SCFA Realignment to Move Hancock Football to American Division's Pacific League for 2016 Season
Hancock football will join a new league in 2016 that will include Santa Barbara, Antelope Valley, Citrus, LA Pierce and LA Valley.
A realignment of Southern California community college football leagues approved by the Southern California Football Association will affect Allan Hancock College. Hancock football will compete in the American Division beginning in the upcoming 2016 season. Hancock will be a member of the Pacific League along with Antelope Valley, Citrus, LA Pierce, LA Valley and Santa Barbara City College.
"We are excited to compete in a league with Santa Barbara City College, a natural rival," said Kim Ensing, Hancock's associate dean and athletic director. "We align well with the Pacific League because these schools also compete in the Western State Conference with us in other sports."
Citrus College, Pasadena City College and Santa Ana also moved to the American Division. Santa Monica College was placed in the National Division. The SCFA Competition Committee considers realignment of football leagues every two years.
The SCFA will now be comprised of three, six-team leagues in the National Division, divided in the Northern, Central and Southern leagues. The American Division will now include two, six-team leagues (Mountain and Pacific), and a newly formed Metro League with seven teams.
Since 2008, Hancock has been a member of the National Division's Northern League competing against schools like Long Beach, Cerritos, Santa Ana and Pasadena City College. Prior to that, Hancock played in the Western State North League from 1994 to 2007.
The head football coach at Hancock since 2001, Kris Dutra has led the Bulldogs to an 87-70 overall record, .554 winning percentage and seven postseason Bowl Game appearances.
"The action taken today by the Competition Committee stays consistent with our goal, which is to bring uniformity, strength and competitive balance to Southern California community college football," said SCFA Commissioner Jim Sartoris. "In making some changes to our league structure, the SCFA continues to evolve in order to meet the needs of our membership and to provide healthy competition, as well as competitive challenges for our student-athletes."
Hancock's 2016 schedule will be released in the coming weeks.