SEASIDE, Calif. — The tide is turning at Cal State Monterey Bay. On the evening of April 28, during the annual Monte's Student-Athlete Awards event, Otter Athletics proudly unveiled a bold new brand identity—one that honors the program's proud history, captures the spirit of today's student-athletes, and charts a dynamic course for the future. Designed to reflect the strength, resilience, and pride of the Otter community, the refreshed look marks the beginning of an exciting new era for Cal State Monterey Bay.

An important part of the project was aligning the new athletics identity with the university-wide rebrand introduced in 2024. The refreshed marks reflect Cal State Monterey Bay's revised color palette and cohesive visual identity, reinforcing a unified message across campus—connecting academics, athletics, and community under one bold vision for the future.

"This brand refresh is more than a new look—it's a statement about who we are and where we're going," said Athletics Director Kirby Garry. "Aligning with the university's rebrand was a critical part of this process. We wanted to ensure that Otter Athletics stands proudly alongside the broader Cal State Monterey Bay identity, representing the same values, energy, and vision for the future."

Garry emphasized the importance of connection throughout the project:

"This is about connection—bringing together our student-athletes, alumni, and the entire Cal State Monterey Bay community under one powerful identity," Garry said. "Benjamin Mayberry has played a huge role in helping us achieve that. His deep personal ties to CSUMB and his creative vision made this more than just a rebrand—it's a reflection of who we are and who we aspire to be. It's a brand that belongs to all of us."

Designer Benjamin Mayberry, a Cal State Monterey Bay baseball alum and creative lead behind the new identity, called the project deeply personal.

"This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Mayberry said. "To return to the university and athletic department that shaped the foundation of my design and sports marketing career, and to be entrusted with refreshing the brand, is an accomplishment I'll always hold close. It's incredibly meaningful to contribute to a place that gave me so much, and to help shape its future for the next generation of Otters."

Mayberry hopes the new identity becomes a point of pride for everyone connected to Cal State Monterey Bay.

"I hope this new Otter mark and refreshed brand give our athletes, students, alumni, and the entire Monterey Bay community something to rally around with pride," he said. "It truly reflects the unique spirit of the bay—swift, resilient, constantly moving—and I believe it will deepen the connection with the local community, while inspiring the next generation of student-athletes to experience what it means to be an Otter, to make waves, and to leave their own mark."

The brand refresh marks more than a visual change—it signals a new chapter for Otter Athletics, one grounded in tradition and propelled by a bold vision for the future. New apparel and merchandise featuring the updated Otter mark is available at the Otter Student Union campus store and shopotterathletics.com. From the field of play to the stands to the shores of the bay, the Otter spirit has never looked stronger.