Flagler University Athletics: A Comprehensive Overview

Flagler College, located in St. Augustine, Florida, boasts a vibrant athletic program known as the Flagler Saints. As a member of the NCAA Division II without football, Flagler competes in the Peach Belt Conference and offers a diverse range of intercollegiate varsity sports. This article delves into the various aspects of Flagler University Athletics, providing insights into its history, sports offerings, financial standing, coaching staff, and facilities.

A Tradition of Athletic Excellence

Flagler College's athletic journey began in the 1973-74 academic year. In 1977, Flagler's athletic programs became members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and in 1990 became charter members of the Florida Sun Conference (now known as The Sun Conference). Flagler has a legacy of athletic success, with 46 championships won. The Saints continue to achieve milestones and build on their tradition of excellence. The college emphasizes the importance of investing in its student-athletes to sustain its championship culture. This includes providing state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge training equipment, and resources that support both athletic and academic success.

Sports Programs

Flagler competes in 19 intercollegiate varsity sports.

Men's Sports:

Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor)

Women's Sports:

Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor)
Volleyball

Specific Sport Highlights

Volleyball: The volleyball team has a strong record in the Peach Belt Conference, with 5 regular conference titles (2009-11 and 2016-17) and 6 conference tournament wins (2009-11 and 2015-17). They have also made 7 appearances in the NCAA Regional Tournament (2009-12 and 2015-17), winning the Southeast Regional title in 2009, 2011, and 2017. The 2011 team reached the Elite 8, while the 2009 and 2017 teams advanced to the Final 4.

Men's Tennis: The men's tennis program boasts two NAIA national titles, won in 1977 and 1986.

Men's Basketball: The men's basketball teams have competed in the NAIA national tournament three times (2003, 2004, and 2005), reaching the second round in the last two appearances. More recently, in 2020 and 2021, the team qualified for the NCAA Division II basketball tournament.

Financial Overview of Flagler Athletics

Flagler St. Augustine's sports teams operate on a "break-even" financial model. This means that the revenue generated by the sports programs is roughly equal to the expenses, resulting in neither a profit nor a loss overall.

Student Aid

Student-athletes at Flagler receive financial aid to support their participation in sports. The average sports-related student aid is approximately $6,711 per student. Men receive an average of $5,363, while women receive around $8,579 in sports aid.

Coaching Salaries

Flagler employs 19 head coaches across its various sports programs. The average salary for men's team head coaches is $85,446 per year, while women's team head coaches earn an average of $69,194 per year. It's important to note that individual coaching salaries can vary depending on the specific sport and the coach's experience.

Sport-Specific Finances

While the overall athletic program breaks even, the financial performance of individual sports can vary. The data provided includes charts comparing the money made (or lost) for each of the men’s and women’s sports offered at Flagler St. Augustine.

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Many individual sports programs at Flagler operate on a break-even basis, meaning they do not generate profit but also avoid incurring losses. This is true for men's baseball, men's basketball, women's golf, women's indoor track, and men's outdoor track, and men's tennis.

Other sports, such as men's and women's cross country, men's soccer, and women's soccer and softball, also operate without incurring a loss.

The men's and women's lacrosse programs, as well as women's outdoor track, also manage to avoid financial losses.

Coaching Staff and Team Members

Each sport at Flagler is led by a dedicated coaching staff. The size of the coaching staff and the number of team members vary depending on the sport. Below is a summary of the coaching staff and team sizes for each sport:

Baseball: The men’s baseball team has 47 players, led by a head coach and 4 assistant coaches.

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Basketball (Men's): The men’s basketball team consists of 19 players, coached by a head coach and 2 assistant coaches.

Basketball (Women's): The women’s basketball team has 13 players, guided by a head coach and 3 assistant coaches.

Cross Country (Men's): The men’s cross country team has 34 members, with a head coach and one assistant coach.

Cross Country (Women's): The women’s cross country team has 23 players, trained by a head coach and an assistant coach.

Golf (Men's): The men’s golf team has 12 players, led by a head coach and an assistant coach.

Golf (Women's): The women’s golf team consists of 10 players, coached by a head coach and an assistant coach.

Indoor Track (Men's): The men’s indoor track team has 34 members, with a head coach and one assistant coach.

Indoor Track (Women's): The women’s indoor track team has 23 players, trained by a head coach and an assistant coach.

Lacrosse (Men's): The men’s lacrosse team has 57 players, coached by a head coach and 4 assistant coaches.

Lacrosse (Women's): The women’s lacrosse team has 44 players, led by a head coach and 3 assistant coaches.

Outdoor Track (Men's): The men’s outdoor track team has 34 players, with a head coach and one assistant coach.

Outdoor Track (Women's): The women’s outdoor track team has 23 players, trained by a head coach and an assistant coach.

Soccer (Men's): The men’s soccer team has 37 players, led by a head coach and one assistant coach.

Soccer (Women's): The women’s soccer team consists of 28 players, coached by a head coach and 3 assistant coaches.

Softball: The women’s softball team has 21 players, trained by a head coach and an assistant coach.

Tennis (Men's): The men’s tennis team has 14 players, coached by a head coach and one assistant coach.

Tennis (Women's): The women’s tennis team has 9 players, led by a head coach and an assistant coach.

Volleyball: The women’s volleyball team has 14 players, trained by a head coach and 3 assistant coaches.

Athletic Facilities

Flagler College provides its student-athletes with a range of facilities to support their training and competition.

Flagler Gymnasium: Since 1976, the Flagler Gymnasium has been the home of the men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball programs. The gymnasium has a seating capacity of 1,750 spectators. Over the past decade, the gymnasium has undergone several improvements, including equipment upgrades, a new pro-style maple floor, and refurbished locker rooms. The locker rooms were rebuilt in 2005, providing dedicated spaces for the men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball teams, as well as a visitor's locker room. The gymnasium also houses new offices for four coaches and an athletic training room. The weight room is equipped with free weights and state-of-the-art Cybex equipment.

Drysdale Field: The baseball field, Drysdale Field, was dedicated on April 12, 2011, in honor of Walter Irvine Drysdale (1905-1993), a St. Augustine native and accomplished athlete.

Honors and Recognition

Flagler College has won the Peach Belt Conference David R. Brunk Commissioner's Cup as the top athletic program in the PBC three times in six years (2018-19, 2020-21, and most recently). This award recognizes the overall success of Flagler's athletic programs within the conference.

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