From March Madness to the nationals in women’s swimming, Nova Southeastern University Athletics showed its championship mettle to kick off this year.
NSU’s men’s basketball team went 36-1 enroute to its second NCAA Division II National Championship and another Sunshine State Conference (SSC) tournament championship. The team was led by legendary Coach Jim Crutchfield, who was named National Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Crutchfield received the honor during the NCAA Division I Final Four this year.
For the third consecutive year, the Nova Southeastern Sharks Women’s Swimming team took home the NCAA Division II National Championship. Under Head Coach Ben Hewitt, the Sharks rallied to set a new NSU and SSC record in the 400 Freestyle Relay, winning the individual national title and the championship.
NSU’s women’s basketball team had another successful season as SSC tournament finalists under the leadership of Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry, who recently accepted the women’s basketball head coach position at Florida Atlantic University. Freeland-Curry led the Sharks for 13 seasons, amassing 274 wins at NSU. The women, who were 27-7 this season, advanced to the third round in the NCAA Division II South Region tournament.
“Athletics are such an important part of the NSU experience, bringing together faculty, students, staff, alumni, and our fans in a common spirit,” said NSU President and CEO Harry K. Moon.
Coach Crutchfield and Assistant Coach R.J. Sunahara celebrate the Sharks’ Sunshine State Conference championship victory.
Nova Southeastern University graduate R.J. Sunahara will find himself in familiar territory this weekend when the men’s basketball team – fresh off their first-place finish in the Sunshine State Conference (SCC) tournament – competes in the first round of the NCAA Division II regional tournament at Rick Case Arena. But instead of suiting up to play, Sunahara will be in a suit on the sidelines as a first-year assistant coach for the Sharks.
The men’s team is currently ranked second in NCAA Division II at 30-1. Their first NCAA game is Saturday, March 15. This past Sunday, the team set an NCAA Division II record with 81 consecutive home game victories while winning the SSC tournament.
“Coming back as a coach, I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to give back to the program that game me so much,” Sunahara said. “I’m excited to see what’s in store for our team the rest of the way.”
Sunahara returned to South Florida as an assistant coach job under one of the most successful Division II head basketball coaches in the nation: NSU’s Jim Crutchfield. Crutchfield was recently honored as SSC Coach of the Year.
Assistant coaches R.J. Sunahara and Nick Smith hold the SSC championship trophy.
“When Coach Crutchfield and Coach (Nick) Smith approached me about being on the staff, it was a no-brainer. We have a program that has been very successful, and it is a fun group to be around every day.”
It was under the coaching of Crutchfield that Sunahara helped lead the Sharks in the 2022-23 perfect season to become the sixth team in NCAA Division II history to finish as unbeatable national champions. Sunahara dominated the game in his three years at NSU, setting records in blocks (172), free throws (342), as well as ranking second in Sharks history in points (1,579) and field goals (594). His play and leadership on the court earned him the SSC, Division II College Commissioners Association South Region, and National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year.
Now, he’s sharing those lessons and experiences with NSU’s current roster of players.
One of the key lessons Coach Crutchfield instilled in Sunahara is there’s always more effort that you can give.
“Coach taught me that if you think you are out there giving 100% effort, you can always give more and play harder.”
Sunahara earned a degree in business management at NSU in 2023 after helping lead the men’s basketball team to an undefeated championship season. With one year left of college ball eligibility, Sunahara transferred to the Division I University of Georgia Bulldogs, getting the opportunity to play in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Interestingly, Sunahara began his college basketball career at Fairmont State University in northern West Virginia under the tutelage of another highly successful coach, Joe Mazzulla, now the head coach of the Boston Celtics. The two still stay in touch until this day.
It was Coach Mazzulla who planted the seeds of a solid work ethic, says Sunahara.
“He would get on me every day, and tell me that I didn’t work hard enough, tell me I wasn’t good enough, when in reality he was just trying to push me to be the best player that I could be.”
Once he entered the transfer portal after his first year in college, Sunahara received a call from Coach Crutchfield inviting him to come to campus and look at NSU’s basketball program.
“After my visit, I knew NSU was the place for me,” he said.
