1980
The NSU athletics department was created in 1980 by former president, Abraham S. Fischler. Formerly known as Nova University, Nova created a sports program in an attempt to boost limited undergraduate enrollment at the main campus.
1982
In 1982 Charles “Sonny” Hansley was named the first director of athletics and the first program to field a team was men’s basketball in the 1982/1983 season. To go along with the new program Nova University selected “the Knights” as the school’s first mascot.
1984
In 1984 NSU added men’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country.
1985
The Knights joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Undergraduate enrollment reached 222 students.
1987
The Knights add baseball, women’s tennis and men’s golf, increasing the number of women’s sports to three and men’s sports to five.
1990
Nova joins the FIAC (Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). Other NAIA teams to join included St. Thomas University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Palm Beach Atlantic College, Warner Southern College and Florida Memorial College.
1994
Nova Southeastern University is born-as Nova University merges with Southeastern University of Health Sciences. Softball becomes the fourth intercollegiate women’s sport at NSU.
1995
NSU adds women’s soccer. It becomes the fifth intercollegiate women’s sport at NSU.
1998
Ray Ferrero, Jr., is named president of Nova Southeastern University. Women’s basketball is introduced.
2002
NSU becomes a member of the NCAA at the Division II level. In addition they become provisional members of the Sunshine State Conference.
2003
Women’s rowing is added as the seventh intercollegiate sport at NSU. The first step in the construction of the (Don Taft) University Center begins on April 21, 2003.
2004
Men’s golf team clinches NSU’s first Sunshine State Conference championship.
2005
Another landmark event in the school’s history as the mascot was changed to the Sharks.
2006
The Inaugural NSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2007 was selected. The Women’s soccer team qualifies for the NCAA Division II South Regional’s for the first time in program history. Volleyball hosts the NSU Sharks Classic; the first athletic event inside the (Don Taft) University Center.
2007
Women’s basketball captures first ever SSC regular season and SSC Tournament championships in program history. Women’s Volleyball selected too NCAA tournament for
the first time in program history.
2009
The women’s golf team was the first program to win a NCAA Division II National Championship in school history. Later that same year the women’s rowing team alsoclaimed a NCAA Division II National Championship in the Varsity 4 race.
2010
The women’s golf team wins back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championship
