Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Athletics Completes Outstanding Year
7/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
July 13, 2006
Florida Atlantic University's athletics department continues to develop at a staggering rate by showing a commitment to achieve results in both the present and future. Most recently, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in conjunction with the USA Today and the United States Sports Academy recognized the Owls' commitment, ranking them 79th nationally among 326 NCAA DI universities. This places FAU's Athletics program in the top-24% nationally.
Florida Atlantic, a former member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, will move into the Sun Belt Conference and the Atlantic Soccer Conference (men only) in 2006-2007. The Owls were the only school in either conference listed in the nation's top-100. More impressive is the fact that among Division I institutions in the state of Florida, FAU was listed fourth. University of Florida was ranked no. 5, Florida State no. 17, University of Miami no. 42 and FAU no. 79.
The no. 79 ranking is reflective of Florida Atlantic's five conference championships in 2005-2006. FAU was one of eight institutions that captured five or more conference titles in women's sports (volleyball, women's soccer, women's basketball, swimming and softball). The Owls also captured the Atlantic Sun Conference's Sherman Day Trophy which is awarded to the institution with the most outstanding women's athletics programs.
Along the way football single-game ticket sales rose by more than 4,000 per game and men's basketball more than doubled its attendance in 2005-2006.
Academically an average of 136 students earned a 3.0 GPA each semester and more than 50 will graduate by summer's end. Several were among those nominated for Academic All-America honors. Megan Coyne and Makra Condill earned Academic All-Region and All-District All-America honors.
"When you consider that we have only sponsored intercollegiate athletics since 1981 and been Division I since 1993-94 while most of our counter parts sponsored teams since the early 1900's, the results are impressive," Craig Angelos, FAU's Athletics Director said. "This success comes with a lot of hard work and dedication from many individuals inside the University. I would like to especially recognize the commitment of the coaches and administrators within the Athletics Department. With the continued collaborative effort of the university, alumni, community and staff we are very excited about the direction and future of this young program."
,b>FAU's Historical Rankings:
1993-94---177
1996-97---200
1997-98---N/A
1999-99---131
1999-00---156
2000-01---191
2001-02---123
2002-03---150
2003-04---93
2004-05---123
2005-06---79