Working with Crutchfield this season as a coach, Sunahara has been learning the true ins and outs of a game strategy that fostered Sunahara’s past success. He says that a top coaching takeaway from Crutchfield thus far has been the importance of coaching every player a little differently.
“It’s all based on personalities,” he said.
Also in Sunahara’s corner is his longtime role model, Rex, his older brother. Rex, 28, is the long snapper for the NFL Cleveland Browns.
“He has always pushed me to be my best and hold myself accountable,” he said.
Sunahara credits the support of his mother, Laura, and father, Reed, who has coached collegiate women’s volleyball for several years. His father also won a national championship during his coaching career.
The 2022-2023 NCAA Division II Championship sticks in Sunahara’s mind as his proudest collegiate moment … something he hopes the team will get to experience later this month.
“I hugged my mom, I cried a bit, I hugged my dad,” he said, remembering that day.
Sunahara says spending his time in college at NSU, and returning to Shark Nation, has been a magical journey.
“One of the advantages of coming to NSU was the great education I received,” he said. “Another one would be the relationships I’ve made with the people here. They have treated me like family since the start and made my career here unforgettable.”
And now, he is part of a winning coaching team with its players headed to a national championship.
“My dad always told me, you don’t just take, you’ve got to give back. I’ve felt that during my college basketball career that many people have given me so much. And now, it’s my turn.”
The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced the selection of 781 teams from 459 institutions for the Scholar All-America Team for the Fall 2024 semester. Both the Nova Southeastern Men’s and Women’s Swimming teams were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements.
To earn the prestigious recognition, teams are required to achieve a grade point average (GPA) above 3.0 during the Fall 2024 semester. Of all the selected teams, 654 – including both NSU programs – recorded a GPA of 3.30 or higher, qualifying them for the Intercollegiate Coach Association Coalition All-Sport Academic Standings.
The Nova Southeastern University Women’s Swimming team was recognized for their academic excellence with a 3.59 GPA, while the NSU Men’s Swimming team earned their honor with a 3.47 GPA.
Head Coach Ben Hewitt, who has guided the Sharks swim programs since 2016 and led the NSU women’s swim team to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships, continues to uphold a tradition of excellence both in the classroom and in the pool.
“I’m proud of the team’s continual growth in the classroom, and I am excited to report we’ve once again been named a CSCAA Scholar All-American program,” stated Hewitt. “This is a true team effort, and I’m so pleased to see our student-athletes are maintaining a high level of achievement.”
New soccer seasons for the NSU women’s and men’s teams have kicked off, but soon they will be playing on a new, top-notch pitch. Slated to open Oct. 5, the revamped stadium, which includes $7 million in improvements and will seat almost 7,000, is on the site of the former Miami Dolphins football training facility. Check out the women’s schedule and the men’s schedule to support our Sharks.
NSU’s teams will be sharing the field with the new professional women’s soccer team, Fort Lauderdale United FC (FTL UFC) part of the United Soccer Super League.
Through a strategic partnership with the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation, FTL UFC will have offices in the center and will leverage its advanced infrastructure and expertise to accelerate its growth.
John Sung, NSU’s new interim director of athletics, says NSU sports fans have a lot to be excited about as the academic year begins.
“Athletics are an exciting part of the NSU spirit,” he said. “It unites our community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and our community neighbors as one family, which makes Shark Nation the exciting community it is.”
Sung said NSU is building on years of championships and dedication.
“This promises to be a thrilling season with new facilities, new partners, new players joining our teams,” he said.
This month, NSU sports teams and fans will enjoy a revamped soccer stadium that will increase its fan capacity from 2,000 to 7,000 seats. The renovations come courtesy of an arrangement with Fort Lauderdale United FC, a new women’s professional soccer team. The team will be leasing the field while sharing it with NSU.
“They scheduled their home games around NSU’s schedule,” said Sung, who is also NSU’s former associate director for external operations. “It’s going to be like an outdoor Rick Case Arena.”
NSU softball also will be getting a new field, Sung said.
The men’s basketball team, which has been on a tear the past few years, will keep the action alive with a couple surprise reunions. Returning to the lineup is national champion point guard Dallas Graziani after a year at Samford University in Alabama. Also returning, as an assistant coach, is former NSU sensation and national champion R.J. Sunahara.
