BOCA RATON, Fla. – Two Florida Atlantic University athletic teams, men’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving, will move to the American Athletic Conference as affiliate members, effective July 1, 2022, the American Athletic Conference announced Wednesday.
The July move for men’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving was coordinated between the affiliate universities, Conference USA and the AAC. The collaborative and proactive effort will benefit and maintain the high-quality experience for the student-athletes.
QUOTABLE“We are excited that our men’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving teams will have the opportunity to compete in The American, beginning next season,” said Brian White, FAU’s vice president and director of athletics. “Thanks to both The American and Conference USA for working with us and the affiliate universities to create a positive situation for our student-athletes.”
MEN’S SOCCERThe four men’s soccer affiliate members joining The American (UAB, FAU, FIU and Charlotte) have combined for 35 NCAA tournament appearances, including two national runner-up finishes and a third-place finish. The Owls join a conference that has seen three of its existing members ranked in the top 10 of the national polls in the last two seasons. Beginning this season, the FAU men’s soccer team will compete with UAB, UCF, Charlotte, FIU, Memphis, USF, SMU, Temple and Tulsa.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVINGThe AAC sponsors women’s swimming and diving as a championship-only sport, meaning that the conference does not administer a regular-season schedule. With the addition of four affiliate members (FAU, FIU, North Texas, Rice), nine teams will compete for The American title at the 2023 Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship. Those teams include Cincinnati, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Houston, North Texas, Rice, SMU and Tulane.
The FAU men’s swimming and diving team will continue to compete in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) in 2022-23.
