Nova Southeastern Sharks

The Nova Southeastern Sharks are the athletic teams that represent Nova Southeastern University. This university is located in Davie, Florida. The Sharks are part of the NCAA Division II and have mostly played in the Sunshine State Conference since the 2002–03 school year. Before that, from 1990–91 to 2001–02, they were part of the Florida Sun Conference under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

History

Nova Southeastern University's sports teams, known as the Sharks, started as part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1982 to 2002. During this time, they played in the Florida Sun Conference.

In 2002, the university moved to NCAA Division II and became a full member in 2005. In 2006–07, they opened the Don Taft University Center, home to Rick Case Arena where basketball and volleyball games are held. Until 2004, the teams were called the Knights, but in 2005, students chose the new Sharks logo and mascot.

Sports sponsored

Nova Southeastern University has many sports teams called the Sharks. They have 17 different teams, with 7 teams for men and 10 teams for women.

National championships

The Nova Southeastern Sharks have won 16 team NCAA national championships, all at the Division II level.

Facilities

Don Taft University Center

Main article: Don Taft University Center

Nova Southeastern University's University Center opened in 2006. It is about 366,000 square feet and is the main building for students. It is used for sports, clubs, and fun activities. The Rick Case Arena, which can hold 4,500 people, is where the men's and women's basketball teams and the women's volleyball team play. The arena has one main court and two practice courts above. It can also be used for concerts, talks, and special events.

The arena has 4,500 seats, each with a backrest. The lower level has over 1,000 comfortable seats, and the upper level has over 3,000 seats. The upper level also has a special seating system that can add over 2,000 more seats when needed. There are also special seats along the side for important guests and donors, with a comfortable area to sit and watch the game.

NSU Softball Stadium

The NSU Softball Stadium is where the Nova Southeastern University Softball team plays. It was finished in 2024 and can hold 1,000 people. It replaces the old AD Griffin Sports Complex. The stadium has new features like bright LED lights, a new locker room, a new scoreboard, and an updated sound system. It is next to the school's Aquatics Center and Athletics Department, with a parking lot nearby.

NSU Baseball Complex

The NSU Baseball Complex is where the school's baseball team plays. It was built in 1988 and can hold 500 people. It also has a press box. The complex is on Nova Southeastern's campus and is next to a parking lot for fans.

NSU Soccer Stadium

The NSU Soccer Stadium opened in 2023 and replaced the old soccer complex. It is located at the former Miami Dolphins practice facility and can hold 1,000 people. It is home to the school's men's and women's soccer teams and has a turf playing surface.

Miami Dolphins Training Facility

The Miami Dolphins Training Facility was on the main campus of Nova Southeastern University until 2021. It was brought to the campus because of connections with the Miami Dolphins. The team's former owner, Wayne Huizenga, is the namesake of the school's Business College.

The facility was used by college football teams practicing in Miami-area bowl games. It also hosted Super Bowl teams; most recently, the Indianapolis Colts practiced there for Super Bowl XLI.

Mascot

Nova Southeastern University's sports teams were once called the Knights. This name started when the school was known as Nova University. Even after joining with Southeastern University, they kept the Knights name.

Later, the university wanted a fresh name after moving up to a new level of competition. In 2005, students and staff voted for a new mascot. The two top choices were the Sharks and the Stingrays. The Sharks won, and now Nova Southeastern University is known for its Shark mascot. The mascot, named Razor, is a Shortfin mako shark, picked for its speed and strength. The team uses fun slogans like "Hungry For More" and "Shark County."

Notable alumni

The Nova Southeastern Sharks have had many successful athletes go on to great things after college.

In baseball, some well-known players include Rob Brzezinski, J. D. Martinez, Miles Mikolas, Mike Fiers, Carlos Asuaje, and Mark Calvi.

Other sports have also produced notable athletes. In soccer, players like Lorcan Cronin, Aly Hassan, Darryl Gordon, Darwin Lom, and Juan Ramos have done well. In men’s basketball, players such as Alex Gynes and Tommy Greer have played in the NBL. In swimming and diving, Esau Simpson and David van der Colff have also stood out.