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The Florida Atlantic Owls, also known as FAU, is the men's basketball team representing Florida Atlantic University. The team, which began playing intercollegiate basketball in 1988, competes in the American Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I college basketball. The Owls have appeared in the NCAA tournament three times, with a combined record of 4-3. The team's current head coach is John Jakus, who was hired in 2024 after former head coach Dusty May left to coach the University of Michigan's men's basketball team.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Florida Atlantic Owls |
| University | Florida Atlantic University |
| Home | Abessinio Court in the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, Boca Raton, Florida |
| Division | NCAA Division I |
| Conference | American Athletic Conference |
| Previous Conference | Conference USA (C-USA) |
| Head Coach | John Jakus |
| Former Head Coaches | Dusty May, Lonnie Williams, Tim Loomis, Kevin Billerman, Matt Doherty |
| Tournament Appearances | NCAA Tournament (3 times), National Invitation Tournament (NIT) (twice), College Basketball Invitational (once), CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) (once) |
| Tournament Record | NCAA Tournament (4-3), NIT (0-2), CBI (0-1), CIT (0-1) |
| First Season | 1988-1989 |
| First Game | November 18, 1988 (won 111-62 against Palm Beach Atlantic University) |
| First Season Record | 9-19 |
| Best Season Record | 19-12 (2001-2002 season) |
| Recent Player Transfers | Giancarlo Rosado (to University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Davis (to University of Arkansas) |
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What You'll Learn
Florida Atlantic University's first basketball game
The Florida Atlantic Owls men's basketball team represents Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and competes in the American Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I college basketball. The team began playing in the 1988-89 season, competing as an NCAA Division II independent.
Florida Atlantic University played its first-ever intercollegiate basketball contest on November 18, 1988, against fellow local NCAA Division II school, Palm Beach Atlantic University. The Owls won the game 111-62, an impressive start for the newly formed squad. However, they would finish their inaugural season with a record of 9-19, which included a 12-game losing streak.
Despite this challenging start, the Owls continued to build their basketball program. Head Coach Lonnie Williams, known for his program-building skills, led the team in its first season before passing the baton to Tim Loomis, who guided the team through three consecutive winning seasons. The Owls joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in the 1993-94 season, marking their transition to Division I competition.
The Florida Atlantic Owls have since appeared in the NCAA tournament three times: in 2002, 2023, and 2024. They also reached the Final Four for the first time in program history in 2023, showcasing their growth and determination.
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The team's head coaches
The Florida Atlantic Owls men's basketball team, also known as FAU, represents Florida Atlantic University. The team has seen several head coaches since its first intercollegiate basketball game in 1988.
Lonnie Williams was the Owls' first head coach, but he left after one season, posting a 9-19 record. Williams was replaced by Penn State assistant coach Tim Loomis, who started with a 21-7 record and followed up with back-to-back 15-13 seasons. Kevin Billerman took over from Loomis and led the Owls to their most successful Division I season up to that point in his second year.
The Owls then hired former NCAA Coach of the Year and Tar Heel Matt Doherty after the 2004-05 season. Dusty May, formerly an assistant coach at Florida, replaced Doherty and led the Owls to three consecutive winning seasons. May left FAU after the 2023-24 season to become Michigan's head coach.
John Jakus was hired as FAU's new head coach in March 2024. Jakus previously served as a Baylor assistant coach. The Owls have appeared in the NCAA tournament three times under Jakus' leadership, with a combined record of 4-3.
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The Florida Atlantic Owls' tournament appearances
The Florida Atlantic Owls men's basketball team represents Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and competes in the American Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I college basketball. The team plays its home games on the Abessinio Court in the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena on the school's Boca Raton, Florida campus.
The Owls have appeared in the NCAA tournament three times: in 2002, 2023, and 2024. In 2023, the Owls qualified for their first Final Four in program history by defeating the Kansas State Wildcats 79–76. However, in 2024, the Owls lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to the Northwestern Wildcats, 77-65, in overtime.
