The Foothill Conference, as it is known today, was formed in 1988. However, the roots of the conference can be traced to 1981 when the football-only Foothill Conference was formed.

The Foothill Conference was an offshoot of the Southern California Conference, which included many of the Los Angeles based community colleges. Founding members of the Foothill Conference were Antelope Valley, Citrus, Chaffey, Desert, East Los Angeles, Mt. San Jacinto, Rio Hondo, San Bernardino Valley and Victor Valley colleges.

Since its founding days, two colleges, East Los Angeles College and Citrus College, have left the conference. Five colleges have joined the conference, three as football only members. Cerro Coso College and Barstow College are fulltime participants in the conference, while Grossmont College, San Diego Mesa College and Southwestern College compete as football only members.