PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

elcome to this special athletic section of Florida Atlantic magazine, highlighting the men’s basketball team’s historic season. This was a season unlike any other, with a schoolrecord 35 wins; the nation’s best record (35-4); a 20-game win streak, tied for the longest in the nation; a perfect 17-0 record at home; winning both the Conference USA regular season and tournament championships; and making it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, becoming only the third No. 9 seed in history to accomplish this feat.

I am incredibly proud of our “Beach Boys,” and I know the entire community shares this pride. The team has inspired a renewed sense of FAU spirit in our students, faculty and staff, alumni, and friends of the university. The last seven regular-season games sold out and NCAA Tournament watch parties quickly reached capacity. The FAU Alumni Association hosted more than 20 Final Four watch parties in Florida, from Fort Lauderdale to Tallahassee, and nine watch parties across the country — the furthest taking place in Utah.

Thank you to everyone who traveled to Frisco, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; New York City and Houston to cheer on the team; as well as those who came out to Baldwin Arena to send off and welcome back the team and coaches from every trip, gathered with their fellow Owls at watch parties and showed their support on social media.

I commend the humble, hardworking young men on this basketball team who throughout the season took every opportunity to praise their coach and lift each other up; and the coaching staff, whose leadership and guidance has been transformational. I hope you enjoy reading about their journey in the following pages.

The 2023-24 season, which begins in November, promises to be just as exciting as this one, as most of our players and coaching staff are returning.

Congratulations again to Head Coach Dusty May, the basketball staff, and of course, our players, on an exceptional season. You’ve made us very proud!

Go Owls!

Stacy Volnick, Ph.D. President