About the Sharks

The NSU Department of Athletics competes in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as members of the Sunshine State Conference. Nova Southeastern University offers 15 intercollegiate athletic programs with nine women's and six men's teams. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, track and volleyball, while men can participate in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track.

NSU Athletics has produced numerous SSC Players of the Year, NCAA All-Region selections and NCAA All-Americans, and have been nationally ranked in numerous sports since joining the NCAA beginning with the 2002-03 school-year. The Sunshine State Conference has been dubbed the Division II "Conference of National Champions", as member institutions have won 68 national championships since the SSC was founded in 1975.

Key Moments in NSU Athletics History

2006 -

  • Women's golfer Maria Garcia-Austt is named NCAA Division II National Player of the Year, NCAA Freshman of the Year and NCAA First Team All-American. She was also the 2007 SSC Women's Golfer and Women's Freshman Golfer of the Year. She placed second, just one stroke back, at the 2007 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships.
  • The Inaugural NSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2007 was enshrined. Shannon Sawyer (Softball), Teofilo Cubillas, Jr. (Soccer), and David Riley (Basketball) joined former NSU President Abraham S. Fischler and former NSU Athletic Director and head coach Charles "Sonny" Hansley in the inaugural class.
  • NSU captures their first Sunshine State Conference Women's Rowing Championship, as the Sharks varsity 4+ and varsity 8+ crews each claimed first place. The Sharks also made their unprecedented fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships, as both the varsity 4 and varsity 8 crews advanced to the Grand Final for the first time in program history.
  • Women's rower Nicole Felluca is NSU's first-ever SSC Rower of the Year, as well as an NCAA All-American. Coxswain Cheyenne Poskey is named an NCAA All-American for the second consecutive year by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association.
  • Centerfielder Matt Mindick is chosen as an NCAA Baseball Second Team All-American and rightfielder Brayan Valencia is named SSC Baseball Freshman of the Year.
  • Softball's Katie Veltri is program's first NCAA First Team All-American in addition to SSC Softball Player of the Year.
  • Tennis player Alexa Korotkevich is an NCAA Singles All-American as the women's tennis team goes 22-3 on the season and reaches the NCAA Southeast Regional for first time in program history.
  • The NSU men's golf team took home their second SSC Men's Golf Championship, with a three-stroke victory.
  • Men's golfer Eric Cole named SSC Freshman of the Year and NCAA Honorable Mention All-American, while teammate Greg O'Mahony also garners NCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors.
  • Volleyball hosts the NSU Sharks Classic, the first athletic event in the new 5,000-seat University Center Arena.
  • The women's soccer team qualifies for the NCAA DII Soccer Regionals for the first time. Midfielder Stephanie Quinones is named an NCAA Third Team All-American, the first in program history.
  • NSU announces the addition of outdoor track, bringing the total number of sports programs to 15 (nine women's and six men's programs).

2005 -

  • Women's rowing is invited to the NCAA Women's Rowing National Championships, with the Varsity 8+ placing third and the Varsity 4+ finishing fourth overall.
  • Men's basketball player Tim Coenraad was named 2005-06 SSC Freshman of the Year.
  • Women's basketball player Missy Guadagnino breaks 20-year-old NCAA record by sinking 22 consecutive free throws and going a perfect 22-for-22 from the charity stripe.
  • Women's golfer Lina Björklund is named an NCAA Second Team All-American.
  • Junior pitcher Antony Bello was drafted and signed by the Houston Astros in the 21st round, after earning NCAA Third Team All-American honors.
  • NSU unveils "Sharks" as the new nickname/mascot for the university and its athletic teams.

2004 -

  • Women's rower Katrena Bonilla is named an NCAA All-American by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association.
  • Pitcher Derek Antelo posted a perfect 11-0 record, is named SSC Pitcher of the Year, and NCAA First Team All-American. He was then selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round of the June 2005 MLB Draft.
  • Men's soccer player Matthew Parry becomes the first NCAA All-American in program history, after being named to the NCAA All-American Second Team.
  • The men's golf team captures the first Sunshine State Conference team championship, with a 16-stroke victory at the 2005 SSC Men's Golf Championship.

