Unprecedented

The FAU men’s basketball team is on a historic run: the best record in program history, a conference championship, and now, a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Inside contains three stories about how they got here, and what lies ahead.

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MARCH 15, 2023

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News Editor

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Sports Editor

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Student Life Editor

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Luisa Ortiz

Wesley Wright

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Staff Writers

Jahadonai Brammer

Jahsheem Benjamin

TABLE OF CONTENTS

“IF YOU’RE GONNA DO SOMETHING, DO IT TO BE THE BEST”: A LOOK INTO MICHAEL FORREST

Lauderhill native Michael Forrest, a five-year starter, is the only senior on the team, having been with Coach Dusty May his entire tenure at FAU.

DUSTY MAY: OWLS STAR COACH’S UPBRINGINGS AND RISE TO COACHING

When Dusty May took over as head coach at FAU, they hadn’t had a winning season in seven years. With May at the helm, the Owls have yet to have a losing season, and are on the verge of their first NCAA Tournament berth in over 20 years. 6

After years of service in FAU’s softball team, FAU’s Athletics did not choose Chan Walker as head coach after Joan Joyce’s death. 8

WHEN LOYALTY GOES UNREWARDED

WHEN YOU DONT WRITE FOR THE UNIVERSITY PRESS

‘LOOK GOOD, PLAY GOOD’: HOW FASHION AND SPORTS HAVE BECOME INTERTWINED

Every athlete wants to dazzle spectators with a spectacular play or a really solid performance. However, some athletes have taken that desire to stand out off the playing field with their personal style.

OWLS TO MARCH MADNESS FOR FIRST TIME IN OVER 20 YEARS

After earning the C-USA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, FAU will take on the Memphis Tigers in the Round of 64.

ATHLETES AT PLAY

A showcase of Owl athletes in their elements. All photos taken by Nicholas Windelder.

In between seasons, he is in the gym early lifting weights and going to the court. He puts up shots, prepping his game like National Basketball Association (NBA) stars Damian Lillard and legend Allen Iverson. Senior guard Michael Forrest has been with the team for five years now and has made history becoming

FEATURE:

the record holder with 297 career three-pointers and counting. Forrest has played in 133 games, starting in 87 of them.

Forrest began his collegiate career after playing two years of varsity basketball at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, coached by Melvin Randall.

“IF YOU’RE

GONNA DO SOMETHING, DO IT TO BE THE BEST”: A LOOK

INTO MICHAEL FORREST

Lauderhill native Michael Forrest, a five-year starter, is the only senior on the team, having been with Coach Dusty May his entire tenure at FAU.

“Every day he came prepared to work,” said Randall. “It was just like him punching in on a job. He came to work. He didn’t find any excuses to not work hard or to train hard in preparation for a game. He didn’t come in not prepared or lazy or really not putting in his full potential. So, he really worked and he didn’t find

an excuse to not.”

In his first year at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Forrest started in 27 of 33 games. One of his biggest accolades during his freshman year was against Marshall University, where he scored a career-high 32 points. He also led the team in assists that year.

Maddox Greenberg | Business Manager

Forrest jumps for a layup against the FGCU Eagles on Dec. 7, 2022.

Photo by Nicholas Windfelder.

“My first year was a rollercoaster,” said Forrest. “Lots of ups, lots of downs. But just being able to mentally stay with it—keeping working hard and just knowing that one day, you’re going to be fine.”

In his second year, Forrest had another three-straight double-digit games against High Point University, University of Tampa, and Mercer University. He also started in eight of the 32 games. In his third year, he averaged 12 points per game. He also had a season-high 27 points against Florida International University. In his fourth year, he played and started in all 34 games, being the only Owl to do so that season. He led the team in three-pointers made, freethrow percentage, and joined the 1,000-minute club.

“I was pleased by my performance. Looking back at it, I always feel like I could do more just no matter what, that’s just how I am. I just feel like it was growth,” said Forrest.

May debuted as the head coach in the 2017-18 season. Forrest spent his entire career with May, and under him, FAU has not had a losing season.

