USF has a wealth of talent returning for 2014, including NFCA Third Team All-American pitcher Sara Nevins, who posted a 1.20 ERA last season. Head coach Ken Eriksen became the all-time winningest coach in any sport in USF history last season, leading his Bulls to a 45-16 record (18-3 Big East). The reigning Big East Champions, the Bulls earned their first-ever conference championship last season and advanced to their second-straight NCAA Tournament, which marked the 11 th appearance in program history. 25/23 USF took the second-place slot in the Preseason Poll, picking up one first place vote and 44 overall points. Four other seniors and Big East award winners, pitchers Rachel LeCoq and Caralisa Connell, outfielder Hannah Kiyohara and catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod, will join Keller in pursuit of an 11 th straight NCAA bid, all of which have come under 14 th-year head coach Sandy Pearsall. The 2014 Cardinal squad will feature eight letterwinners and six starters returning, including senior and 2013 NFCA Second Team All-American second baseman Katie Keller. Despite finishing third in the Big East in the regular season and falling to eventual champion USF in the Big East Championship semifinals, Louisville earned an at-large selection to the 2013 NCAA Tournament and home field advantage in the Regional round. The Cardinals are coming off an impressive 2013 season, which saw the program post a 47-13 overall record and an 18-4 conference mark in the former Big East. Louisville received six of seven possible first place votes for 48 total points to take the honor. 19/18 Louisville Cardinals top the 2014 American Athletic Conference Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as selected by the conference’s eight head coaches. FAU began competing as an NCAA division I institution in 1993-94 and first held membership with the Atlantic Sun Conference, then known as the Trans America Athletic Conference, moved to the Sun Belt in 2004 and then to Conference USA in 2013.Following a 2013 season that saw the program’s 10 th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance, the No. The move is another example of the university's efforts to ascend as one of the nation's top athletics programs. Additionally, for the first time, the Owls will travel to face conference foes in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Oklahoma and Kansas, as well as competing against in-state foe USF. The Owls will face four teams from the state of Texas, two in North Carolina and one each from Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama. Upon the move to The American, FAU will have the opportunity for exposure in four of the top 10, seven of the top 25 and 12 of the top 51 Nielsen media markets. The American's partnership with ESPN's family of networks includes 40 conference-controlled football games and 60 conference-controlled men's basketball games airing on ESPN linear outlets per year. The exposure afforded the university through athletics will showcase the university on a national stage. We look forward to our final year in Conference USA, while also continuing our diligent work in preparation to join The American."įlorida Atlantic's men's soccer and men's and women's swimming and diving teams will serve as affiliate members of The American this fall. "Today, we have more clarity on that future, which is exciting to everyone associated with the Owls. "Florida Atlantic Athletics has an extremely bright future," FAU Vice President & Director of Athletics Brian White said. We look forward to welcoming our new conference rivals and their fans to beautiful Boca Raton." "Florida Atlantic has gained national recognition for academic and athletic excellence, and membership in The American will help propel the university to the next level. "We are incredibly excited about our future in the American Athletic Conference," said FAU President John Kelly. – Florida Atlantic University athletics will officially become members of the American Athletic Conference in July of 2023.įlorida Atlantic will formally notify Conference USA of its intention to leave the conference following the 2022-23 academic year.
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