Where is Cal Baptist? Location, city and more to know about Lancers basketball program

The Cal Baptist Lancers have been a mainstay in the NCAA Tournament conversation, making significant Division I strides with appearances in 2024 and 2026. This run of postseason consistency has naturally led many bracket-watchers and casual fans to ask: Where exactly is Cal Baptist?

While the school’s academic reputation is built on its rapidly growing programs in engineering and nursing, the basketball team has become the university's premier sporting export of late, dominating the Western Athletic Conference from their home at the Fowler Events Center.

Under head coach Rick Croy, Cal Baptist has successfully put its campus on the national map, proving that while they may be tucked away, their basketball program is anything but a mirage.

Here's more on Cal Baptist's location and how it became one of the basketball capitals in the WAC.

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Where is Cal Baptist located?

California Baptist University is located in Riverside, California, situated approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles and 50 miles west of Palm Springs. Geographically, it is nestled in the Inland Empire, a region defined by its proximity to both the San Bernardino Mountains and the Pacific coast. The 160-acre campus is located on Magnolia Avenue, featuring mission-style architecture that reflects the regional history of Southern California.

The city of Riverside itself serves as the seat of Riverside County and is a major hub for education and innovation in the region. CBU's campus is specifically positioned in a residential area that offers a suburban feel while remaining less than an hour's drive from the major metropolitan attractions of Orange County and LA. This central location has helped the university become one of the fastest-growing private institutions in the country, attracting a diverse student body to the sunny, palm-lined streets of the "City of Arts and Innovation."

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What conference is Cal Baptist in?

The Cal Baptist Lancers, who field 19 varsity sports, currently compete in the NCAA's Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The conference was founded in 1962 and has undergone significant evolution, currently housing a footprint that stretches across the Western and Southwestern United States.

Cal Baptist joined the WAC in 2018, marking the beginning of their successful transition from Division II to Division I. However, the school is currently in a period of transition; they are set to officially join the Big West Conference on July 1, 2026. The current WAC membership includes the following schools:

• Abilene Christian
• California Baptist
• Grand Canyon
• Seattle U
• Southern Utah
• Tarleton State
• UT Arlington
• Utah Tech
• Utah Valley

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Cal Bapist name origin

Established in 1950 as California Baptist College, the institution was founded by the Los Angeles Southern Baptist Association in El Monte, California. The mission was to provide a liberal arts education rooted in a Christian worldview, specifically serving the growing population of Southern Baptists in the state.

The college moved to its current Riverside location in 1955, taking over the former Woodbury College campus. As the school expanded its academic offerings and student population, it officially achieved university status and became California Baptist University in 1998. The "Lancers" nickname, adopted in 1955, was chosen to represent the school's commitment to "lancing" through ignorance with the light of truth, further cementing the brand that now leads their Division I athletic charge.

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Cal Baptist NCAA Tournament history

Cal Baptist’s NCAA Division I Tournament history is still in its early chapters, but the program has quickly made up for lost time. After completing a mandatory four-year transition period following their move from Division II, the Lancers became postseason-eligible in 2022. They made their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024, followed by a historic 2025-26 campaign that saw them return to the national stage.

The 2026 season was a breakthrough for the program under Rick Croy. After finishing second in the WAC regular-season standings, the Lancers went on a tear in the conference tournament, eventually securing the automatic bid to the Big Dance. As a result of their high-level play throughout March, they earned a spot in the 2026 tournament field, where they continue to seek the program's first Division I tournament win.

Before their Division I era, Cal Baptist was a powerhouse at the Division II level. Under Croy, the Lancers made five consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament appearances from 2014 to 2018, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2018. This history of winning has seamlessly translated to the highest level of college basketball, establishing CBU as a consistent threat in the Western United States.

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