Forrest and the Owls aren’t listening to the noise surrounding them going into the NCAA Tournament, or ‘March Madness’, as the team is focused on the game ahead of them. “We’re just taking it one day at a time”, replied Forrest. March Madness is a 68team single-elimination tournament starting in March that decides the national champion. FAU made their only appearance in 2002, where they had the 15-seed and lost 8678 to 2-seed University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

Playing in March Madness is something many players dream of. However, Forrest’s top priority is to finish this season with his teammates and coaches, and win the conference championship in early March.

The Owls’ team and fanbase has meant everything to Forrest throughout the years.

“‘Defend Paradise’ just means nobody can come here and take something from us. This is our house. If you’re coming in and trying to take something, it’s going to be hard. We got a team of dawgs,” said Forrest.

He also cares a lot about his teammates, whom he will miss when he moves on to the next chapter of his basketball career.

“Just knowing that, I could be calling them for anything and they could call

me for anything. It’s a lifelong thing, and that’s just something I am really going to miss,” Forrest said.

Over the years, his fellow and former Owls have felt the same way.

“There are so many words to describe him. I really can’t just pick one,” said former FAU teammate Jailyn Ingram, now playing at the University of Georgia. “He’s definitely what you look for in a teammate. He’s gonna lead by example.”

His former high school teammates had similar things to say.

“I would describe Michael Forrest as a determined person. A person that loves the game, that loves life, and wants to live life,” said Joshua Scott, former high school teammate and current player for Tusculum College Pioneers.

Most remembered Forrest over the years as being a very reserved, but determined basketball player who is a “leader,” and committed to his academics.

Whether it is in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the NBA G-League, or any overseas professional basketball league, Forrest will “go out there and kill.” He will follow the mantra he has lived by: “If you are going to do something, do

Forrest facing off with a defender against Charlotte.

Photo by Jaden Winston.

Forrest during a postgame interview.

Photo by Nicholas Windfelder.

FEATURE:

DUSTY MAY: OWLS STAR COACH’S UPBRINGINGS AND RISE TO COACHING

When Dusty May took over as head coach at FAU, they hadn’t had a winning season in seven years. With May at the helm, the Owls have yet to have a losing season, and are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time over 20 years.

Jahsheem Benjamin | Staff Writer

If you haven’t heard the talk about Dusty May, then you’re definitely missing out on what he’s accomplished as head coach for Florida Atlantic men’s basketball. After finishing with a 19-15 record just a season ago, May currently has the Owls on pace for their most successful season in program history, and on the verge of an NCAA Tournament berth.

In May’s fifth season as head coach, the Owls already sealed their best record in program history, after going an undefeated 17-0 on their home court at Eleanor R Baldwin Arena and finishing with a Conference USA (C-USA) record of 18-2. Their Feb. 25 victory over the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) clinched their undefeated record at home, and also won them their first ever C-USA regular season title.

Head basketball coach Dusty May gathers the team for some final comments before ending their practice. Photo by Nicholas Windfelder.

Bryan Greenlee (left), Giancarlo Rosado (center) and Dusty May (right) discuss a gameplay against FIU on March 3, 2022.

Photo by Eston Parker III.

When the Owls defeated the University of North Texas on Dec. 12, 2022, it was also the moment that May became FAU’s winningest coach in school history. Despite his success, May, who can be characterized by his humility, rarely basks in his accomplishments.

“This means absolutely nothing,” said May, after the Owls earned their sixth win of the season on Nov. 30, 2022, to match their best start in program history.

Three months and many victories later, his sentiment hasn’t changed.

“When the season is over, it will feel nice and we can look back and say ‘Wow, that was awesome,’” said May. “If you start thinking about those things, and being consumed with anything other than your day-

to-day preparation, that’s when someone sneaks up on you and we refuse to let our guard down.”

May’s passion for the game of basketball started at a young age.

“My mom signed me up for a league in elementary school, and whatever it was about the game I was immediately pulled to it. I was so aggressive and loved it so much,” remembered May. “Something about this game at a young age reeled me in, and it’s been a life-long obsession.”

After playing in high school, May would go on to play a year of Division II college basketball at Oakland City University in his native Indiana.

After his time as a player ended, he wanted to get into coaching and got his first opportunity as a student manager under the wing of legendary coach Robert “Bobby” Knight at the University of Indiana.

“I did all the behind the scenes work. Just trying to learn how to teach, learn how to coach, learn the business side of it,” said May.

“There couldn’t have been a better experience for a 19-year-old than to go work for, possibly, the greatest basketball coach of all time.”

