Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (also FGCU) refer to the fifteen intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Florida Gulf Coast University, located in unincorporated Lee County, Florida near Fort Myers, in intercollegiate athletics, including men and women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis; women's-only: softball, swimming and diving, indoor volleyball, and beach volleyball; and men's-only: baseball. The Eagles compete in the NCAA Division I and are members of the ASUN Conference (ASUN). FGCU is also notable as the youngest institution competing in NCAA Division I, having been officially founded in 1991 and started classes in 1997. Their mascot is Azul the Eagle.
| Florida Gulf Coast Eagles | |
|---|---|
| University | Florida Gulf Coast University |
| Conference | ASUN Conference (primary) CCSA (women's swimming & diving) |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletic director | Ken Kavanagh |
| Location | Fort Myers, Florida |
| Varsity teams | 15 (6 men's, 9 women's) |
| Basketball arena | Alico Arena |
| Baseball stadium | Swanson Stadium |
| Softball stadium | FGCU Softball Complex |
| Soccer stadium | FGCU Soccer Complex |
| Aquatics center | Aquatics Center |
| Tennis venue | FGCU Tennis Complex |
| Mascot | Azul the Eagle |
| Nickname | Eagles |
| Fight song | Hail to the Eagles |
| Colors | Cobalt blue and emerald green |
| Website | fgcuathletics |
FGCU athletics began in the NAIA. In 2002, Florida Gulf Coast became an independent member of NCAA Division II. In 2006, Florida Gulf Coast applied for NCAA Division I status and became a transitory Division I effective in the 2007–08 season. Florida Gulf Coast became a full Division I member on August 11, 2011.
In the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, FGCU became the first number 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16.