- North Florida Ospreys
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North Florida Ospreys 
Affiliations University University of North Florida Division NCAA Division I Conference Atlantic Sun General Nickname Ospreys Mascot Ozzie Colors Navy Blue and Grey Sports 15 (7 men's, 8 women's) Athletic Director Lee Moon Location Jacksonville, FL Homepage UNFOspreys.com Facilities Basketball UNF Arena Baseball Harmon Stadium Soccer Hodges Stadium A-Sun Conference Championships Men's Golf 2008 Women's Cross Country 2010 Women's Tennis 2010 The North Florida Ospreys are the athletic teams of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. The Ospreys compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference in NCAA Division I. UNF is in its third academic year as a full-fledged member of Division I; previously, the Ospreys were members of the Sunshine State Conference and Peach Belt Conference in NCAA Division II. UNF fields teams in seven men's sports and ten women's sports.
Contents
Overview
Overview
Men's sports
Women's sports
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Sand Volleyball
The University of North Florida's intercollegiate athletics program began in 1983, originally as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Ospreys joined NCAA Division II in 1993, the same year the UNF Arena opened. Originally, UNF competed in the Sunshine State Conference, and then in 1997 moved to the Peach Belt Conference. In 2005, the Ospreys began the transition to Division I by competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The transition's final year was the 2008-09 season, with UNF becoming tournament eligible beginning in the 2009-10 season.[1]
Notably, UNF is a non-football school, and students have long desired to see an Osprey football team. However, there are no plans to field a football team in the near future.[2]
Retired Ospreys logo
UNF has won the Sunshine State Conference's all-sports title four times and has won four NAIA national titles—men's golf in 1991 and 1993, and women's tennis in 1986 and 1994. UNF's first Division I conference title came in 2008 when the men's golf team captured the Atlantic Sun crown.[3]
In February 2009, UNF hired Lee Moon to be the new athletic director. He is UNF's sixth athletic director and previously worked at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Wyoming, and Marshall University. Since taking over UNF athletics, he has made many staff changes to move the program forward.[4]
Facilities
UNF's men's and women's soccer, track and field, and cross country teams play at Hodges Stadium. The stadium's track, completed in 2008, is one of only seven in the country certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).[5] The men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball teams play in UNF Arena. The baseball team plays at Harmon Stadium, while the softball team plays in the Softball Complex. The men's golf team utilizes the Hayt Golf Learning Center. The women's swimming and diving teams utilize the Aquatic Center. The men's and women's tennis teams play at the Tennis Complex.
Future
The move to Division I represented a monumental step towards improving athletics for the future. Facilities upgrades have also been planned. On September 2, 2008 the University announced plans for UNF Varsity Village. The project will cost an estimated $30 million which will provide two new facilities and upgrades to existing facilities. The two new facilities will be a student wellness and sports education center, and a new baseball stadium with a seating capacity of 3,000. The existing stadium, Harmon Stadium will be renovated to include 1,200 seats and used for softball. Other improvements include upgrades to the Arena and Hodges Stadium.[6]
Sports
Baseball
Old Ospreys baseball logo, 1986–2010UNF's baseball program was founded in 1988. The team was established under the leadership of Dusty Rhodes, who served as head coach from 1988–2010. Since its inception the Ospreys baseball team has won thirteen conference titles and made a total of sixteen playoff appearances: six in the NAIA and ten in NCAA Division II. They went to the NAIA World Series in 1989 and 1991 and the NCAA Division II World Series in 2000, 2001, and 2005, advancing to the final in 2005.[7][8]
The team's current head coach is Smoke Laval, who took over from Rhodes after the 2010 season. Their home stadium is Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.[9][10]
Notably, the team's former logo is similar to the New York Yankees logo. It was designed in 1986 at the urging of Dusty Rhodes and continued, and brought extra attention to the baseball program.[11] It was discontinued after Rhodes' retirement in 2010 and replaced with a new logo for the 2011 season.