May was a part of several programs throughout his coaching career before ending up at FAU, including assistant coaching roles at UAB, Louisiana Tech, and the University of Florida.

It was during his third year as an assistant at Florida, when May accepted the job of head coach at FAU, inheriting a program that was on a streak of seven consecutive losing seasons.

When May arrived in Boca Raton, the Owls improved to 17-16 in his first season as head coach.

“One thing we talked about from day one, we are not going to make excuses for anything,” said May. “We had a very resilient group, and we got off to a great start in year one.”

The program only continued improving with May’s tenure, finishing with a record of 17-15 in his second season, and 13-10 in his third.

The 2021-22 season was May’s best at the time, and showed many signs of improvement as the Owls finished 19-15.

The season, however, saw the unexpected as the Owls at the moment sit atop the C-USA with one of the best records in the country.

Despite being originally polled to finish fifth in the conference, they were at one point ranked as high as #19 on the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. May described the first couple of months of the season as a “whirlwind.”

“We have great leadership in our locker room, we have unselfishness and an extremely high work capacity. We also like to feel like we have improved a lot as coaches and teachers as well in these four years,” May said. “A lot goes into winning, it’s difficult to win one game, let alone 25 games. So, all those things rolled into one has allowed us to make the jum.”

May still hasn’t faced a single losing season with the Owls. According to his players, that success isn’t by chance.

“Coach May is one of the most hands-on head coaches in the country,” said sophomore forward Giancarlo Rosado. “A lot of coaches, right after practice is done, they’re gone. Before practice, you won’t see them until like 10 minutes before practice. Not coach May, he’s one of the most hands-on coaches and he cares about us.”

Sophomore center Vladislav Goldin speaks highly of May, who he finds to be especially transparent.

“It didn’t matter if it’s something important or even a small chat with

coach [May]; he’ll always find time for the people in his life. He is a lot more open to everyone than a lot of people,” Goldin said.

This season is on pace to be one of the most successful, if not the most, in program history. FAU has appeared on several expert’s NCAA Tournament field predictions, being slated as high as an eighth seed at one point by ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi.

Fans and media members aren’t the only ones taking notice of May’s success during his tenure at FAU; other programs could be watching as well. His name has already been floated as a potential candidate to fill the head coaching vacancy at the University of Mississippi. However, according to May, he “couldn’t be happier” at FAU.

“Myself, my family, our staff, we absolutely love it here. We love this university, we love this area, that’s really all there is to say,” said May.

“You never know what the future holds, you never know what one year, five years, ten years down the road looks like. But I can say that we absolutely love building this program and look forward to continuing doing so in the future.”

May delivers plays to the Owls to gain their leads against their opposing teams.

Photo by Eston Parker III.

During practice, May puts forth time and effort creating connections with his players to teach them lessons that can be used outside of the court in everyday life.

Photo by Nicholas Wildfelder.

WHEN LOYALTY GOES UNREWARDED

After years of service in FAU’s softball team, FAU’s Athletics did not choose Chan Walker as head coach after Joan Joyce’s death.

Cameron Priester | Sports Editor

Chan Walker was a shoe-in. She spent 23 years through multiple championships with Florida Atlantic University’s softball program, two as a player and 21 as an assistant coach. She led the team through an unthinkable tragedy less than a year ago, and was the protege, daughter in a sense, of the program’s architect.

When the job of head coach became available following last season, many around the program thought there wasn’t any question who would lead the program moving forward.

However, the university didn’t offer Walker the job. In fact, she wasn’t offered to return to the program in any role and she has now been reduced to her current position as assistant director of student affairs.

“I felt like I earned that opportunity,” Walker said through tears.

Walker began her career in 1993 playing softball at Spartanburg Methodist College in Saxon, S.C. Donning the number 18, in honor of former New York Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry, she played center field for two seasons at Spartanburg, while also playing volleyball.

During her second season at Spartanburg, 10 hours south of Saxon, FAU was in the process of building their own softball program. To do so, they recruited the help of one of the sport’s most recognizable names.

Before even arriving in Boca Raton, Joan Joyce was a softball pioneer. As a multi-sport success, Joyce began

a 19-season career in the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) in 1954, during which she also played two seasons of basketball for the United States women’s national team. With the help of tennis-star Billie Jean King, Joyce helped found the Women’s Professional Softball League, in which she co-owned, and played for, a team herself.

