The FIU Golden Panthers
is the name of the athletic teams of Florida International University, a public university located in Miami, Florida. The Golden Panthers compete in NCAA Division I athletics, and in the Sun Belt Conference. FIU fields 16 teams in 13 sports:
Men's sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Soccer
- Track and Field
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Women's sports
- Basketball
- Dance
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
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FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL PANTHERS TICKETS
EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
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Florida International Panthers vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers Tickets 12/30 | Dec 30, 2024 Mon, 12:00 PM | | Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Women's Basketball vs. Florida International Panthers Tickets 1/2 | Jan 02, 2025 Thu, 6:30 PM | | Florida International Panthers vs. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Tickets 1/2 | Jan 02, 2025 Thu, 7:00 PM | | Florida International Panthers vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Tickets 1/4 | Jan 04, 2025 Sat, 2:00 PM | | Florida International Panthers Women's Basketball vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Tickets 1/9 | Jan 09, 2025 Thu, 7:00 PM | |
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Athletic Department history and information
FIU’s colors are dark blue and gold, and their mascot is the
Golden Panther, which is embodied by an
panther named Roary the Panther. The school's original nickname was the "Sunblazers", but it was changed in 1987 to the current.
FIU is a member of the NCAA, participating in Division I, and the Sun Belt Conference in all sports except for men's soccer (which competes in
Conference USA as an affiliate member). FIU joined the Sun Belt Conference in 1998 having previously competed in the
Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC), from 1991 to 1998.
FIU's Athletic Department has produced several professional and
Olympic athletes, including current players in
Major League Baseball,
Major League Soccer, the
National Basketball Association, the
National Football League, and in the
Women's National Basketball Association.
FIU's main rivals are the
University of Miami Hurricanes and the
Florida Atlantic University Owls.
Sports
Baseball
FIU’s baseball team began play in 1973 as a Division II member, and is one of the most successful programs in the school’s history. This can be attributed to the team reaching the post-season 13 times in school history, including eight as a Division I program, and five as a Division II program including a Division II College World Series appearance.
Many players from past years have been drafted by Major League Baseball teams and have played in Major League games. FIU’s most notable baseball alumni is
Mike Lowell, the current
third baseman with the
Boston Red Sox and 2007
World Series MVP .
Team Honors:
Trans America Athletic Conference Tournament Champions (1):
1998
Sun Belt Conference Tournament Champions (1):
1999
NCAA Division II Regional Appearances (5):
1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982
NCAA Division II College World Series (1):
1980
NCAA Division I Regional Appearances (8):
1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
NCAA Division I Super Regional Appearances (1):
2001
Men's Basketball
The current head coach of the FIU men's basketball team is
Isiah Thomas, who was hired on April 14, 2009.
FIU men's basketball team had its lone NCAA Tournament appearance in the
1995 tournament under then Head Coach
Bob Weltlich. FIU won the TAAC Basketball Tournament and in doing so earned an automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament. FIU was seeded #16 and played the #1 seeded
UCLA Bruins in the first round of the West Regional, which was played at the
Taco Bell Arena in
Boise, ID. The Panthers lost the game to the Bruins by the score of 92-56, being the first tournament win in UCLA's successful run the National Championship that year.
FIU alumni who have played in the National Basketball Association include
Carlos Arroyo, formerly of the
Orlando Magic, and
Raja Bell of the
Charlotte Bobcats.
The "Sunblazers" men’s basketball team was also featured in a second season episode of
Miami Vice entitled "The Fix".
Team Honors:
Trans America Athletic Conference Regular Season Champions (1):
1992-93
Trans America Athletic Conference Tournament Champions (1):
1995
NCAA Tournament Appearances (1):
1995
FIU basketball alumni in professionals
FIU Golden Panthers alumni to have gone on to the
NBA and international professional
basketball.
Name
| Years at FIU
| Team
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Carlos Arroyo
| 1998-2001
| Orlando Magic
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Raja Bell
| 1999-2000
| Charlotte Bobcats
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Cylde Corley
| 1982-1983
| Dallas Mavericks
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Ivan Almonte
| 2004-2006
| CSP Limoges - France
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Facundo Giorgi
| -
| Unión de Sunchales - Argentina
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Karel Rosario
| -
| Arecibo Captains - Puerto Rico
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Byron Burnett
| -
| Loros Colima - Mexico
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Junior Matias
| 2002-2005
| Club Bameso - Dominican Republic
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