89-651: The Florida Atlantic Owls are the athletics teams of Florida Atlantic University . The Owls participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division I as members of the American Athletic Conference . On October 21, 2021, Florida Atlantic accepted the invitation to join The American and became a full member on July 1, 2023. Florida Atlantic has attracted high-profile coaches in
178-540: A NASA Imaging Technology Space Center. Located in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the centers specialize in digital imaging research and development for use in both government and commercial applications in the areas of medical technology , surveillance , communications, education, inspection , scientific observation , manufacturing, visual recognition and identification, and motion picture and digital video . The Florida Atlantic Imaging Technology Center
267-521: A 41-day search to hire Bill Callahan , the recently-fired coach of the Oakland Raiders . Both Pelini brothers departed Nebraska. Jeff Jamrog, another Nebraska assistant let go following the dismissal of Frank Solich, was hired as head coach at Minnesota State University, Mankato for the 2004 season. Jamrog brought Pelini over as well, hiring him as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. Minnesota State Mankato finished 6–5 that year,
356-629: A 5–15 record. Chun told the Sun Sentinel, “They admitted to wrongdoings and they resigned on the spot." Chun said he was approached by two unnamed people, both of whom said they had evidence of drug use by the coaches. Chun and assistant athletic director Melissa Dawson investigated the incident and found more evidence implicating the two coaches. Later, Carl Pelini filed a Defamation of Character lawsuit against Florida Atlantic University claiming that Florida Atlantic had him under duress and made false statements against him. On March 2, 2015, he
445-536: A World War II American Army airbase in 1964. Spanning 850 acres (3.5 km ), the site is located between the cities of Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The campus was designated a burrowing owl sanctuary in 1971 by the Audubon Society . The owls find the campus appealing because there are few predators, due to the university's proximity to the Boca Raton Airport, and because the campus
534-532: A campus in the St. Lucie County city of Fort Pierce. In addition to students who attend classes on the universities campuses, there are 1,612 distance learning students who conduct their studies over the internet or through other means. These students account for 6% of the university's student body. FAU is a signatory of the American College & University presidents Climate Commitment Association for
623-660: A campus on the Treasure Coast . This would be the institution's fifth campus. The university continued its expansion in 1999 when it opened its Jupiter Campus, named for the late John D. MacArthur . This campus houses the university's honors college. Florida Atlantic University and the University of Miami 's Miller School of Medicine established a medical training program within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science in 2004. Plans originally called for
712-544: A concert and a speech by the university's head football coach. Also in football, Florida Atlantic challenges its rival Florida International (FIU) in the annual Shula Bowl . This intercollegiate football game is named after legendary coach Don Shula ; so named because at the time of its inception, both head coaches, Florida Atlantic's Howard Schnellenberger and Florida International coach Don Strock , had worked under Shula at some point during their careers. Even though both universities have since moved on to new head coaches,
801-616: A library, a 500-seat auditorium, three residence halls, a dining hall, museum building, and utility plant. The MacArthur Campus also houses the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College , Scripps Florida , FAU Brain Institute, and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience . The campus serves approximately 1,262 students, or 4% of the university's student body. The Dania Beach Campus, also known as SeaTech,
890-496: A major improvement over their winless season the year prior. The following year, in 2005, after taking a year off to study the game, Frank Solich rejoined the ranks of head coaches when he was hired at Ohio to turn the Bobcat program around, and Pelini accepted a position under his former boss at Ohio, as Defensive Line Coach. 2006 was the year of resurgence for the long-suffering Ohio program, as they finished with nine wins and won
979-706: A member in the Sun Belt Conference, the FAU women's softball team became Sun Belt Conference champions winning both the Sun Belt regular-season and the Sun Belt tournament title. Florida Atlantic University is only the second Sun Belt champion in league history, knocking off defending champions Louisiana-Lafayette, which had won the first seven Sun Belt titles. Additionally, the Lady Owls were only one of two teams to win their final post season game. Coach Joan Joyce
