Nova Southeastern Athletics Hosts 37th Annual Scholarship Golf Classic Presented by DELL

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Hosted at Grande Oaks Golf Club, the 37th Annual Nova Southeastern University Scholarship Golf Classic, Presented by DELL took place on Monday, April 4. The proceeds from the Scholarship Golf Classic directly impact NSU student-athletes by way of scholarships and academic support.
 
To view a full photo gallery of the 37th Annual NSU Scholarship Golf Classic, Presented by DELL, CLICK HERE

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“I am humbled and honored by the generosity of our sponsors and supporters of NSU Athletics,” said Director of Athletics/Associate Vice President for Advancement Michael Mominey. “The Golf Classic has been a long-standing tradition for the university and certainly is our signature event celebrating and supporting our student-athletes. An event such as this is an affirmation of what truly defines our One Shark Family.”
 
The support and success of the Scholarship Golf Classic is essential to the sustainable success of NSU’s NCAA Division II athletic program. Nova Southeastern currently sponsors 16 teams, as well as the Sharkettes spirit squad. The Sharks have captured eight NCAA Team National Championships, 27 Individual NCAA National Championships, and 41 Sunshine State Conference Championships.

NSU student-athletes live out the core values and mission of the university by realizing their potential on and off the field. In addition to athletic accomplishments, they are driven to perform at the highest level in academics. As a result, NSU Athletics has achieved a collective departmental GPA of 3.0 or higher for the past 19 consecutive years, and for the past five years has achieved a 3.20 GPA or higher including a department-wide GPA of 3.44 this past fall.  
 
Nova Southeastern would like to thank its “Title Sponsor” – DELL, its “Mako Sponsors” – C. Davis Electric and Truist, its “Event Sponsors” – MS Cable & Wire Installations, Grycon and Encompass, as well as a multitude of corporate sponsors including OAI Visual Branding, JWR Construction Services, Gallo Herbert Architects, Kovac Automotive, Eddie DiMiglio Collisoin Experts, Kibler Construction, the Lafferty Family, IST Management, Chartwells, Barnes & Noble, BSN Sports, Pantropic Power, CSPi Technology Solutions, Juniper, Rubrik, Hill York, DEX Imaging, City Electric, Juneau Construction Company, Fortinet, NSU University Advancement, Foreman Cook Group at Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Moss & Associates, Lighting Dynamics, South Dade Lighting, TK Elevator and the McDonald Family Foundation.

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COVID UPDATE

In order to add an extra layer of protection against community spread of the COVID Omnicron virus, and with an abundance of caution, Nova Southeastern will be requiring face masks in all NSU indoor and outdoor facilities, regardless of vaccination status. 

For more information, visit this link

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Support the Sharks this Giving Tuesday

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fourty-one years ago, then-Nova Southeastern President Abraham S. Fischler, and the Board of Trustees, set out to establish a sports program. Today, after what began as a single men’s basketball team, has grown in a 16-sport, NCAA Division II powerhouse.

Since the inception of the athletic programs, Nova Southeastern has won eight NCAA National Championships, 38 Sunshine State Conference Championships, one Peach Belt Conference title, and 30 Florida Sun Conference Championships. NSU Athletics has also seen over 200 student-athletes earn All-American honors.

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of philanthropy. Today marks the annual celebration of #GivingTuesday, and you have your opportunity to contribute to the next generation of Sharks success at Nova Southeastern University.

On this day of giving, make a gift to help us continue our mission to be one of the most successful intercollegiate athletic programs in the country. We would like to invite you to become a part of our team by joining the Shark Club, a program that was recently redesigned to focus on offering experienced-based benefits.

Your donation to the Shark Club directly impacts the lives and collegiate experiences of more than 300 student-athletes participating on 16-varsity teams, in addition to the Sharkettes Dance Team. The ability of our programs to continue, and build upon their successes, relies on contributions from alumni and friends like you. Your support is our strength, and together we can continue the tradition of NSU Shark Athletics excellence.

To make your donation and support Nova Southeastern student-athletes, click here and see below for more information on the benefits on the Shark Club. Thank you for your contribution and Go Sharks!

Shark Club Benefits

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NSU Hosts Inaugural Sharks Sporting Clay Tournament

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Hosted at the South Florida Shooting Club, Nova Southeastern’s inaugural Sharks Sporting Clay Tournament, presented by JD Backhoe, Inc., was successfully held on Fri., Oct. 29 in Palm City, Fla.