Joyce also had a very notable professional volleyball career, and at age 35, while still playing softball, she took up golfing—and went on to play on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour for 19 years.

Her professional golf career ended, however, in 1995 when Joyce signed on to become FAU’s first head softball coach, and essentially, build the

program from scratch.

Nine months before the Owls took the field for the first time Joyce began laying the groundwork for the program. Part of that process was recruiting Walker.

With Joyce at the helm and Walker in the outfield, FAU almost immediately found success. They finished with an overall record of 33-18 in their inaugural season in 1995, qualifying them for the Atlantic Sun Conference (A-Sun) Tournament—which they did again the following year.

It was during Walker’s second year at FAU in 1996, when her mother and grandmother passed away; and in the wake of that, Joyce took her in under her own roof for more than 25 years, until her death.

Chan Walker overlooking FAU Softball Stadium, where she spent more than 20 years as a player and coach.

Photo by Cameron Priester.

”She wasn’t a mother figure, she became my mother,” said Walker.

After Walker ended a successful, two-season playing career in 1997, Joyce added her to the coaching staff as a student-assistant while she was simultaneously finishing her degree in criminal justice.

Joyce promoted Walker into a paid assistant in 2000, and the two built FAU Softball into one of the university’s most successful programs.

Together, they won 12 conference championships and appeared in the NCAA Tournament nine times, eight of which came consecutively.

Mickey Bell is one of the few people that had the opportunity to view Walker and Joyce, both as a player and colleague. Bell, now an assistant coach at Northern Illinois University, played catcher at FAU under Joyce and Walker from 2014-2016, before joining them on the coaching staff as a volunteer assistant in 2018.

“Their close connection and bond, other programs don’t have that,” said Bell. “Of course they’d pick at each other because they were both competitive but at the same time, you could see that mom-daughter connection and how unbreakable that was. When I was able to come on staff and see the other side of it, it was even more eye-opening.”

One of the numerous high-points in Joyce and Walker’s time coaching together came in 2015, when the Owls advanced to the regional round of the NCAA tournament for just the second time in program history. During that season is when Joyce tallied her 800th career win in a 18-0 blowout over Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, known as FAMU.

In similar fashion to the rest of her professional career, Joyce soon bested that achievement with an even more impressive one.

Last season, her 28th as head coach, FAU defeated the University of North Texas Mean Green 1-0, entering her into a club of 44 college softball coaches in history who’ve tallied 1,000 wins.

Eight days later, however, tragedy struck as Joyce died on March 26, 2022, at the age of 81.

Joyce died a trailblazer and an icon, and her passing left a noticeable void in the sports world as tributes and remembrances flooded in following the announcement of her death— even from the likes of the New York Times, Washington Post, and ESPN.

None of them were as qualified as Walker to speak of Joyce’s character.

“Humble and competitive. Usually you don’t find those two things in an athlete. You got some that are competitive, but they got the cockiness. Her humility was unmatched,” said Walker. “I always tell people, if you got to know her for five minutes, she was your friend for life. That’s just how she built relationships.”

The softball community felt the impact of Joyce’s death, but the season had to go on. About 13 hours after witnessing Joyce’s last moments at 10 p.m. on March 26, Walker, still raw with emotion, led the Owls onto the field for their 1 p.m. matchup with Western Kentucky University the next day.

“The thought never came to my mind, canceling that game. I think she would’ve haunted me for the rest of my life had I canceled that softball game,” remembered Walker. “She missed two of her niece’s weddings because they were in softball season, and she only has two nieces.”

FAU defeated the Hilltoppers in an

emotional 3-2 victory, and three days later, Director of Athletics Brian White named Walker interim head coach.

With Walker as interim head coach, FAU went on to end the season with a winning record of 29-26, qualifying them for the (C-USA) Championship Tournament for the first time since 2018.

The Owls finished fifth in the conference under Walker’s guidance, falling to Western Kentucky in the C-USA Tournament, after experts projected them to finish last in the preseason poll.

Many, herself included, expected Walker to fill Joyce’s shoes and take over as full-time head coach; which she did receive an interview for.

The university disagreed, and on June 24, they announced the hiring of former Ohio State University assistant coach Jordan Clark as their second head softball coach in program history.