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#17327721254441068-705: A partnership with Indian River State College (IRSC). Florida Atlantic purchased 50 acres (0.2 km ) of land in Port St. Lucie in 1994. At the end of spring 2012 class term, Florida Atlantic University ended offering classes at the Port St. Lucie campus. Florida Atlantic's 19 varsity sports teams, the Owls , compete in NCAA's Division I. The Owls joined Conference USA for the 2013–14 season. The university's athletics program began in 1979, when Florida Atlantic first started sponsoring intercollegiate teams. Since then,
1157-483: A position on staff as a Restricted Earnings Coach, while he simultaneously completed his master's degree in journalism at Kansas State. Pelini then spent two years out of coaching while finishing his third degree, a master's in education, from Ohio State University in 1993, and then promptly returned to the coaching ranks as the defensive coordinator for Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kansas , for
1246-562: A shared-use, 112,000 square-foot FAU/BC library designed for the 21st century. Other support facilities include a shared Childcare Center, a student Wellness Center and a multi-service Student Union. The campus also offers a rich and varied program of student activities provided by the Division of Student Affairs. Students have all of the services they require for career counseling, wellness, testing and evaluation, tutoring, health services, student government and financial aid, among others. Like
1335-611: A small college within a large university, the Davie Campus is seen as a "model" branch campus for the state of Florida and the nation. The university has two buildings in downtown Fort Lauderdale , both of which are considered part of one Fort Lauderdale campus. The Askew Tower (AT) and the Higher Education Complex (HEC) on Las Olas Boulevard . The campus offers courses in communication, graphic design , architecture, and urban and regional planning. The campus
1424-596: A strong athletic tradition, and graduated from Youngstown Cardinal Mooney High School (the same high school as former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops , Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops , and brother Bo Pelini , former head coach at Nebraska ). Pelini had a relatively short playing career, putting in just two seasons at Columbia University in New York City in 1983 and 1984 as a middle linebacker before returning home to finish his degree. Prior to finishing his first degree, Pelini began his coaching career with
1513-539: A two-year stint beginning in 1987 as an assistant at his alma mater, Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown. The following year, 1989, Pelini completed his bachelor's degree in English literature from Youngstown State University , and later in the same year was brought aboard the staff at Kansas State University by Bill Snyder as a graduate assistant . Two years later he moved up from Graduate Assistant to
1602-465: A winning season in the previous five years. Today, Austintown-Fitch High School boasts a top high school program in Northeast Ohio. Pelini moved back into the college ranks, again as a graduate assistant, when hired by Frank Solich at Nebraska , where he worked side by side with younger brother Bo Pelini who had also just been hired by Solich as Defensive Coordinator. At the conclusion of
1691-533: A year into his tenure to coach at SMU . The Owls are currently coached by Dusty May , in his first head coaching opportunity. The Owls play at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena , formerly known as FAU Arena & RoofClaim.com Arena and commonly referred to as The Burrow. In the 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament , the men's basketball team has advanced to the Final Four . In 2007, their first year as
1780-402: Is 20:1. The top three undergraduate majors by enrollment are elementary education , accounting, and management, respectively. The top three graduate majors by enrollment are business administration , educational leadership, and accounting, respectively. The average age for first-year students is 18; however, the average age for all undergraduates is 24 and the average age for graduate students
1869-443: Is 33. The average 4-year graduation rate in 2021 was 47.5%. Enrichment opportunities include internships, hands-on research, study abroad experiences, and 310 clubs and campus organizations. The Lifelong Learning Society operates programs that serve the educational interests of more than 19,000 senior citizens by providing classes focusing on subjects of specific interest, and audit options for regular university classes. Under
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#17327721254441958-625: Is a public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida and satellite campuses in Dania Beach , Davie , Fort Lauderdale , Jupiter , and Fort Pierce . The university is a member of the State University System of Florida . FAU was established as Florida's fifth public university and is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". FAU has quickly grown to become one of
2047-490: Is an American football coach. He served as defensive coordinator at Youngstown State University for the 2019 season. Pelini previously served as the head coach of Florida Atlantic from 2012 to 2013. He is the older brother of Bo Pelini , the former head coach at Nebraska and Youngstown State as well as defensive coordinator at LSU . Pelini was born in Youngstown, Ohio , a former center of steel production with
