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 Women's sports Basketball Dance Cross Country Golf Soccer Softball Swimming and Diving Tennis Track and Field Volleyball

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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
Carlos Arroyo	1998-2001	Orlando Magic
Raja Bell	1999-2000	Charlotte Bobcats
Cylde Corley	1982-1983	Dallas Mavericks
Ivan Almonte	2004-2006	CSP Limoges - France
Facundo Giorgi	-	Unión de Sunchales - Argentina
Karel Rosario	-	Arecibo Captains - Puerto Rico
Byron Burnett	-	Loros Colima - Mexico
Junior Matias	2002-2005	Club Bameso - Dominican Republic