“Alumni and people that have been around the program, we all definitely thought it was going to be coach

Left to right: Graduate infielder Maya Amm, senior infielder Sommer Baker, Walker and junior outfielder Kaitlyn Cunningham posing at FAU Softball Stadium.

Photo by Cameron Priester.

Chan. So it was definitely a shock,” said Bell. “We’re all on the same page that we want to see the program do well, but we were for sure a little heartbroken about it.”

The university informed Walker, via phone call, of the decision the day before attending Joyce’s celebration of life in her hometown of Waterbury, Conn.

“The celebration was that Saturday, and I had just done the interview on Tuesday and they knew I was going to be out of town,” said Walker. “Friday, they called me and let me know I didn’t have the job. The next day at the celebration of life, all

of her friends would go, ‘Oh, I hope her assistant gets the job.’ And I’m there like, ‘Uh, I didn’t get it.’ So it was just hard.”

The university found themselves in a rare, hard position having to hire amidst these equally unexpected and unfortunate circumstances.

Matt Brown is a journalist and publisher of Extra Points, a newsletter that covers the business and administrative side of college athletics.

“It isn’t a meritocracy. It isn’t just a cold, dispassionate, did you win or did you not,” Brown said of the search processes that go into finding

think they wanted change, and I was just the formality of getting an interview” said Walker.

”I

Walker standing in front of the banner with her picture at FAU Softball Stadium.

Photo by Cameron Priester.

a coach. “Broadly speaking, it’s an asset to have been at a school for a long time. Now, if you’ve been there for a long time, and the culture needs a dramatic change, maybe it wouldn’t be.”

Promoting a head coach from within is a rare case, actually. Oftentimes, when an institution feels a coaching change is necessary, they feel an entire culture change is also warranted, meaning bringing in an entirely new regime; which Walker herself acknowledged.

That choice can come with heavy scrutiny if that institution’s support base has their heart set on another candidate, which it appears FAU’s support base had theirs set on Walker.

In 2020, Utah State University found themselves in a similar situation when searching for a head football coach. When the Aggies hired current head coach, Arkansas-native Blake Anderson, they broke a long-standing tradition of hiring only Mormon head coaches. In-doing-so, they also passed over Frank Maile, the Mormon, Utah-native who served as interim head coach and was seen as the house-favorite to take over.

As expected, Utah State’s decision to hire Anderson was met with fierce opposition from their fan base; Even players, a majority of whom boycotted their regular season finale on the grounds of concern about “religious discrimination during the search for a new football coach.”

However, Anderson’s firstseason was a consensus success as he led the Aggies to a record of 11-3. In addition, a September 2022 report by KSL, a little more than a year removed from the controversy surrounding his arrival, described him as “a man who is adored by his players.”

In similar fashion to Anderson, Clark boasted an impressive resume before FAU hired her.

In four seasons as an assistant at Ohio State, Clark helped coach the Buckeyes to the Regional

Round of the NCAA Tournament twice. She spent much of her time there primarily responsible for offense, which ranked fourth in the Big Ten in batting average in 2022.

However, Walker’s own resume that featured eight conference championships over 21 years as an assistant—and her performance as an interim—left many wondering if a top-to-bottom culture change was necessary.

“Generally, if an interim comes in and is successful, they have a leg up,” said Brown. “Even if they’re not successful on the field, but they’re doing a lot to overcome or repair a challenging off-the-field situation; they often have a leg up.”

A spokesperson for the FAU Athletics Department declined comment for this story, citing a policy against discussing personnel matters.

After the university made Clark’s hiring official, that left Walker’s

future with the program in the hands of the new regime, who chose not to retain her.

Even with her ouster at FAU, multiple programs offered to bring Walker aboard, one of which she said would’ve kept her in Florida. Though she turned all of those down, Walker hasn’t ruled out the possibility of returning to coaching in the future.

“The past year has just been hard, and I think I needed a break,” Walker said.

Not wanting to leave the school she’s called home for more than 20 years, Walker assumed her current position as assistant director of student affairs. However, her love for the sport wouldn’t allow her to completely step away from the game, and has since been coaching youth softball to stay involved.

When asked what she misses most about her time coaching at FAU, without hesitation, Walker snapped back, “the girls.”