2136-399: Is developing a curriculum for digital imaging and processing, thereby establishing Florida Atlantic as the only university in the nation to offer this technical concentration. The NASA Imaging Technology Center is one of 12 NASA Research Partnership Centers throughout the nation which develop dual-use research and development with the participation of NASA and other related industries in
2225-788: Is home to approximately 900 students or 3.2% of the university's student body. In addition to the Treasure Coast Campus, FAU operates a campus in Fort Pierce at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution . Harbor Branch merged with the university in 2007 to become the HBOI at FAU. The Florida Legislature allocated $ 44 million for the university to acquire the institution and its 600-acre (2.4 km ) campus. Treasure Coast Campus of Florida Atlantic University operated through
2314-743: Is located on six campuses spread across Palm Beach , Broward , and St. Lucie counties. The region is home to more than three million people. The university's main campus is located in the City of Boca Raton in Palm Beach County. The county is also home to the John D. MacArthur Campus located in Jupiter. FAU operates three campuses in the Broward County cities of Dania Beach, Davie, and Fort Lauderdale. Florida Atlantic University also operates
2403-524: Is the burrowing owl . Owlsley and Hoot are the names of the mascots for Florida Atlantic University. The presence of this bird has been popular on the land of the university, even preceding the construction of FAU. At the dedication ceremony in 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson even made notice and reference to the popular presence of the bird. In 1971, the National Audubon Society designated FAU's land an official owl sanctuary, honoring
2492-796: The A. D. Henderson University School , FAU High School , one of Florida Atlantic University's Research Parks, and the Lifelong Learning Society. In addition to the Boca Raton campus in southern Palm Beach County , FAU operates a campus in northern Palm Beach County, in Jupiter . The John D. MacArthur Campus, named after businessman and philanthropist John D. MacArthur , was established in 1999 to serve residents of central and northern Palm Beach and southern Martin counties. The MacArthur Campus occupies 45 acres (0.18 km ), upon which are eight classroom and office buildings,
2581-593: The Division II level from 1988 to 1993 before joining the Atlantic Sun Conference when moving to Division I in the 1993–1994 season. The Owls were coached by Rex Walters in 2006–2008, a former standout at Kansas . Walters played a major role in the Jayhawks' run to the Final Four in 1993. Coach Walters became the 6th head coach of FAU basketball, after Matt Doherty left the university
2670-728: The FIU Panthers , located just 50 miles from Florida Atlantic; FIU will remain in Conference USA after FAU's 2023 move to The American. The rivals meet annually in a conference match up named the Shula Bowl , after Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula . The first Shula Bowl was played in 2002 at the Miami Dolphins' Pro Player Stadium (later Sun Life Stadium and now Hard Rock Stadium ), and since alternated between FAU at Sun Life Stadium and Riccardo Silva Stadium annually;
2759-587: The Florida Atlantic Owls , compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the American Athletic Conference (AAC). With 19 varsity athletic teams, the Owls have found success in winning titles and championships in the C-USA (FAU’s previous athletic conference) and garnering attention on the national scale. On October 21, 2021, Florida Atlantic accepted the invitation to join
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2848-605: The Memphis Tigers 44–27. In 2008, the Owls competed in their second straight bowl game, the Motor City Bowl , where they defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas by a score of 24–21. In 2010, quarterback Rusty Smith became the first FAU player to be drafted. The Owls opened their new on-campus FAU Stadium on October 15, 2011, against Western Kentucky . The Owls' natural rivals are
2937-602: The SMU Mustangs by a score of 52–28. Florida Atlantic Baseball fielded its first squad in 1981. Since inception FAU has had only three coaches. Kevin Cooney , the most successful coach in school history, was the Florida Atlantic head baseball coach from 1988 through 2008. By many accounts, Cooney built a mid-major dynasty in the baseball world. University of Cincinnati head coach Brian Cleary called FAU "one of
3026-452: The State University System of Florida . Past university presidents also included Anthony J. Catanese , Helen Popovich, Glenwood Creech, and Kenneth Rast Williams. On January 17, 2014, the Board of Trustees announced the selection of John W. Kelly, formerly a vice president of Clemson University , to be the seventh president of the university with a starting date of March 1, 2014. As of 2021,
