Florida Sports Wire

  JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -  Following a seven-year career as the head coach of North Florida men's tennis, Matt Lucas announces that he will be stepping down from the position, Lucas' final day at North Florida will be June 30, as the veteran head coach moves into a new phase of his life and career with his family. In his seven seasons at the helm for UNF, Lucas notched an 87-59 (.596) overall record, with a 33-9 record in conference play. He has also marked a stellar 21-3 record over the past three years against ASUN opponents. In his nine seasons as a Division I men's tennis coach, Lucas saw his teams to 108 total victories, while also fostering the growth and development of numerous student-athletes along the way. "We are grateful for Coach Lucas and his tenure as the UNF Men's Tennis Coach. His teams achieved great success on the court and in the classroom," said Director of Athletics, Nick Morrow. "He impacted many lives within the program and in the com

  TAMPA  –   University of South Florida women’s golf head coach Erika Brennan has accepted an offer to lead the University of Georgia women’s golf program, ending her successful seven-year tenure at USF. Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly will commence a national search for a new leader of the USF women’s golf program immediately.   “Erika masterfully led our USF women’s golf program to great success and did so through faithful dedication to her unique style of positive leadership,” Kelly said. “We are grateful for her tenure here at the University of South Florida and wish her, Brian and Blakely the best of luck at their new home in Athens as Erika pursues the opportunity to lead the Georgia women’s golf program.”   Brennan led the Bulls to back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances (2023 & 2024) for the first time in more than 20 years and recruited numerous talented student-athletes, including 2024 AAC Player of the Year, four-time all-conference performer and All-America h

  ORLANDO —  StaffDNA, a digital marketplace for healthcare careers, is the new title sponsor of the Cure Bowl college football game. ESPN Events, which owns and operates the bowl, and the Orlando Sports Foundation (OSF), which manages the game, announced the new sponsorship today.    The 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The date and kickoff time for the 10th annual game will be announced on June 6.   The StaffDNA Cure Bowl matchup will be announced on Sunday, December 8. Participating teams in the will be from the American Athletic Conference, Sun Belt, Mid-American Conference (MAC), and Conference USA.   “We are honored to welcome StaffDNA as title sponsor of the Cure Bowl. The Orlando Sports Foundation and ESPN Events continue our efforts to offer a first-class college football bowl experience in Central Florida, while remaining steadfast in our mission to bring teams together to find a cure for cancer,” said StaffDNA Cure Bowl Executive Di

  JACKSONVILLE   – The Miami Marlins have announced that outfielder Avisaíl García has been assigned to Jacksonville to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment, presented by H2 Health. García was placed on the injured list on April 28 with a left hamstring strain. He’s in the third year of a four-year contract with Miami that was signed in December 2021. In three seasons with Miami, García has played in 153 games, slashing .217/.260/.322/.582 with 13 home runs and 49 RBIs.   After being signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Anaco, Venezuela by Detroit in 2007, García made his major league debut for the Tigers on August 31, 2012 against the Chicago White Sox. A career .266/.320/.422/.742 hitter with 134 home runs and 505 RBIs in 1,039 games, the 31-year-old has played 11 seasons in the major leagues with Detroit, the Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers and Miami.   García was named an All-Star for the only time in his career in 2017. He batted .330/.380/.506/.885

  ST. AUGUSTINE – Flagler College's  Madelyn Wise  was selected to the 2023-24 Academic All-District® Softball team announced by College Sports Communicators on Tuesday afternoon. The 2023-24 Academic All-District® Softball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced June 18, 2024. The CSC Academic All-District® teams include the student-athletes listed at the

 N EW YORK – Today,   11 p rofessional sports leagues and organizations teamed up with  the national “Love, Your Mind” campaign to announce a comprehensive mental health partnership with the  premiere  of a series of public service advertisements (PSAs). The  series, titled  “The Rituals We Share,”   features  star athletes sharing  their  “rituals,” or steps  they take, to care for their minds  on and off the field – encouraging  sports fans across the country to prioritize their  mental health and explore free resources from  LoveYourMindToday.org .   The “Love, Your Mind” campaign from Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council is dedicated to encouraging a more open, accepting and proactive society when it comes to mental health. That message is being amplified at the culmination of this Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond through the convening of sports leagues and organizations, including:   Major League Baseball (MLB) Major League Soccer (MLS) National Association

  Fort Lauderdale, Florida  – HDS Foundation (HDSF) successfully hosted its inaugural We R.I.S.E. for Autism Golf Classic at Jacaranda Golf Club in Plantation, renowned as South Florida’s premier semi-private golf facility.  The tournament was Presented by HDS Companies, the leading provider of diverse business solutions and professional technical services for the Affordable Housing and Community Development industries. Participants were treated to an exciting day of competition on the green. They enjoyed an exquisite lunch generously provided by PDQ restaurants (People Dedicated to Quality) and received the Official Inaugural Tournament Shirt, courtesy of The P5 Group. The competitive spirit soared during thrilling contests like Beat the Pro and Putting Green. As the sun set on a day filled with golfing excitement, golfers and guests gathered for an awards ceremony and a delicious dinner, where the lucky winners of the raffle drawings and silent auction were announced. Community leade