Walker pictured in front of FAU Softball Stadium.

Photo by Cameron Priester.

“It’s different,” she said of her new role. “It’s different, but it’s not my love. Softball is my love.” said Walker

FEATURE:

‘LOOK GOOD, PLAY GOOD’: HOW FASHION AND SPORTS HAVE BECOME INTERTWINED

Every athlete wants to dazzle spectators with a spectacular play or a really solid performance. However, some athletes have taken that desire to stand out off the playing field with their personal style.

Jahadonai Brammer | Contributing Writer

Clothing is more than what meets the eye. It isn’t just pieces of fabric put together to create an outfit. Instead, fashion reveals a more resounding message on how people think, feel, and operate in society. Arguably, one could say that the clothing someone wears attributes an idea as to who that person is.

“The arrangement and colors of fabrics allows people to categorize themselves based on their personality,” said Kyler Dixon, head stylist at Florida Atlantic University’s Fashion Forward.

You don’t need to be a fashion icon to wear clothes that make a statement. If the clothing one wears is authentic to their creativity and expression, then anything worn goes. It may seem like fashion and sports do not coincide, but each has a direct influence on the other. In terms of expression, while athletes get to express themselves through their game, clothing allows them another avenue to “ball out.”

Many people pay attention to how professionals choose to carry themselves and it can influence their career.

Dating back to even the 1990s, sports and fashion became intertwined as athletes and coaches tried to build their brand and express themselves through it.

During his time as head coach of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, Pat Riley, now team president of the Miami Heat, became known for his preference of suits during games. Riley would often be seen on the Lakers’ bench calling plays while sporting $1,000 Giorgio Armani suits.

Deion Sanders, NFL Hall of Famer, now head football coach at the University of Colorado, was known for his personal style, as much as his unmatched playing ability, throughout his entire career.

The photo of Sanders taking a phone call during the 1989 NFL Draft, donning a nylon tracksuit and black sunglasses, covered in gold chains, became as synonymous with Sanders

Right: Sullivan (center) and assistant coaches, Jessica Jackson (left) and Matt Ruffing (right) coaching in pink “Play 4 Kay” t-shirts. Play 4 Kay is a breast cancer awareness initiative.

Photo by Nicholas Windfelder.

Above: Jennifer Sullivan pictured coaching in a red quarter zip sweater.

Photo by Nicholas Windfelder.

as his nickname “Prime Time.” He was obsessed with his style on and off the field, and is credited with the quote, “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.”

In the same way each sport has continued to grow and evolve since then, the relevance of personal style in sports has continued to grow as well.

Recently, “tunnel outfits” have become a very popular, and widely discussed aspect of games across several sports. TNT’s semi-weekly broadcast, Inside the NBA, that features Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, has a segment dedicated solely to showcasing athlete’s tunnel outfits. Across social media, there are countless pages dedicated to showcasing athletes’ styles and people look forward to seeing what they have to offer.

“The tunnel hasn’t been a thing for a longtime, it just got popular over the past couple [of] years and people started caring about it more and paying attention to it,” said Ali Tarnowsky, fashion director at Strike Magazine Boca Raton.

Tarnowsky explained the walk

through the tunnel before a game is now a pseudo-red-carpet for athletes. It became where “people are paying attention to it so let me show out now.”

In many settings, athletes are required to wear game day uniforms, or are required to adhere to a dress code. In 2016, former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was benched for the final quarter of a 40-7 loss for not wearing a tie while the team traveled to the game. However, outside of game day, athletes have the option to dress without restriction. Teams may dress the same way during games and practices but when given the chance to dress individually for themselves it’s a whole new ball game.

Consequently, there’s a direct correlation that exists between an athlete’s performance and what they wear. With the opportunity to express themselves to large audiences it boosts their confidence on game day, which Dixon seconded by quoting the phrase coined by Sanders, “you look good, you feel good.”

Similarly, the clothes that coaches wear on the sidelines allow for their own expression in the same way that athletes’ clothes do.

“Everything about our culture now is changing and I love seeing coaches express who they are through clothing,” said FAU’s women’s basketball head coach Jennifer Sullivan.

Just as much as any other professional field, coaches are expected to appear sharp and professional—after all, they’re the figurehead of their program. The style born of those expectations, however, is different to everyone.