3115-777: The United States Department of Energy designated FAU as one of three national centers for ocean energy research and development. The Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center joins centers in the Pacific Northwest ( University of Washington and Oregon State University ) and in Hawaii ( University of Hawaii ). The Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center is undertaking research and development of technologies capable of generating renewable power from ocean currents and ocean thermal energy. The university houses both an Imaging Technology Center and
3204-498: The University of Florida and Florida State University , for the initial funding from the state. Since receiving its startup funding, Florida Atlantic has secured additional funds from other sources, including federal and private research grants. As a result, both centers have engaged in academic and industry partnerships, combining expertise in ocean engineering , marine biotechnology , functional genomics , proteomics , and bioinformatics . Researchers, scientists, and students at
3293-406: The role of Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach. In 2010, following a heated loss at Texas A&M that included fans storming the field, Pelini was accused by TexAgs co-owner Brandon Jones, who was on the field as a credentialed media member, of grabbing and damaging his camera. Pelini initially denied the accusations, but after video evidence from Jones' camera and another camera in
3382-577: The 103th best public university in the United States, and 189th overall among all national universities, public and private. For 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida Atlantic University as the 112th best public university in the United States, and 209th overall among all national universities, public and private. In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked the undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering programs 93rd, 164th, and 165th nationally, respectively. The university
3471-522: The 1993 and 1994 seasons. In 1995, Pelini was appointed as a head coach for the first time, while also assuming the role of athletic director , at Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, Missouri . During his four-year tenure at Winnetonka, he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for a program that had achieved a winning season only once in the previous 11 years, and his 1997 squad finished 8–2 and led to Pelini being named Suburban Conference Coach of
3560-810: The 2019–2020 season. The Owls competed in the ACHA National Tournament in 2005 & 2011 and qualified for the Regional Tournament in the 2017-2018 and 2019–2020 seasons. Open tryouts are held at the beginning of the fall semester in preparation for the 25+ multi-conference season games, the CHS Playoffs, and the CHF Federation Cup. The rivalry between Florida Atlantic and Florida International started in 2002 when FIU's newly formed football program signed on to an annual matchup with FAU, alternating between home fields;
3649-617: The 27th most diverse university in the nation. For the incoming freshman class of fall 2021, the acceptance rate was 60%. The university has ten colleges which altogether offer over 180 different bachelor's , master's and doctoral degree programs: the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science , Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine , Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing , College of Social Work and Criminal Justice , College of Business , College of Education , College of Engineering and Computer Science , Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters , Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College , and
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3738-556: The AAC and became a full-member on July 1, 2023. On July 15, 1961, to meet the burgeoning educational demands of South Florida, the state legislature passed an act authorizing the establishment of a new university in the city of Boca Raton. Florida Atlantic University was built on Boca Raton Army Airfield , a 1940s-era army airbase. During World War II, the airfield served as the Army Air Corps ' sole radar training facility. The base
3827-587: The Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education . This commits the institution to ensuring all new construction projects meet the U.S. Green Building Council 's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards. In 2011, the College of Engineering and Computer Science Building was LEED Platinum certified. FAU's main campus in Boca Raton was established on the remnants of
3916-633: The East Division Mid-American Conference title. The 2006 Bobcats also played in the GMAC Bowl against Southern Miss , Ohio's first bowl appearance since 1968. At the conclusion of the 2007 season, a coaching change again influenced Pelini's career. Bill Callahan , Frank Solich's successor at Nebraska, was fired after four seasons. Pelini's brother Bo was named Callahan's successor and brought Pelini with him upon his return. Pelini returned to Nebraska, this time in
