An introduction to NSU Athletics

By Santiago Diaz Finochietto •

It was only 41 years ago, under former university president Abraham S. Fischler, that NSU’s athletic program was born. Today, having already celebrated the 40th anniversary of a sports program that was once nicknamed the Knights, the Sharks have won 11 team NCAA Division II National Championships, 33 Regional Championships and 45 Sunshine State Conference Championships.

In 2002, Nova Southeastern University made its transition to NCAA Division II athletics. Prior to this, from 1990-91 to the 2001-02 academic year, NSU was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics institution, competing in the Florida Sun Conference.

Finished with a provisional membership in 2005, and then eligible to compete for championships, the Nova Southeastern Sharks won their first NCAA National Championship on May 16, 2009.

Offering 19 intercollegiate athletic programs, Nova Southeastern University’s athletics department is home to many champions, and it has built the foundation upon which former and present student-athletes can become successful professionals and impactful individuals within their community.

Seasonal Teams

Nova Southeastern University, a member of the NCAA Division II, has 16 intercollegiate teams competing in the Sunshine State Conference. The Sharks have won 11 team National Championships, 33 Regional Championships and 45 Sunshine State Conference Championships. Undergraduate and graduate students may try out for all Division II sports.

FALL

• Men’s cross-country: Looking forward to this upcoming season, the men’s cross-country team seeks to show improvement after last season’s performance at the Sunshine State Conference Tournament and NCAA South Regional Championship. While NSU finished 14th, David Mahnke was first across the line for NSU, finishing 49th and running a personal best of 33:00.7 in his first 10k of the season. Location: TBD; Social: @nsu_xctf
• Women’s cross-country: This upcoming season, the women’s cross-country team is eager to pick up where it left off from last year’s NCAA Championship. Kamila Soja finished 115th in a field of over 250 athletes, running a time of 22:12.4, her second-fastest time of 2022. Location: TBD; Social: @nsu_xctf
• Men’s soccer: Concluding its 2022 season with a 7-6-4 record, the four-time regional champion program looks to build a competitive team that took it to its first Sunshine State Conference title in 2022 and NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance in 2021.
  Location: NSU Soccer Complex; Social: @nsu_msoccer
• Women’s soccer: After last season’s appearance in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, the furthest the program has advanced since 2019, the NSU Sharks hope to keep up its momentum this fall. Location: NSU Soccer Complex; Social: @nsu_wsoccer
• Women’s volleyball: The six-time regional championship winning program aims to keep last year’s momentum going. In her second season leading this team, Coach Kacie Ehinger will continue a winning culture with six incoming freshman commitments.
  Location: The Rick Case Arena; Social: @nsu_vball

WINTER

• Men’s basketball: During the 2023 season, for the first time in program history, the NSU men’s basketball team won the NCAA Division II National Championship with a 111-101 victory over West Liberty. The Sharks concluded this memorable season with a 36-0 undefeated record. Location: The Rick Case Arena; Social: @nsu_mbasketball
• Women’s basketball: Despite losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the four-time regional champion winner finished the 2023 season with a 21-9 record, tying for the most wins in program history since 2015-16. Location: The Rick Case Arena; Social: @nsu_wbasketball
• Men’s swimming and diving: Home to five individual national champions, the NSU men’s swimming team wrapped up last season in 12th place and earned one individual national champion at the NCAA National Championship. Thomas Flower earned his first national championship after winning in the 200-yard freestyle. Location: NSU Aquatic Center; Social: @nsu_swim
• Women’s swimming and diving: Last winter, the No. 1 ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks women’s swimming team won its first NCAA Division II National Championship. On its way to the title, the team earned 11 NCAA individual national championships, seven by Emily Trieschmann. Location: NSU Aquatic Center; Social: @nsu_swim