In its first year, the Sharks Sporting Clay Tournament delivered on a unique experience that maintained the excitement and fun that defines the tradition of NSU Athletics Special Events. Overall, the tournament brought in over 90 participants and generated an impactful amount in funds to benefit student-athlete scholarships and academic support.

To view a full photo gallery of the inaugural Sharks Sporting Clay Tournament, presented by JD Backhoe, Inc., please CLICK HERE.
 

Jeff Dixon from JD Backhoe

“Thank you to everyone who participated and made our inaugural event a special one,” said NSU Director of Athletics and Associate Vice President of Advancement Michael Mominey. “The success of our fundraising events truly lies within the passion and purpose that our generous donors and supporters continue to demonstrate. We look forward to continuing the tradition of having first-class events that are fun, but most importantly, directly benefit and impact the experience our student athletes.”

The support of Sharks Athletics’ special events is essential to the sustainable success of NSU’s NCAA Division II athletic department. NSU currently sponsors 16 athletic programs, as well as the Sharkettes spirit squad. The Sharks have captured eight NCAA team national championships, 23 NCAA individual national championships, and 37 Sunshine State Conference titles.
 
NSU student-athletes live out the core values and mission of the university by realizing their potential on and off the field. In addition to their athletic accomplishments, they are driven to perform at the highest level in academics. As a result, NSU Athletics has achieved a collective departmental GPA of 3.0 or higher for 19 consecutive years, and for the past nine years, has achieved a 3.15 GPA or higher.
 
NSU would like to thank its “Title Sponsor” – J.D. Backhoe, Inc., its “Golf Cart Sponsor” – C. Davis Electric, its “Breakfast Sponsor” – The Lafferty Family, its “Lunch Sponsor” – Brasfield & Gorrie, and its “Gift Sponsor” – City Electric Supply.
 
 
 
 

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NSU Athletics Postpones Induction of 2021 Hall of Fame Class

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – As a precautionary measure in regards to the health and safety of all parties involved, Nova Southeastern Athletics has postponed the induction of its 2021 Hall of Fame class.

The restrictions and limitations forced upon by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic ultimately played a vital role in the difficult move, as well as the commitment to preserve the integrity and quality of this important celebration of the rich history of NSU athletic excellence.

The event is expected to be rescheduled for November of 2022.

“Unfortunately, we needed to make the difficult decision to postpone this signature event,” said NSU Director of Athletics Michael Mominey. “Given the nature and the significance of the Athletics Hall of Fame, we felt it was in the best interest of all parties to wait until we can appropriately celebrate the 2021 class.”

Originally announced back in August, the 2021 Hall of Fame class includes men’s swimmer Esau Simpson, women’s basketball player Danielle Robinson-Pratt, women’s golfer Abbey Gittings, rower Lauren Boudreau, and the inaugural men’s and women’s swimming coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron.

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NSU Athletics Announces Reorganization

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. –  With sights set on immediate success now and into the foreseeable future, Nova Southeastern Director of Athletics Michael Mominey has announced the restructuring of his Senior Staff team, along with additional administrative hires.

“I believe change lends to opportunity and opportunity leads to growth,” Mominey expressed. “The opportunity in this case involves resetting our organizational structure, which will position the athletic department for continued success now and well into the future.  I am certainly proud of the culture of success that we have built in a student-centered way, but what I am most excited about is the promise we have made for the future.”

Coupled with the recent announcement of Mominey’s new expanded role as Associate Vice President of Advancement, the reorganization of the department will allow for an improved streamline of operations, create organizational efficiencies, provide opportunities for young professionals to grow, and ultimately provide a platform for continued growth and success.

Mominey added: “Our mission is to provide a first-class experience for our student-athletes through participation in a highly competitive athletic program. To me, this starts with putting your leaders in the best position to be successful in order to provide that experience for your student-athletes. With this organizational restructure, we did just that.”

The new Senior Staff with new duties will be comprised of the following individuals:
 
Tony Vecchione, Deputy Director of Athletics – The former general manager of the Arena at the Don Taft University Center, now more commonly known as the Rick Case Arena, from 2006-11, Vecchione returns to NSU as the new Deputy Director of Athletics after spending the past six years in the same role at NCAA Division I Manhattan College. Vecchione will oversee all external operations, including Athletic Communications, Athletic Facilities and Operations, in addition to Marketing and Promotions, and serve as the sport administrator for both baseball and men’s basketball.