In former years, coaches were expected to dress up formally. Now, coaches have started to dress down and opt for casual over dressy.

“On the court from the last few years since COVID, a lot of coaches haven’t been dressing up for games anymore,” said Sullivan.

This change in clothing for coaches gives them a chance to be comfortable on the sidelines and wear clothing that they feel has improved how they feel coaching.

“I like to be very vocal and mobile during the game and being able to dress the way we do allows me to feel more accessible to the players,” shared Sullivan.

Sullivan and her colleague Dusty May, head coach of FAU men’s basketball, are both examples of coaches who’ve prioritized comfort and practicality amidst this new freedom. Both used to be seen courtside in dressier, almost business-like, attire. Nowadays, the two have adopted an almost-official gameday outfit of an FAU-branded quarter zip sweater.

Their unofficial-official uniform can vary in color depending on the day—Sullivan has been seen in a pink and baby blue variation that matches their “Paradise” uniforms—but very rarely do either shy away from it.

While Sullivan may prefer her casual, comfortable quarter zip, coaches’ newfound freedom in fashion is more evident in her home of women’s college basketball, than anywhere else.

Last season, Sydney Carter, then-assistant coach at Texas A&M University, garnered a lot of attention, and some criticism, when a photo of her wearing a turtleneck sweater and hot pink leather pants courtside went viral across the internet.

Kimberley Mulkey, longtime women’s basketball coach at

Louisiana State University, is known for her interesting choice of pant suits for game days, which are usually brightly-colored and bedazzled with sequins—some have even featured feathers, or plastic butterflies.

Overall, clothing has played an integral role in sports. The art behind fashion is not exclusive to those who understand it on a professional level. Instead, it invites one’s personality into whichever spaces they enter. For athletes, the personality highlighted in each individual’s style distinguishes them from the rest. Onfield, there’s a certain limit to how much they can express themselves; Fashion gives them everyone an opportunity to showcase who they are.

“It’s really cool to see them express themselves through clothing” states Sullivan as she shares how she enjoys seeing the players on the women’s basketball teams’ unique styles. With the pressures for athletes and coaches to dress a certain way for the media, it is not only important they put their best foot forward but it is encouraged to stay authentic to who they are.

Head coach Dusty May pictured courtside while coaching in a full suit. Stock photo from University Press Archives.

May hoisting the C-USA Regular Season Championship trophy after defeating Rice University on Feb. 25, 2023.

Photo by Nicholas Windfelder.

NEWS:

OWLS TO MARCH MADNESS FOR FIRST TIME IN OVER 20 YEARS

After earning the C-USA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, FAU will take on the Memphis Tigers in the Round of 64.

For the first time in over 20 years, the FAU Owls are going dancing.

On Saturday night, FAU men’s basketball (31-3, 18-2 C-USA) defeated the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers in the C-USA Tournament Championship, earning themselves an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament—their first appearance since 2002.

Their victory in the conference championship secured them a spot in “The Big Dance”; However, it was revealed a day later on ESPN’s “Selection Sunday” broadcast that the Owls had earned the #9 seed in the East region.

This seeding books FAU for a matchup with the University of Memphis Tigers (26-8, 13-5 AAC) in the round of 64.

Their advance to the NCAA Tournament is the latest of a laundry list of accomplishments the Owls have made this season, including an undefeated home record of 17-0 and the program’s first appearance in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. More than that, it is also the culmination of a five year upward swing the Owls have been on since head coach Dusty May took over the reins.

When May was hired, he inherited a program coming off of seven consecutive losing seasons. Since taking over, he’s led the Owls to five consecutive winning seasons; and now, an NCAA Tournament berth.

The 2001-02 FAU men’s basketball team, the only previous squad to make their way to the Big Dance, earned the South Region’s 15-seed before falling in the round of 64 to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

This year’s team, however, boasted a much more impressive resume, including 11 more regular season wins than the 01-02 squad.

The Owls’ matchup with Memphis is set for March 17 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. and will broadcast on TNT.

Cameron Priester | Sports Editor

FAU Basketball team celebrates winning the C-USA conference for 2023.

Photo by Nicholas Windfelder.

GALLERY:

ATHLETES AT PLAY

A showcase of Owl athletes in their elements. All photos taken by Nicholas Windelder.

Front and back cover photos by Nicholas Windfelder.