SPRING

• Baseball: The one-time NCAA Division II National Champion baseball program ended 2023 with a series win over Florida Tech, setting a 26-23 record with no post-season participation. Location: NSU Baseball Complex; Social: @nsu_baseball
• Men’s and women’s lacrosse: Starting the 2025-26 academic year, Nova Southeastern University will be the ninth Sunshine State Conference institution to offer a men’s and women’s lacrosse program, becoming its 18th and 19th intercollegiate athletic program.
  Location: TBA; Social: TBA
• Women’s rowing: Despite the three-year program suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the women’s rowing team is reinstated and expected to compete in the 2023-24 academic year. Considered one of the most successful programs, the program won its first NCAA National Championship in 2013 and six Sunshine State Conference Championships since. Location: TBD; Social: TBD
• Women’s tennis: The Sharks concluded this 2023 season as the national runner-up of the NCAA Division II National Championship, setting the program record for wins in a single season, earning victories in 26 contests during the campaign. Location: NSU Tennis Complex; Social: @nsu_wtennis
• Women’s golf: Four-time-winning NCAA Division II National Championship program, the women’s golf team finished the 2023 season as national finalists. Freshman Olivia Grønborg became the fourth Nova Southeastern Shark women’s golfer to win the individual NCAA Division II National Championship. Location: Grande Oaks Golf Club; Social: @nsu_wgolf
• Men’s golf: Led by experienced Coach Joey Marino, the Sharks concluded the 2022-23 season among the best teams in the tournament of collegiate golf. The Sharks finished in the top 5 of most of the golf invitationals and championships. The team also ranked No. 4 in the NCAA South Region rankings. “I am thrilled to become the leader of a winning program with such rich tradition. As the head coach, I look forward to working with the student-athletes and continuing to guide them towards success both on and off the course,” Marino said. Location: Grande Oaks Golf Club; Social: @nsu_mgolf
• Men’s & women’s track and field: With its inaugural season in 2007, track and field at NSU has claimed a Peach Belt Title (women’s, 2017) and has made six NCAA appearances (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). This forthcoming season, both teams look to build off last season’s success, especially star runner, Kamila Soja, who represented NSU’s women’s track team at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Location: TBD; Social: nsu_xctf
• Women’s softball: The women’s softball team looks to build off of its impressive season last year, winning the university’s first NCAA South Super Regional Championship and qualifying for the NCAA DII Softball Championship. In addition to this run, star players Alexis Smith and Alyssa Drogemuller were named to the All-American team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  Location: AD Griffin Sports Complex; Social: nsu_softball

NSU Regular Season Ticketing Information

NSU students, faculty and staff: NSU students, faculty and staff receive one free general admission ticket per regular season home event with a valid NSU ID. There is no need to pre-download tickets. They will receive granted access to the event by showing their NSU ID at the gate.

Player and coach pass list: Guests on the player/coach pass list should head directly to the gate to claim tickets.

Ticket pricing and policies: All NSU athletics facilities are Hometown Ticketing mobile venues. Ticket prices for all NSU regular season athletic events are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, military and NSU alumni, while children younger than 12 are free. All ticket purchases are subject to ticket fees. Once purchased, tickets will be instantly delivered to the email address provided or uploaded to your Hometown Ticketing Fan app at check-out. There will be no refunds or exchanges unless the event is cancelled.

Where to watch: Athletic Communications will offer live audio and video streaming of certain home games and events throughout the season. The live streaming will be available on www.nsusharks.com.

Parking: Parking fees can be paid using the PayByPhone application or Pay booth where applicable. Each parking garage and parking lot on NSU’s campus has its PayByPhone location number. For more information, call NSU Public Safety at 954-262-8999.

NSU Athletics Facilities

• The Rick Case Arena: Home to our women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball athletics programs, The Rick Case Arena at the Don Taft University Center seats up to 4,500 spectators.
• AD Griffin Sports Complex: The softball team plays at the AD Griffin Sports Complex. The field was renovated in 2018 with a new dugout, backstop and scoreboard.
• NSU Baseball Complex: Considered to be one of the finest baseball facilities in South Florida, the Baseball Complex has been the site of USA baseball team trials and Major League Team pre-draft workouts.
• NSU Aquatic Center: Opened in the summer of 2008, the Nova Southeastern Aquatic Center is the home facility for the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.
• NSU Soccer Complex: In addition to a state-of-the-art drainage system and new turf, the men’s and women’s soccer programs play on one of the best playing surfaces in Florida at the NSU Soccer Complex.
• Grande Oaks Golf Club: The 18th hole in the Grande Oaks Course serves as a home facility for the men’s and women’s golf teams. The Grande Oaks Golf Course is a par 71 and measures 6,680 yards from the tips.
• NSU Tennis Center: Located in Grande Oaks at Rolling Hills, the NSU Tennis Center is Nova Southeastern University’s newest athletic facility with six courts of 36-feet-by-78-feet.