary commitment to competitive excellence across the department. What Cal Poly accomplished this season speaks not only to the success of its student-athletes and coaches, but also to the culture, alignment and leadership that continue to elevate Mustang Athletics. On behalf of The Big West, congratulations to President Jeff Armstrong, Director of Athletics Carter Henderson, the entire Cal Poly athletics administration, coaches, staff and student-athletes on an historic year."
The Mustangs held off last year’s winner UC Irvine, who finished second with 134.9 points.