Men's basketball
North Florida's men's and women's basketball teams began play in the 1992-1993 season. Matthew Driscoll is the current and fourth overall head coach of the men's basketball team. He was hired in 2009, just before UNF's move into Division I play.[12]
The Ospreys men's basketball team has made one playoff appearance, in the 2010-2011 season. In that season they advanced to the Atlantic Sun the championship game, where they were defeated by Belmont University. Going into the 2011-2012 season their all-time record is 200-340.[13]
Women's basketball
Mary Tappmeyer is the head coach of the women's basketball team, and has been since the program's inception in 1992. They made the NCAA Division II Tournament twice, in 2003 and 2004. They were 2009-2010 A-Sun Conference runner-ups.[14]
Men's basketball during practice at UNF ArenaCross Country
The men's cross country team has earned 4 conference titles in Division II, 3 of which came while UNF was in the Sunshine State Conference (1994–1996), and the fourth came in 2000 during their time in the Peach Belt Conference.
The women's cross country team has earned 5 conferences title in Division II, 3 in the Sunshine State Conference (1994–1996), and two in the Peach Belt Conference (2001, 2003).[15] They won their first A-Sun conference title in 2010.[16]
Golf
The men's golf team earned UNF's first Division I conference title in 2008. They use UNF's on-campus Hayt Golf Learning Center, which has a three hole course and driving range.
Team Honors:
NAIA National Titles (2): 1991, 1993
NCAA Division II Regional Appearances (5): 1999-2002, 2008
NCAA Division II Championship Appearances (1): 2000[17]A women's golf team was recently announced to be added, and will begin play in 2012.[18]
Soccer match at Hodges StadiumSand Volleyball
A women's sand volleyball team will be added in Spring of 2012, and current volleyball head coach Kevin Campbell will lead the new team.[19]
Soccer
UNF soccer's home matches are held at Hodges Stadium. As of 2009, men's soccer's all-time record is 149-138[20] and the women's record is 151-88-15.[21]
Softball
Osprey Softball competes at home at the UNF Softball Complex, next to Harmon Stadium. They have a 619-24 all-time record (as of 2009).[22]
Team Honors:
NCAA Division II Tournament Appearances (7): 1999-2005Swimming & diving
Women's swimming & diving competes in the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association.[23]
Volleyball team with Ozzie in UNF ArenaTennis
Tennis at UNF began in 1984, and the women's team has earned two national championships (1984–85 and 1993–94). Both men's and women's tennis has won seven conference championships each.[24][25]
Track & field
UNF Track & Field hosted the 2009 Atlantic Sun Conference Championships at Hodges Stadium, the first Division I Conference Championship hosted at UNF.
Volleyball
Women's volleyball at UNF began in 1991, and have an overall record of 401-178 (as of 2008). They play their home games at UNF Arena.[26] They won eight Peach Belt Conference championships, between 1997-2004.
Traditions
SunTrust River City RumbleThe Ospreys' most noted rivalry is with cross-town opponents the Jacksonville University Dolphins. The two schools compete in the "SunTrust River City Rumble" competition, which keeps a tally of every win for each team for each athletic event between them during the school year. The River City Rumble began in 2005 and the prize is the "SunTrust Old Wooden Barrel" which is housed in the athletic department of that year's winner. Jacksonville University has won the River City Rumble twice, UNF once, and there has been one tie.[27]
"The Swoop" is a key UNF tradition, similar in principle to UF's Gator Chomp or FSU's Tomahawk Chop as the recognized gesture to show school spirit. It simulates the movement of an Osprey flying through the "swooping" of a fan's arms. "Swoop" is also an acronym that stands for Students With Outstanding Osprey Pride.
Osprey basketball and baseball games can be heard on 105.7FM in Jacksonville.[28]
External links
- unfospreys.com - Official website of the North Florida Ospreys.