2003 -

  • NSU and adds women's rowing, while reinstating men's cross country and women's tennis.
  • Groundbreaking takes place on April 21, 2004, for the state-of-the-art 300,000-square-foot University Center.
  • Jennifer Rembe of the women's rowing team becomes NSU's first female NCAA All-American. She helped lead NSU to a berth at the 2003 Women's Rowing Championships, in just their first season of competition.
  • Right-handed pitcher Joe Norrito is drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 48th round of the June 2004 MLB Draft.

2002 -

  • NSU is granted full membership in the NCAA Division II and provisional membership in the Sunshine State Conference.
  • Jessie Pate becomes the first NSU women's basketball player to reach the 1,000 point plateau.
  • NSU baseball pitcher Kyle Ruwe becomes the athletic program's first NCAA All-American and NCAA All-South Region Pitcher of the Year.

2001 -

  • NSU women's basketball player Jessie Pate is named FSC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
  • Men's soccer is NAIA South Regional Champion for the third year in a row and makes NAIA South Regional Tournament appearance.
  • NSU men's soccer goalkeeper Jeremy Flint is named FSC Player of the Year.
  • Ryan Cobb is named a NAIA All-American for men's golf.
  • Amanda Brown and Freska Darlion become NSU first-ever NAIA All-American women's golfers.

2000 -

  • Teofilo Cubillas is named NAIA First Team All-American, and FSC Men's Soccer Player of the Year, after leading the Knights to their second consecutive NAIA South Regional Championship.
  • Cheryl Bond is named a NAIA First Team All-American and teammate Stephanie Schaefer is named to the NAIA All-American Second Team.
  • The Knights softball team captures their sixth FSC title and fifth NAIA Southeast Region XIV Championship.

1999 -

  • Softball player Cheryl Bond is honored as an NAIA First Team All-American as the Knights captured the Florida Sun Conference and NAIA Southeast Region XIV Championships.
  • Women's golf is added to bring the total number of women's sports to seven.

1998 -

  • Ray Ferrero, Jr., is named president of Nova Southeastern University.
  • Women's basketball is added as NSU's sixth women's sport.
  • Softball wins program-record 53 games, captures fourth straight FSC and third consecutive NAIA Southeast Region XIV Championship.  Shannon Sawyer is FSC Softball Player of the Year and NAIA First Team All-American, while teammate Jennifer Ridenoure is NAIA Second Team All-American.

1997 -

  • Men's soccer player Jason Morris is named Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year after leading the Knights to a 14-8-1 record, the Florida Sun Conference Championship and an NAIA South Regional Tournament appearance.
  • With a 49-7-0 record, the NSU softball team wins their third Florida Sun Conference Championship and second NAIA Southeast Region XIV Championship.
  • NSU softball player Kim Eason is named FSC Softball Player of the Year.

1996 -

  • For the second straight season, Bev Young is named FSC Women's Soccer Player of the Year.
  • NSU volleyball player Sherri Waddell is named Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year, as the Knights go 27-6 and make an NAIA South Regional Tournament appearance.
  • Men's golfer David Cooke is named an NAIA All-American.
  • NSU baseball player Felipe Suarez is named FSC Player of the Year, as the Knights win FSC Championship.
  • Softball wins FSC Championship and first NAIA Southeast Region Championship, while Heidi Wickham is named as an NAIA Second Team All-American.

1995 -

  • NSU adds women's soccer as its fifth intercollegiate women's sport.
  • The NSU men's golf team captures their second consecutive Florida Sun Conference Championship, and makes a second straight NAIA National Tournament appearance.

1994 -

  • Nova University and Southeastern University of the Health Sciences merge to form Nova Southeastern University.
  • Men's basketball wins FSC Championship and reaches NAIA Sweet 16 with 22-12 overall record. David Riley is named FSC Men's Basketball Player of the Year and a NAIA Third Team All-American.
  • Baseball player Claude Love named NAIA First-Team All-American, and 40-15 Knights are FSC Tourney Champs.
  • Nova University adds softball as its fourth intercollegiate women's sport.
  • Kit Larson becomes the first men's golfer to be named a NAIA All-American.
  • Knights' volleyball player Vanessa Gutierrez is a NAIA Third Team All-American, first in program history.

