Lynn’s first national championship (men’s soccer) in 1987 gave birth to a Fighting Knights tradition: a private ceremony where the national championship team members receive rings custom designed by the players and coaches.
In December 2014, the men’s soccer program earned its fifth national championship—making it the 23rd for the university. To celebrate the recent win, a ring ceremony and dinner were held in the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center in March. The student athletes presented rings to Board of Trustees Chair Christine Lynn and stadium namesake Bobby Campbell as mementos of appreciation for their supportive roles. To date, Mrs. Lynn has received seven rings—one for each of the national championships the university has won since 2003.
Head coach John Rootes was honored as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s (NSCAA) National Coach of the Year and Sunshine State Conference’s (SSC) Coach of the Year. The men’s soccer program won national championships in 1987, 1991, 2003, 2012 and 2014. In addition to the five titles, the Fighting Knights have reached the national title game 11 times, including three of the last four years.
This year’s squad joined Lynn’s 2003 team as the only program in SSC history to win the trifecta of trophies: SSC regular season, SSC championship and NCAA Division II national title. Our student athletes are champs in the classroom too. Lynn earned the No. 1 Grade Point Average in the country for the third consecutive year and earned the NSCAA College Team Academic Award for the 14th time overall.