- atlanticsun.org - Official website of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
- twitter.com/unfospreys - Official Twitter page of the North Florida Ospreys.
- youtube.com/ospreyssportzone - Official YouTube channel of the North Florida Ospreys
References
- ^ http://www.unf.edu/unfinfo/unf_history/timeline_two.html
- ^ http://www.unf.edu/groups/spinnaker/archives/2006/04-19/s1.php
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/sports/2007/11/14/aboutunf.aspx 2008 Men's Golf Title
- ^ http://www.unfspinnaker.com/carousel/2009/02/11/former-uab-athletic-director-takes-vacant-unf-position/
- ^ "UNF Athletics Facilities: Hodges Stadium". University of North Florida Ospreys. unfospreys.com. http://www.unfospreys.com/sports/2008/9/19/HodgesStadium.aspx. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/news/2008/9/2/gen_0902080630.aspx
- ^ "2011 North Florida Baseball" (pdf). unfospreys.com. University of North Florida. 2011. http://www.unfospreys.com/documents/2011/1/3/2011_UNF_Baseball_Quick_Facts.pdf?id=1727. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/coaches.aspx?rc=24&path=baseball
- ^ http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/north_florida_ospreys/2010-02-19/story/coach_dusty_rhodes_optimistic_entering_final__0
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/news/2009/4/28/BB_0428091418.aspx?path=baseball
- ^ http://www.unfspinnaker.com/carousel/2009/03/04/baseball-logo-brings-fans-together/
- ^ http://unfospreys.com/news/2009/4/7/MBB_0407090208.aspx
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/documents/2011/8/22/2011-12_UNF_MBB_Quick_Facts_8-22.pdf
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/documents/2008/10/15/2008-09%20UNF%20WBKB%20Quick%20Facts.pdf/
- ^ http://unfospreys.com/documents/2008/8/19/08_XC_QuickFacts.pdf
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/news/2010/10/30/WXC_1030105846.aspx
- ^ http://unfospreys.com/documents/2008/8/20/2008-09%20Golf%20QuickFacts.pdf
- ^ "UNF Adding Women's Golf in 2012-13". http://www.unfospreys.com/news/2011/2/3/WG_0203115557.aspx.
- ^ "UNF Athletics Adding Sand Volleyball as Varsity Sport". http://www.unf.edu/ia/pr/media_relations/press/2011/UNF_Athletics_Adding_Sand_Volleyball_as_Varsity_Sport.aspx.
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/index.aspx?path=msoc&
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/index.aspx?path=wsoc&
- ^ http://unfospreys.com/documents/2009/1/21/2009%20SB%20QuickFacts.pdf
- ^ http://www.bigsouthsports.com/fls/4800/CCSASwimming/index2_files/Page308.htm
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/documents/2009/3/2/2009-WTEN-MediaGuide.pdf?id=408
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/documents/2009/3/2/2009-MTEN-MediaGuide.pdf?id=407
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/custompages/2008VBMG/TOC-MediaInfo.pdf
- ^ http://www.unfospreys.com/sports/2007/11/2/gen_1102073417.aspx?
- ^ http://www.1320wbob.com/sports.html
Atlantic Sun Conference Belmont Bruins • East Tennessee State Buccaneers • Florida Gulf Coast Eagles • Jacksonville Dolphins • Kennesaw State Owls • Lipscomb Bisons • Mercer Bears • North Florida Ospreys • South Carolina Upstate Spartans • Stetson Hatters
Athletics Atlantic Sun Conference • North Florida Ospreys • UNF Arena • Hodges Stadium • Harmon Stadium • Hayt Golf Learning CenterCampus Thomas G. Carpenter Library • Student Union • Housing • Fine Arts Center • Coggin College of Business Administration Building • J. Brooks Brown HallStudent life People Categories:- University of North Florida
- College sports teams in Florida
- College sports teams in the United States by team
- North Florida Ospreys
- Sports in Jacksonville, Florida
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