4005-502: The FAU Davie campus include Social Work and Criminal Justice, Arts and Letters, Business, Education, Nursing, and Science. The campus is located on Broward College 's Central Campus. Students may enter BC as freshmen and graduate from FAU with undergraduate degrees in over 14 disciplines. More than 315,000 square feet of carefully designed classrooms, laboratories and faculty, staff and student offices are located on this campus along with
4094-507: The FAU student body, making it the university's second largest campus by enrollment. The campus features a multi-story student union with offices for student government and student organizations, a multipurpose area and student lounge, a bookstore, and cafeteria. The union also contains a student health center that provides medical services and health counseling. Davie is also the home of "environmental research initiatives focused on Everglades restoration." FAU colleges offering courses at
4183-772: The Graduate College. The university offers two honors options: the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College and a University Scholars Program. The Wilkes Honors College is located on the John D. MacArthur campus in Jupiter, Florida. It offers a liberal arts education in the platform of a public university, yet is comparable to a private liberal arts college. The Boca Raton campus houses the University Scholars Program, which offers special honors seminars, forums, courses, and advanced course substitution for freshmen. The fall 2021 incoming freshmen profile for
4272-527: The Owls defeated the Akron Zips by a score of 50–3. On December 11, 2019, FAU announced the hiring of former Florida State University head coach Willie Taggart as the next head coach. On December 21, 2019, former interim head coach and current University of South Florida defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer led the Owls to their fourth bowl victory in the Boca Raton Bowl, where the Owls defeated
4361-824: The Scripps Research Institute , the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies , and the Max Planck Society . The university is the home of two centers of excellence: the Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology and the Center for Ocean Energy Technology. These centers have been selected by Florida's Emerging Technology Commission to receive grants to continue and increase their operations. FAU beat out some of Florida's top research universities, including
4450-491: The Shula Bowl is still played. As a home game, the competition takes place at university's own stadium; as an away game, the bowl is played at FIU Stadium . For basketball, Florida Atlantic celebrates the "Red Hot Madness and Stroll Off" pep rally that introduces fans to the team and coaches, host a number of basketball-related contests such as 3-point shoot-outs and slam dunk competitions, and features step performances by
4539-645: The US. The center occupies two sets of laboratories and administrative offices, one on Florida Atlantic's main campus in Boca Raton, the other at the Fort Lauderdale campus. FAU is affiliated to the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University , with properties in Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton. The Research Park provides outside research facilities for companies which enable them to interact with
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#17327721254444628-414: The Year. Pelini spent five seasons at Winnetonka, with an overall record of 18–32. In 2000, Pelini was tapped to revitalize a high school program and welcomed the opportunity to return to his roots for a short time when he was hired as Head Coach at Austintown-Fitch High School in Austintown, Ohio , a suburb of his hometown of Youngstown. Pelini started the resurrection of a program that had gone without
4717-445: The areas of acoustics , marine vehicles, hydrodynamics and physical oceanography , marine materials and nanocomposites . The Dania Beach Campus serves approximately 70 students, roughly 1% of the university's total student body. The Davie Campus of Florida Atlantic University was established in 1990 on 38 acres (0.15 km ) of land in western Broward County. The campus serves approximately 3,488 students, or 13% of
4806-420: The centers are designing technologies to explore the sea, harvest renewable energy , discover new medicines, and develop new therapeutics to combat agents of bioterrorism . As a result of this research, in 2007 the university and Lockheed Martin announced an exclusive licensing agreement to develop and produce a rapidly deployable and autonomous mooring buoy system for military and scientific uses. In 2010,
4895-592: The coast, and as a stop-over point for planes being ferried to Africa and Europe via South America. The airfield was composed of four runways, still visible on the Boca Campus today and mainly used for parking. By early 1947, the military decided to transfer future radar training operations to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi . The departure of the air force in 1947 would leave Boca Raton Army Airfield essentially abandoned. Florida Atlantic University opened on September 14, 1964, with an initial student body of 867 students in five colleges. The first degree awarded
