BOCA RATON, Fla. – It was a record-breaking year for Florida Atlantic Athletics in 2023-24, which boasted all-time highs in both fundraising and ticket sales revenues, produced another remarkable year of brand recognition and saw its student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom.

The department released its Annual Report on Monday that highlights and celebrates the achievements of the Owls in 2023-24 -- their first in the American Athletic Conference.

"I am tremendously proud of the accomplishments outlined in this report," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White. "It is a testament to the hard work of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, the incredibly generous support of our fans, alumni and donors as well as the profoundly positive trajectory of the entire university. Our successes this year, especially in the areas of fundraising and revenue generation – where we continue to set all-time highs year after year, are remarkable. We are up 51% in overall athletics fundraising, up 52% in ticket revenue and generating billions of dollars in earned media for the university, all while winning at a championship level in the classroom and on the field. I thank everyone in the Owl family for their passion and support of our mission of creating a brighter future for FAU through student-athlete success. We are poised to continue winning in paradise well into the future."

Although newcomers to the AAC, Florida Atlantic experienced competitive successes throughout the department, highlighted by softball winning the school's first AAC crown and men's basketball making consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in school history. Five FAU teams qualified for postseason competition, while six different teams were nationally ranked in their respective sports this season.

The Owls generated $23 million in athletics fundraising, an all-time high for the third consecutive year. The figure is up 51% over last year and astounding 540% over 2020-21. That fundraising success comes thanks, in large part, to the 34 six- and seven-figure gifts athletics has received over the last six years – the most in any six-year span in school history.

Ticket revenue has also soared in Paradise with the Owls setting another school record with a 52% increase in revenue at the gates. Since 2021-22, Florida Atlantic's athletic ticket revenue is up 136% overall.

During Florida Atlantic's historic 2022-23 – a year that saw men's basketball's epic run to the Final Four – the department generated $2.57 billion in earned media from athletics and brand recognition. The Owls matched that again in 2023-24 by producing $2.54 billion in earned media and placing nearly 40,000 news stories about athletics – a 20% increase in media placements over 2022-23.

Florida Atlantic athletics teams played in more nationally-televised games in 2023-24 than any single year in school history. The Owls national TV appearances were up 200% over 2022-23 with nearly 11 million viewing FAU on TV and streaming combined.

Academically, 115 student-athletes earned their FAU degrees in 2023-24, while the department produced a cumulative GPA of 3.259. For 18 consecutive semesters, Owl student-athletes have maintained a GPA above 3.0 – five consecutive semesters above a 3.1.

One of the NCAA's key academic metrics is graduation success rate (GSR). Florida Atlantic's GSR in 2023-24 was a school-record 90% as the Owls have set a GSR school record each year since 2017-18. Nine Owl programs achieved a GSR of 100% -- softball, volleyball, beach volleyball, men's tennis, women's tennis, women's swimming & diving, men's swimming & diving, women's golf and men's golf.

Forty-one Owls earned All-Conference honors in 2023-24, with LaJohntay Wester (football) and Trinity Schlotterbeck (softball) meriting All-American distinction, while men's soccer's Victor Claudel was an Academic All-American. Head Softball Coach Jordan Clark and her staff were named AAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

A summary of Florida Atlantic's competitive successes from 2023-24 are highlighted below:

• Florida Atlantic Athletics ushered in a new era this fall with entry into the American Athletic Conference. The school was invited to join the AAC after 10 years as a Conference USA member.

• Under first-year Hagerty Family Head Coach Tom Herman, football was in contention for a postseason berth until November, winning its first two AAC games – 20-17 over Tulsa and an impressive 56-14 victory at USF.

• Among the nation's most electrifying players, wide receiver and punt returner LaJohntay Wester was a first-team Football Writers Association All-America selection.

• Volleyball enjoyed one of its most successful seasons on record, earning the program's fourth postseason appearance with a berth in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).

• Both men's and women's soccer reached the semifinals of their respective AAC tournaments, each knocking off in-state rivals in the quarterfinals.

• Men's soccer's Victor Claudel was named third-team Academic All-American, becoming the second player in program history to earn the prestigious honor, joining Hagay Jalon in 2019.

• The "Flygirls" dance team and co-ed cheer team capped off tremendous 2023-24 seasons with impressive performances at the NDA and NCA College Nationals, placing second in the Intermediate Small Coed D1A division.

• Following last year's historic Final Four run, men's basketball reached the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. The Owls were on the big stage all season, playing 23 national TV games with impressive wins over No. 4 Arizona on FOX, No. 12 Texas A&M on ESPN2, Virginia Tech on ESPN and Memphis on CBS.

• Men's basketball's 60 wins over the last two seasons are fourth most nationally in Division I.

• John Jakus was introduced as Head Men's Basketball Coach in April. One of the most respected assistant coaches in the nation, Jakus came to Boca Raton after stints with two of college basketball's marquee programs in Baylor and Gonzaga.

• Women's basketball sharpshooter Mya Perry finished among the AAC leaders in three-point percentage (ranked third) and threes per game (fourth) -- was ranked top 60 nationally in each.

• For the second straight year, diver Alicia Mora qualified for the NCAA Championships on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. She won the bronze medal at the 2024 AAC Championships on the 1-meter board.

• Men's golfer Max Sturdza earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional, becoming just the second FAU men's golfer to compete in NCAA postseason play and first since 2009.

• Men's tennis ended its season with the highest ranking in program history, checking at No. 45 by the ITA, while the women were ranked No. 75. Each team's incoming freshmen classes are ranked No. 4 among all mid-major programs nationally for 2024-25 by tennisrecruiting.net.

• Second-year softball head coach Jordan Clark led the Owls to an historic campaign in 2024, winning 41 games and claiming the American Athletic Conference regular-season -- the school's first AAC championship in any sport.

• Softball reached the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history -- one of just three Group of 5 teams to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, while Clark and her staff were named AAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

• Trinity Schlotterbeck earned All-America honors from both Softball America and NFCA. She was selected both first-team All-AAC and first-team All-Region, while Kiley Channell was named AAC Rookie of the Year.

• Beach volleyball was ranked inside the AVCA Top 20 for much of the season, playing a national-level schedule. Six Owls earned All-Conference USA accolades, while the team was honored with the CUSA Sport Academic Award

• Under second-year head coach Heather Young, women's golf reached the postseason for the first time in program history. The Owls finished fifth in the National Golf Invitational in May.

• On the track, history was made by Anabell Reumann, who became the first Owl in program history to win an AAC medal with her bronze in the 3000m steeplechase.

• Baseball made a thrilling run to the AAC Tournament semifinals, led by All-Conference starting pitcher C.J. Williams. The season was highlighted by wins at No. 6 Vanderbilt, two over Miami, and AAC series wins over USF, Charlotte, Memphis.