Danielle Daniel, Associate Athletic Director for Sport Administration/Internal Operations/Business Services – Entering her third year within the department, Daniel will remain in her role as Associate Athletic Director for Sport Administration, Internal Operations and Business Services. She will now oversee the Sports Performance and Sports Medicine departments, as well as new Human Resources and Business Coordinator, Stephanie Ponce. Daniel’s sport administration duties now include men’s golf, men’s and women’s swimming, women’s soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.  

Rachel Fineberg, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services and Student-Athlete Support/Senior Woman Administrator/Title IX Coordinator – Beginning her fourth year as a member of NSU athletics, Fineberg has been promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services and Student-Athlete Support. She will maintain her additional positions as Senior Woman Administrator and Title IX Coordinator, while officially becoming oversight of the Compliance department as well. Fineberg will act as sport administrator for men’s soccer, women’s basketball and women’s golf.

Dustin Gatens, Assistant Athletic Director for Sport Medicine – A former Head Athletic Trainer for the Sharks as recently as 2017, Gatens returns to the department as the new Assistant Athletic Director for Sport Medicine. He will oversee NSU’s five additional athletic trainers and will work directly with the men’s soccer and tennis programs. Gatens originally joined the department back in 2006.

Yashiva Edwards, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and NCAA Rules Education/Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designation – Adding to her role in Compliance, Edwards has been appointed as the NSU Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID). Edwards will serve as the program’s primary contact and conduit for diversity and inclusion-related information pertaining to national, local and campus-level issues. In the ADID role, Edwards will serve as the primary contact for information related to initiatives, programming and resources from the NCAA, specifically from diversity-related committees and the office of inclusion, and may include scholarship and grant opportunities, professional development opportunities, as well as national trends and their impact on student-athletes. Edwards will also act as the sport administrator for cross country and track & field. She was initially hired to the NSU staff in the fall of 2019.

Additional administrative promotions and hires welcomed to the Shark family:

Jameson Carter, Manager of Athletic Communications – Carter will lead the athletic communications department, which will include oversight of digital media, branding and graphic design. He will continue his sport coverage of men’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s soccer, while adding both softball and tennis into the mix. Carter has been with the Sharks since 2016 and has continued to be a valuable member of the staff.  

Jon Leatherman, Athletic Communications Coordinator –- NSU welcomes Leatherman after spending nearly three years as the Manager of Athletic Communications at nearby St. Thomas (Fla.), where he oversaw 25 varsity teams. Leatherman was named the 2019-20 Sun Conference Sports Information Director of the Year and has previously worked with the Miami Marlins and Major League Baseball. With the Sharks, he will provide sport coverage for baseball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s track & field, women’s basketball and volleyball.

Robert Baroniel, Revenue Generation and Business Development Coordinator – A four-year pitcher for the NSU baseball program from 2012-15, Baroniel was the most recent hire within the department. His new role as Revenue Generation and Business Development Coordinator is a brand-new position to the department, and will work in direct correlation with Manager of Marketing & Promotions, Abbie Lawson. Baroniel most recently spent two-plus years with Lynn athletics.

Stephanie Ponce, Human Resources and Business Coordinator – Ponce is an NSU alumni and brings over 10 years of experience in Employee Relations across non-profit and educational institutions. Most recently, she served in NSU’s Office of Residential Life and Housing (ORLH) and managed hiring for all residential communities and daily operations of the main housing office. This role was instrumental in fostering relationships, collaborating with campus partners and supporting leadership in revenue generation.  Her level of professionalism and dedication to staff and students has made a lasting impression in Student Affairs. She will be working closely with Daniel in providing our employees and athletes with the best NSU experience.

For all updates related to Sharks athletics, please visit NSUSharks.com.
 

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Tony Vecchione Named NSU’s New Deputy Director of Athletics

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The former general manager of the Arena at the Don Taft University Center, now more commonly known as the Rick Case Arena, from 2006-11, Tony Vecchione will make his return to Nova Southeastern as the new Deputy Director of Athletics, announced on Wednesday.