4984-456: The construction of a new teaching hospital in coordination with Boca Raton Community Hospital on the main campus. Following successive budgets deficits in 2007, the hospital delayed its participation indefinitely. However, Florida Atlantic later established its own College of Medicine in 2010. The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) also joined the university in 2007, creating Florida Atlantic's seventh campus. To bring HBOI into
5073-418: The country's best baseball programs," and added, "it's been an incredibly successful program over the last several years." Coach Cooney won his 800th career game on March 15, 2006, when FAU played Columbia . At FAU, Cooney won more than 700 games. The Owls baseball team plays its home games at FAU Baseball Stadium . Currently the Owls are coached by long-time assistant for Cooney, John McCormack . McCormack
5162-429: The first game in the series at the Owls' new stadium was in 2012. FAU leads the all-time series thirteen games to four. On December 5, 2011, the football program hired its second coach in its history; former University of Nebraska Defensive Coordinator, Carl Pelini . In 2013, the Owls joined Conference USA . On December 16, 2013, the program hired its third coach in its history; Charlie Partridge. On December 12, 2016,
5251-439: The game has come to be called the Shula Bowl . FAU leads the football series 16–4 as of 2022. On the basketball court, FAU leads the series 21–18 as of 2023. Source: Owlsley and Hoot are the official mascots of Florida Atlantic. FAU is one of three schools in the American Athletic Conference to use the owl as a mascot, alongside Temple University and Rice University . Fight song: The Florida Atlantic University fight song
5340-415: The invitation to join the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and became a full-member on July 1, 2023. FAU is home to a number of sports-related traditions and school spirit organizations. Every fall before the first football game of the season, FAU's Student Government Association sponsors the annual football "Bonfire" where the opposing team's mascot is burned in effigy. This event typically includes
5429-405: The largest institutions in the state by enrollment. Florida Atlantic offers more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs within its 10 colleges. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). FAU opened in 1964 as the first public university in the Miami metro area , offering only upper-division and graduate level courses. Initial enrollment
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#17327721254445518-451: The middle 50% was a 3.73–4.33 high school GPA , a 23–29 ACT composite score, and a 1100–1270 SAT total score. Additional admission requirements are needed for the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the School of Architecture, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the College of Science. The average class size at FAU for undergraduates is 33 students, and for graduate classes, 12 students. The student-to-faculty ratio
5607-488: The past for various sports, including Howard Schnellenberger and Lane Kiffin for football and Mike Jarvis for basketball . Other former coaches include Matt Doherty , Rex Walters , and Sidney Green . As of March 2018, the Owls are led by athletic director Brian White. The 2023 men's basketball team made school history by making the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament . The logo and mascot of Florida Atlantic University 's athletic teams
5696-433: The program hired the fourth coach in program history; Lane Kiffin . Kiffin was formerly the head coach for the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, the University of Tennessee Volunteers, and the University of Southern California as well as the former Offensive Coordinator for the University of Alabama under Nick Saban . He led the Owls to two conference championships in 2017 and 2019, as well as a 2017 Boca Raton Bowl victory, where
5785-787: The radio, on the station's webstream, and thru their stream on the TuneIn application. The voice of Owls football is part-time ESPN 106.3 West Palm 's Ken LaVicka. All football and basketball games can be heard live on FAU's website , as well. Occasional FAU football and, as of 2019, all FAU men's basketball games are broadcast by ESPN+ , the streaming service from ESPN . Other networks that have broadcast FAU games in recent years include FOX , ESPNU , NFL Network , CBS Sports Network , Stadium , and ABC . For an alphabetical list of inductees, see footnote The Florida Atlantic University Athletic Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class of members in 2006. Florida Atlantic University Florida Atlantic University ( Florida Atlantic or FAU )
5874-408: The regular season, despite posting a 9–3 record, Solich was fired by new Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson . Bo Pelini was named the interim head coach and with the rest of the coaching staff still on board led the Cornhuskers to a 17–3 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the 2003 Alamo Bowl . Bo Pelini interviewed for the Nebraska head coach position, but Pederson instead decided after