“The team has been putting in the work,” Sung said. “I’m really excited about this next group.”
Sung replaced Michael Mominey, who resigned Aug. 5 as director of athletics and associate vice president after 24 years of leadership. Mominey left NSU to pursue other opportunities in intercollegiate athletics.
During Mominey’s career as athletic director (2002-24), the Sharks won an unprecedented 13 NCAA Division II national championships in seven sports since the program’s transition into the NCAA in 2002.
On this episode of Mako TV News, reporters cover the NSU Men’s basketball watch party, Sharks’ thoughts on the possible TikTok ban, the potentially dangerous traffic surrounding the Fort Lauderdale campus and more.
James Donnelly and Ramola Motwani, two of the NSU H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame members, are among 11 recipients of the 2024 Horatio Alger Award.
The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., is a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education. It has made the awards annually for the past 77 years for exceptional corporate, civic and cultural trailblazers from across the country who have succeeded despite facing challenges and remained committed to education and philanthropic efforts in their communities and beyond.
The Horatio Alger Association, which is dedicated to preserving and protecting the “American Dream” for future generations, honored Donnelly and Motwani at the Horatio Alger Award induction ceremonies in Washington, D.C., April 4-6.
Motwani
“It is our utmost honor to present the Horatio Alger Award to these outstanding leaders who have exemplified perseverance, passion and a deep appreciation for higher education,” said James F. Dicke II, chairman of the Horatio Alger Association and 2015 Horatio Alger Award recipient. “These influential leaders not only spearhead their own businesses, but they give generously to causes, organizations and communities in need. Our 2024 awardees embody the association’s mission and are proof that the American Dream is within reach for anyone who seeks it.”
Donnelly, a member of NSU’s Board of Trustees and major donor to the business college, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. He was instrumental in creating the James Donnelly Property Management and Real Estate Program, the only one of its kind in Florida. Through his giving, NSU has been able to expand the program and provide scholarships to eligible students. His gift to the program brought his total support to NSU to seven figures.
Motwani, a 2015 Hall of Famer, is chairwoman and CEO of Merrimac Ventures, a real estate management, investment and development company with interests in the United States and India. Merrimac Ventures – a family business that was started by the late Ramesh Motwani – has owned several hotels on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Ramola Motwani has been a longtime supporter of NSU students.
NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II has informed the university community about a new state policy on use of bathrooms and changing facilities, which will go into effect on April 1. Here is President Hanbury’s email.
In accordance with the Florida statute, known as the Safety in Private Spaces Act (Fla. Statute § 553.865), NSU and NSU University School, as well as all educational institutions in the state, are required to implement a policy restricting the use of restrooms and changing facilities on all their Florida campuses to the exclusive use of males and females as defined by their biological sex. The law does not require educational institutions to restrict the use of unisex single-person occupancy restrooms or changing facilities because such restrooms/changing facilities can be used by anyone. The Safety in Private Spaces Act does not apply to NSU campuses outside Florida.
As required by the law, NSU’s policy states that if someone uses an exclusive-use restroom or changing facility that does not correspond with their biological sex, that individual may be requested by others to exit the facility. It also may be reported to NSU’s Office of Public Safety at (954) 262-8999. If the individual refuses to leave after a request by administrative and/or instructional personnel, faculty members, security or law enforcement personnel, the individual will be subject to sanctions described in NSU’s policy.
You can read the policy here and find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here. An interactive display of NSU’s unisex restrooms on its Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus can be found on the “Layer” Tab, and “Gender Neutral Restrooms” section of the interactive campus map found here.
The last edition of SharkBytes for the spring semester will appear on April 3 when Public Relations and Marketing Communications will begin work on a new and improved faculty and staff e-newsletter that will debut next fall.
Co-anchors, from left, Mia Alvarado and Nicole Shaker
The latest episode of Mako TV News covers the NSU Undergraduate Student Government Association’s presidential debate, the crowded beaches in Fort Lauderdale during spring break, NSU’s softball team, interviews with students about Women’s History Month and vital information on measles.