Vecchione will oversee all external operations, including Athletic Communications, Athletic Facilities and Operations, as well as Marketing and Promotions, and serve as the sport administrator for both baseball and men’s basketball.

“I am honored and grateful to be back at NSU, and am very excited to be a part of a nationally-renowned athletics program,” said Vecchione. “I’d like to thank (Director of Athletics) Mike Mominey for this opportunity and look forward to working with such a great group of staff, coaches and student-athletes.”

Most recently, Vecchione spent six years as the Deputy Athletic Director at NCAA Division I Manhattan College, where he served as the sport administrator for baseball, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country/track & field, men’s golf, men’s lacrosse, women’s rowing and softball. He also oversaw the Business, Facilities and Sports Performance departments.

In addition, he has made previous stops at the University of Pennsylvania and George Washington University, totaling north of 25 years of experience overall in intercollegiate athletics. During his three-year stint as Senior Associate Director of Athletics at UPenn, Vecchione served as a sport administrator for 16 intercollegiate sports programs while overseeing aspects of operations and management, including but not limited to compliance, academic/student services and sports performance all while managing over 400 student-athletes per year.

Upon arriving at UPenn, Vecchione worked as general manager of NSU’s Arena at the Don Taft University Center for five years (2006-11). In this position, he controlled all aspects of the campus arena that houses intercollegiate athletics, university events, community events and concerts.

“Tony’s experience in intercollegiate athletics speaks for itself, and his acumen in our business will immediately make a positive impact to our program in a multitude of ways,” said Mominey. “With tremendous optimism and excitement around the future of NSU Sharks athletics, Tony is a tremendous addition to our already-outstanding administration and staff. We are all excited to welcome him back to our Shark family”.    

Prior to his initial stint at NSU, Vecchione spent eight years as Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations for GW. Throughout his time, he oversaw renovations to the Charles E. Smith Center while facilitating the formation of an eight-story health and wellness center, along with new facilities for the soccer, lacrosse, softball and tennis programs.

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Mominey Named to Added Role as Associate Vice President of Advancement

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.Nova Southeastern University has announced the appointment of Michael Mominey to Associate Vice President of Advancement. Currently, he serves as NSU’s Director of Athletics and will retain those duties while stepping into this new cross-disciplinary role.

“Michael’s meaningful relationships with alumni and student-athletes who have played on our fields as well as his admirable reputation among the athletics community will continue to move NSU’s mission forward,” said Dr. George L. Hanbury, president and CEO of NSU. “This cross-disciplinary and blended approach will serve the university well and will provide opportunities for the NSU coaching staff to work more closely alongside the advancement team.”

Currently in his 21st academic year as a leader for NSU, Mominey was elevated to Director of Athletics in 2002 while also serving as the program’s head baseball coach from 2001-10. Under his direction, the Sharks have garnered eight team NCAA Division II National Championships, 23 individual NCAA Division II National Championships, 16 South Region Championships and 37 Sunshine State Conference titles. In addition to the athletic prowess and alignment with the university mission of a student-centered approach to education, the Shark student-athletes have excelled in the classroom under Mominey’s guidance. The Sharks recorded a 3.33 departmental GPA in the 2019-20 academic year, marking the eighth straight year with the program exceeding a 3.15 GPA and the 18th consecutive year with a 3.00 GPA or better.

“I really look forward to the opportunity and the challenge to further advance the mission of NSU in this new role,” Mominey said. “Athletics and Advancement are a somewhat natural fit in terms of the synergies, skill sets and shared goals. We plan to leverage all of this and more, in order to achieve all the great things that are ahead for the university.”

Mominey oversaw NSU’s transformational move from the NAIA to NCAA Division II status in 2002, later gaining membership into the Sunshine State Conference in 2004-05. He was also instrumental in championing the university’s change in mascot from Knights to the Sharks in that same year and adding 11 sports during his tenure. Mominey has served on the Orange Bowl Committee since 2004, is a current member of the Corporate Board for the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, a member of the Executive Board of Directors for NACDA’s Division II Athletic Directors Association and is the Chairperson of the SSC Athletic Directors Council.
 