1993 -

  • Christian Perez is named Nova's first Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year in men's soccer and an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American.
  • The Nova University women's volleyball team finishes 30-9, while winning the program's first Florida Sun Conference Championship and first NAIA Southeast Regional Championship.
  • The Knights baseball team wins their first-ever Florida Sun Conference Championship after posting a 43-12 record.
  • Men's golfer Kit Larson becomes the first Nova University golfer to be named Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year.

1992 -

  • The Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is changed to the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) and Nova University is now a member of District 7.
  • The men's soccer team finishes 11-5 -3 under new head coach Thomas Rongen, while Rohan Jackson is named an NAIA Second Team All-American and Jorgen Hegdal is named an NAIA Third Team All-American.

1991 -

  • The men's soccer team finishes 11-5-3 as Alex Acosta, Michael Manning and Christian Perez all earn NSCAA All-American Honorable Mention.
  • Knights' baseball player Rich Polumbo is selected as an NAIA First-Team All-American, the first in program history, as Nova goes 42-14.

1990 -

  • Nova University joins with seven other NAIA schools (Flagler College, Webber College, St. Thomas University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Palm Beach Atlantic College, Warner Southern College and Florida Memorial College) to form the FIAC (Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).
  • Jonas Westher is named an NAIA First Team All-American as he helped the men's soccer team win their first-ever FIAC championship, earning a berth in the District 25 Tournament for the sixth straight year.

1989 -

  • The women's volleyball team records their fifth consecutive District 25 Championship.

1988 -

  • Men's soccer player Richard Carlsson is an NAIA Third Team All-American and NSCAA Honorable Mention All-American, as the Nova University men's soccer team again finishes 13-5-0 and makes its first NAIA National Tournament appearance.
  • The women's volleyball team wins their fourth District 25 Championship with a 17-8 mark.

1987 -

  • Nova University adds baseball, women's tennis and men's golf, offering three women's and five men's athletic teams.
  • With a record of 19-7, the Nova University women's volleyball team wins their third straight District 25 Championship.
  • Men's soccer player Jonas Westher is named an NAIA Second Team All-American and NSCAA Honorable Mention All-American, as the Knights finish 9-8-2 and qualify for the District 25 Tournament.

1986 -

  • Dag Cohen, a midfielder for Nova University's men's soccer team, is named a First Team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association. Cohen is the first Nova athlete, in any sport, to be so honored, as he helped the men's soccer team to a 13-5-0 record and NAIA District 7 Championship.
  • The Nova University women's volleyball team repeats as District 25 Champions with a 16-12 season.

1985 -

  • Nova University joins the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Undergraduate enrollment at this time is 222.
  • The Nova University women's volleyball team finishes 9-4, and wins District 25 Championship.

1984 -

  • Nova University adds men's soccer, women's volleyball and men's and women's cross country, Nova University becomes a member of the National Little College Athletic Association (NLCAA)

1983 -

  • The Nova's men's basketball team goes 11-12 in their second season, still competing as an independent program.

1982 -

  • Charles "Sonny" Hansley is named director of athletics for the first-ever athletic department at Nova University. The first program to field a team was men's basketball, which began competition during the 1982-83 school-year. Hansley served as the head coach for the Nova University men's basketball team, which played as an independent program, not affiliated with a conference.
  • Nova University finds an athletics nickname. A contest, which was open to the general public, was held to come up with a nickname for the new athletic program at Nova University. The nickname "Knights" was chosen, after being deemed the most popular submission by contest participants.

1980 -

  • To boost the limited undergraduate enrollment at its Davie Campus, Nova president, Abraham S. Fischler, and the Board of Trustees looked to try something new: build a sports program. Nova University had a graduate school enrollment of about 7,000 students, with nontraditional, field-based programs scattered in 22 states, offering limited graduate and undergraduate degree programs on campus.