5963-440: The school's National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities. During the regular season, the "Bury the Burrow in Red" event calls for Florida Atlantic students to wear as much red as possible and fill the Burrow , the university's multi-purpose arena, during the annual basketball rivalry game between Florida Atlantic and Florida International University. Carl Pelini Carl Anthony Pelini (born July 15, 1965)
6052-427: The stands showed him lunging towards Jones and grabbing the camera unprovoked, he apologized and offered to pay to fix any damage done to the camera. On December 1, 2011, Pelini became the head football coach at Florida Atlantic University . He resigned on October 30, 2013, after FAU athletic director Pat Chun confronted Pelini and defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis with reports of illegal drug use. He resigned with
6141-478: The state intended the institution "to complement the state's community college system, accepting students who had earned their associate degrees from those institutions." Florida Atlantic began its expansion beyond a one-campus university in 1971, when it opened its Commercial Boulevard campus in Fort Lauderdale. Due to a rapidly expanding population in South Florida, in 1984 Florida Atlantic opened its doors to lower-division undergraduate students. The following year,
6230-423: The student-run record label Hoot/Wisdom Recordings. In addition to academic and cultural programs, the campus also houses Florida Atlantic's Division I athletics program . The main campus serves approximately 19,077 students, or 70% of the university's student body, offering a number of academic programs, activities, and services. The Boca Raton campus also houses a number of other institutions, including
6319-534: The tradition of the bird's presence and moving to protect the birds from attempts to expand construction of the university. Owls are still dominant in their presence on the Boca Raton campus to this day. With the addition of intercollegiate athletics in the mid-1980s, the university used the bird as its mascot - an animal that denotes wisdom, determination and cognizance. Florida Atlantic University fielded its first football team in 2001, coached by former Miami and Louisville coach Howard Schnellenberger . Their first game
6408-718: The university added its third campus in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Las Olas Boulevard . In 1989, the Florida Legislature recognized demands for higher education in South Florida by designating Florida Atlantic as the lead state university serving Broward County. To fill this role, the university would establish a campus in Dania Beach in 1997 and another campus in the City of Davie in western Broward County in 1990. Florida Atlantic later purchased 50 acres (20 ha) of land in Port St. Lucie in 1994 to establish
6497-566: The university community and its facilities, resources, and expertise. The Research Park operates the Technology Business Incubator; which fosters the start-up and growth of technology-based businesses, seeking to scale them and build relationships for them with the university. The Boca Raton campus is also home to the Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences. Florida Atlantic University's geographical distribution
6586-482: The university family the Florida Legislature allocated $ 44 million to Florida Atlantic to acquire the institution. Florida Atlantic has changed dramatically since its opening in 1964. There are now more than 30,000 students attending classes on seven campuses spread across 120 miles (193 km). The university consists of ten colleges and employs more than 3,200 faculty and staff. As of 2020,
6675-417: The university has worked to expand the quality of its intercollegiate program by attracting coaches such as Howard Schnellenberger , Carl Pelini , Matt Doherty , Rex Walters , Lane Kiffin , Mike Jarvis , Dusty May , Willie Taggart , Tom Herman and women's softball and golf coach Joan Joyce . The university's colors are FAU Blue, FAU Red, and FAU Silver. On October 21, 2021, Florida Atlantic accepted
6764-724: The university's Commercial Music Program, Hoot/Wisdom Recordings was created in 2002, enabling students to work in all creative and business aspects of the music industry. This program generated music that landed a Top 10 spot on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales Chart during its first week of release. The university provides financial education using its computer lab. A second lab provides full audio/visual connectivity and additional workstations. Florida Atlantic allows local financial businesses to use its computer labs and facilities for training. For 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida Atlantic University as
6853-441: The university's endowment has increased to over $ 240 million. Since its founding, the university has been led by seven presidents. The university's immediate past president is Mary Jane Saunders . She was named president on March 3, 2010, then resigned on May 15, 2013. Her appointment followed the resignation of Frank Brogan . Brogan, a former Lieutenant Governor of Florida , left the university in late 2009 to become Chancellor of