Mominey has also been at the heart of several cross-disciplinary initiatives and notable fundraising efforts, exponential growth in athletic facilities, the start of the NSU Athletic Hall of Fame, development of the Athletic Advisory Council, development of the Student-Athlete Alumni Association and creation of the Shark Booster Club. He has been responsible for the university’s annual athletic scholarship golf tournament, raising over $6.5 million for the endowment fund which supports athletic scholarships and other academic needs for student-athletes. Additionally, Mominey has initiated multiple other private scholarship endowments, most recently establishing the Chancellor Ray Ferrero, Jr. NSU Athletic Degree Completion Endowed Scholarship Fund.
 
During his 10 years as the head baseball coach (2001-2010), Mominey guided the Sharks to over 300 wins and compiled an impressive 261-164 NCAA record, which placed him 30th in all-time winning percentage (.614) amongst all Division II coaches. His overall record was 302-226 and his Sharks recorded six consecutive seasons with 30 or more wins (2004-2010), including a then program-best wins record (37) in 2009. Twenty-five NSU baseball players signed professional contracts under Mominey, including two Top-10 round selections in the Major League Baseball draft. The most prolific of his former players are current major league players World Champion and MLB All-Star J.D. Martinez (Boston Red Sox), World Series Champion Mike Fiers (Oakland A’s) and MLB All-Star Miles Mikolas (St. Louis Cardinals). All three former Shark student-athletes were members of the 2009 team.
 
In addition to his Director of Athletics duties, in his new role Mominey will work in tandem with Terry Mularkey, NSU’s Vice President of Advancement and Chief of Staff, to create collaborative interactions in a team-oriented approach to fundraising, advancement and development. This will support NSU’s overarching goal of achieving institutional preeminence in an innovative way while remaining student centered.

A native of Euclid, Ohio, Mominey earned a bachelor’s degree in Education/Sport Management from Bowling Green State University (Ohio) and a master’s degree in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University (Fla.).
 

#PrepareToDominate
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Sharks Closed Insightful Black History Month with Movie Night

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Department of Athletics closed out its 2021 celebration of Black History month with a Movie Night in the confines of what is normally the “Shark Tank” – Rick Case Arena. To bring not only recognition for the efforts of unsung historic figures, but also to bring awareness to the history of the racial struggles in our country, all Shark student-athletes were invited to view a screening of Hidden Figures on February 27.
 
Many who had not seen the film felt enlightened by the crucial efforts of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson in the success of the U.S. Space Program – coupled with the obstacles to their contributions. The screening, presented by Assistant Athletic Director and Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID) Yashiva Edwards and introduced by women’s basketball player Alexus Bryant, wrapped up a month of celebrating the efforts of several notable Black student-athlete alumni.

“I think the decision to show the movie Hidden Figures during BHM was a great idea,” Bryant said. “It provided an opportunity to show everyone the history of three phenomenal Black women and what they offered to the future. Without them we possibly could never have been able to put the most recent rover on Mars, to be able to explore space or get a man on the moon. In 1961, during a time of segregation and rampant racism and sexism, many other Black women, along with Ms. Jackson, Ms. Johnson, and Ms. Vaughan faced a lot of challenges. It was not easy, but they worked very hard and never gave up. Therefore, this amazing film, I hope, will motivate and inspire other amazing women everywhere to let them know that they have so much value to offer to the world. No matter who you are.”

In her second year with the program and her first as the ADID, Edwards embraced the opportunities she’s had to engage more with the student-athletes and alumni through Black History Month content and events.

“I’m so excited to work with our Black student-athletes to help NSU honor Black History Month,” Edwards said. “This year, we chose to celebrate the accomplishments in history, beyond commiserating on the adversity to reach those heights. It’s important to remember the many contributions of so many remarkable Black men and women, on our campus, in our country and abroad toward building a better society and strengthening every corner of the sports world.

“As part of Black History Month, acknowledging historic Black figures and the roles they have played in societal issues of race and civil liberties provides yet another opportunity to educate others on Black heritage, Black excellence and to hopefully eradicate many preconceived notions associated with Black culture.
 
“As an African-American administrator and a former student-athlete, the message I would like to share with everyone is that although I appreciate the significance of Black History Month and why it’s important for people of every heritage to pay homage to their roots, culture and traditions, Black history is more than a month – Black history it is rooted in the American story and therefore is absolutely American history.”

Be sure to follow the Sharks on social media! Find us on Twitter @NSUSharks, on Instagram @NSUSharks and on Facebook /NSUSharksAthletics.
 

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