The Owls have also appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) twice, with their most recent appearance in 2025 being their first since 2011. In addition, the team has participated in the College Basketball Invitational and the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) once each, with a record of 0-1 in both tournaments.
The Florida Atlantic Owls men's basketball team played its first intercollegiate basketball game on November 18, 1988, against Palm Beach Atlantic University, winning 111-62. The team competed as an NCAA Division II independent until the 1993–94 season, when they moved up to Division I and the Atlantic Sun Conference. Despite some challenging seasons in the early 1990s, the Owls have gone on to achieve notable successes, including multiple tournament appearances and a conference championship in 2002.
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The team's players
The Florida Atlantic Owls men's basketball team, also known as FAU, represents Florida Atlantic University. The team plays NCAA Division I college basketball in the American Athletic Conference. The Owls' home games take place on the Abessinio Court in the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena on the university's Boca Raton, Florida campus.
The team has had several notable coaches throughout its history. The inaugural season in 1988 was led by head coach Lonnie Williams, who left after one year. He was replaced by Penn State assistant coach Tim Loomis, who achieved three consecutive winning seasons, a feat unmatched by any other Owls coach until Dusty May. Dusty May's tenure ended after the 2023-2024 season, and John Jakus was hired as the new head coach in March 2024.
The Florida Atlantic Owls have had their share of talented players over the years. One notable player is Davis, a 6-foot-4-inch guard from Indiana. During his time at FAU, Davis made history in the NCAA tournament, becoming the first player to record 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ steals in a single game. He was also named to the second-team all-tournament in 2023. Another notable player is Goldin, a 7-foot-1-inch center who transferred to FAU in 2021. Goldin became a fan favourite, playing in every game since the 2021-2022 season and averaging impressive career highs in points, field goal percentage, and blocks.
The team has experienced player transfers, with some athletes choosing to continue their careers at other institutions. For example, Giancarlo Rosado, a Palm Beach County native, spent four years at FAU before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Additionally, Davis, the standout guard from Indiana, entered the transfer portal and the NBA draft, ultimately committing to the University of Arkansas. Goldin also decided to transfer and committed to Michigan, following former coach Dusty May.
The Florida Atlantic Owls men's basketball team has a rich history, with a mix of talented players and dedicated coaches contributing to their success in NCAA Division I college basketball. The team has experienced triumphs and setbacks, with players transferring in and out, but they continue to strive for excellence in both athletic performance and academic achievement.
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The team's home games
The Florida Atlantic Owls men's basketball team represents Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and competes in the American Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I college basketball. The team's home games are played on the Abessinio Court in the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena on the university's Boca Raton, Florida campus.
The Owls played their first intercollegiate basketball game on November 18, 1988, against fellow NCAA Division II school, Palm Beach Atlantic University, winning 111-62. The team finished its inaugural season with a record of 9-19, including a 12-game losing streak.
The Owls have since appeared in the NCAA tournament three times: in 2002, 2023, and 2024. In 2023, the team qualified for its first Final Four by defeating the Kansas State Wildcats 79-76. This marked the first time the Owls had won an NCAA Tournament game.
Florida Atlantic University has 19 NCAA Division I athletic teams and offers season tickets to fans wishing to support their athletic programs.
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Frequently asked questions
The Florida Atlantic Owls are the men's basketball team of Florida Atlantic University.
The Florida Atlantic Owls played their first intercollegiate basketball game on November 18, 1988, against Palm Beach Atlantic University.
John Jakus is the current head coach of the Florida Atlantic Owls. Notable players include Giancarlo Rosado, Goldin, and former player Davis.
The Florida Atlantic Owls compete in the American Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I college basketball.
The Florida Atlantic Owls have appeared in the NCAA tournament three times, with a combined record of 4-3. They have also appeared in the National Invitation Tournament and the College Basketball Invitational, but have yet to win a game in these tournaments.