6942-511: The university's student body consists of 24,663 undergraduates, 3,380 graduate students, 440 doctoral students, and 254 medical students. In 2021, the undergraduate student body consisted 61% ethnic minorities and includes students from more than 180 countries. Florida Atlantic has long ranked as the most racially, ethnically and culturally diverse institution in Florida's State University System . U.S. News & World Report has ranked FAU
7031-558: Was a 40–7 loss against Slippery Rock University on September 1, 2001. After just four seasons of existence, the Owls jumped from Division I-AA (now FCS) competition to Division I-A (now FBS) , joining the Sun Belt Conference . Through the 2008 season, after eight years of competing in football, the Owls are 47–47 overall. In 2007 they competed in their first bowl game, the New Orleans Bowl , where they defeated
7120-418: Was an assistant under Cooney at FAU for 18 seasons. 40+ years of Florida Atlantic baseball: FAU basketball began play in 1988 and in its 19+ seasons has experienced limited success, marred with frequent coaching changes. Along with the other FAU athletics teams, basketball entered the Sun Belt Conference in the 2006–2007 season, and has shown signs of maturing into a national competitor. The Owls competed on
7209-625: Was an honorary doctorate given to President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 25, 1964, at the dedication and opening of the university. At the time of its opening, there were 350 employees, of which 120 were faculty. On-campus housing for students was first added in September 1965, when Algonquin Hall opened. Florida Atlantic's history is one of continuing expansion as the university's service population has grown. The university originally served only upper-division and graduate level students, because
7298-410: Was built on the existing Boca Raton Airport and on 5,860 acres (23.7 km ) of adjacent land. A majority of the land was acquired from Japanese-American farmers from the failing Yamato Colony . The land was seized through eminent domain , leaving many Japanese-Americans little recourse in the early days of World War II. The airbase was used for radar training, anti-submarine patrols along
7387-559: Was created in 2004, in response to the university's growing football program. FAU fielded its first marching band in the 2002 football season, collectively called the Florida Atlantic Marching Owls . FAU Owls home and road games for football and basketball can be heard locally (the tri-county area of South Florida— Palm Beach , Broward , and Miami-Dade counties) on WMEN Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida (formerly known as "640 The Hurricane Sports Radio") on
7476-601: Was founded in 1997 as a state-funded Type II research center. The institute is part of FAU's Department of Ocean Engineering which was founded in 1965 as the first ocean engineering undergraduate program in the nation. The campus is located on 8 acres (0.03 km ) of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway . SeaTech is home to university faculty and students engaged in sponsored ocean engineering research and development in
7565-526: Was hired by his brother, Bo, as an assistant defensive coach at Youngstown State University. On December 18, 2017, sources from the Toledo Blade confirmed that Pelini was to be named the defensive coordinator at Bowling Green State University. On October 14, 2018, Pelini was named interim head coach of Bowling Green after the school fired Mike Jinks . After spending 2019 as the defensive coordinator at Youngstown State University, on July 27, 2020, he
7654-602: Was named one of the "Best Southeastern Colleges" in the United States by the Princeton Review for 2023. In 2023, Florida Atlantic was ranked 46th in the nation by Washington Monthly in their 2023 National University Rankings. FAU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a research university with high research activity. The university has established notable partnerships with major research institutions such as
7743-669: Was named the Sun Belt's Coach of the Year after guiding the Owls to the top of the conference. Prior to joining the Sun Belt Conference, FAU softball had won nine Atlantic Sun Conference titles in the previous 10 years. The Florida Atlantic University Ice Hockey Club participates in Division II of the Collegiate Hockey Federation (CHF) and has been a member of the College Hockey South (CHS) since
7832-551: Was only 867 students, increasing in 1984 when the university admitted its first lower-division undergraduate students. As of 2021, its enrollment had grown to over 30,000 students representing 180 countries, 50 states, and the District of Columbia . The university has an annual budget of $ 900 million and an annual economic impact of $ 6.3 billion. Since 1964, Florida Atlantic University has awarded degrees to over 185,000 alumni. FAU's intercollegiate sports teams,
7921-457: Was originally cleared of vegetation when operating as an airbase during World War II. "The feisty bird, traditionally associated with wisdom and determination, serves as the university's mascot." The Boca Raton campus is home to a wide variety of university programs and facilities. These facilities are labs and classrooms, housing for students, a 6,000-gallon shark tank for aquatic research, a movie theater, athletic and recreational facilities, and
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