Barry University's NCAA Division II Dynasty: A Legacy of Champions

Barry University stands as a prominent force in NCAA Division II athletics, boasting a remarkable record of achievement across a diverse range of sports. With 29 National Championships won in eight different sports, the Buccaneers have established themselves as a perennial contender and a source of pride for the Miami Shores, Florida institution. This article explores the history and highlights of Barry University's most successful athletic programs, showcasing their commitment to excellence on the field and in the classroom.

Women's Soccer: A Tradition of Dominance

The Barry University women's soccer program holds a special place in the university's athletic history, as they secured the institution's first-ever national title in any sport in 1989. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Covone, the team achieved unprecedented success, winning three national championships. The Buccaneers were the first to win back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993, solidifying their place as a national powerhouse. Their journey to the 1989 championship was a season to remember, highlighting the school's Golden Jubilee celebration. The 1992 season brought Barry University its second NCAA Division II national soccer title in four years, allowing head coach Mike Covone's seniors to achieve bookend championships in their college careers. The Barry University women's soccer team continued its national dominance in 1993, winning its second consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship. It was Barry's third title in five years and its sixth straight trip to the NCAA Final Four.

Volleyball: Blocking Their Way to the Top

The Barry University volleyball team has also enjoyed considerable success on the national stage, capturing three national championships. The first title came under the leadership of Leonid Yellin, while the subsequent two were won under Dave Nichols. The 1995 Barry University volleyball team proved that adage to be painfully true to its opponents, as the Bucs blocked their way to the NCAA Division II National Championship. For the second time in school history, Barry University was crowned the NCAA Division II National Champions after trouncing the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 3-0 in the final match and ending the 2001 season with a 21-game win streak. The Barry Buccaneers rallied from a game-one loss to defeat Truman State University 25-30, 30-21, 30-25, 30-24 to win the 2004 NCAA Division II Volleyball national championship in the Health & Sports Center at Barry University.

Men's Golf: A Legacy Forged on the Fairway

The men's golf program at Barry University has established itself as a force to be reckoned with, capturing three national championships, all under the tutelage of former head coach Jimmy Stobs. In a sweet repeat, Barry University's No. 1-ranked men's golf team repeated as NCAA Division II National Champions, beating Nova Southeastern, 3-1-1 in the match play finals at The Meadows Golf Course. It was the same layout the Bucs won their first title in 2007 under what then was a stroke play-only format. Barry defeated Lynn by four strokes to break a 2-2-1 tiebreaker in the NCAA Division II National Championship match Friday at the par-71, 6,984-yard Hershey Country Club course. Hernan Borja finished second out of 105 individuals with a four-round score of 291 (+7) to lead the Barry University men's golf team to their first NCAA Division II national title in school history.

Men's Tennis: A Dynasty on the Court

The Barry University men's tennis program has achieved unparalleled success, boasting seven national championships. Five of these titles were won under the guidance of former head coach Dr. George Samuel, while the remaining two were secured under Thomas Hipp. The 2013 team holds the distinction of being the first in school history to post a perfect season, with no losses or ties. The third-ranked and fourth-seeded men's tennis team rallied from an early deficit to beat the fourth-ranked and second-seeded Columbus State Cougars 4-2 to capture the NCAA Division II championship at the USTA National Campus. The second-ranked and third-seeded men's tennis team got healthy at the right time and claimed the program's third straight NCAA Division II National Championship with a 4-1 win over 10th-ranked and fourth-seeded Wayne State from Michigan at Sanlando Park. In another match that defines the current state of NCAA Division II men's tennis, the Barry Buccaneer battled the Columbus State Cougars for the national championship at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex, and the Bucs pulled off the 4-1 win over the #1 ranked team. The top-seeded Barry Buccaneers staged another come back for the ages as they rallied from 3-0 down to win 4-3 over second-seeded Columbus State at the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Championships on Friday at Sanlando Park. No. 2 Barry beat No. 1 Hawai'i Pacific, 5-3, to win the NCAA Division II National Championship Saturday at Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex. It marked the second time in three years the Buccaneers (26-0) won it all in Surprise. In a match that was as dramatic as they come, No. 1 Barry outlasted No. 2 Armstrong Atlantic in a 5-4 thriller to secure the program's second NCAA Division II National Championship. Despite falling behind 4-2 in the NCAA DII national Championship match, the Barry men's tennis team won four of the six singles matches to capture the all-elusive national championship 5-4 over the #1 Valdosta State Blazers.

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Women's Tennis: Setting the Standard for Excellence

The Barry University women's tennis program stands as the most dominant in the university's athletic department, holding an NCAA Division II record nine national championships. Under the leadership of head coach Avi Kigel, the team achieved an unprecedented feat, winning six consecutive titles. In 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023, all being undefeated seasons. The 30-0 record in 2017 is the best perfect season ever at Barry. The top-ranked Barry Buccaneers battled down to the wire with their rivals Nova Southeastern before coming away with their ninth NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament Championship at Sanlando Park. The top-seeded and ranked Barry Buccaneers rallied back from a deficit after doubles to beat the second-ranked and seeded Nova Southeastern Sharks 4-1 at the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championship at the USTA National Collegiate Campus to claimed their sixth straight NCAA Division II championship. The top-ranked Barry Buccaneers set an NCAA Division II record with their fifth straight women's tennis championship, by rallying back to beat the fourth-ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos 4-1 at Sanlando Park. Barry has now won seven overall women's tennis championships, with the last five straight titles. The Barry Buccaneers out-raced the top-ranked UIndy Greyhounds 4-0 to claim their fourth straight national championship at the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Tournament at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex. Top-seeded Barry defeated #3 Lynn 4-2 to win the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis National Championship. The win propels the Bucs to their third straight women's tennis championship and fifth overall. Barry University's No. 2-ranked women's tennis team beat No. 3 Lynn, 5-0, Saturday at Sanlando Park to win the NCAA Division II National Championship in dominating fashion. It is the program's third national title and second in four years at the same venue. The top-seeded Barry Buccaneers finally looked like the juggernaut they are in a 5-0 sweep of the fourth-ranked West Florida Argonauts to win the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis National Championship. No. 1 Barry beat No. 2 Armstrong Atlantic, 5-4, in the NCAA Division II Championship match at Sanlando Park Saturday. It was the Buccaneers' second national title in the program's history, and the school's 12th overall.

Rowing: A Sweep of the Competition

The Barry University rowing program has also experienced national success, capturing back-to-back titles under former head coach Boban Rankovic in 2015 and 2016. Barry University's rowing team repeated as NCAA Division II national champions, winning both the Varsity 4 and Varsity 8 Grand Finals on Sunday at Sacramento State Aquatic Center. In their ninth trip to the NCAA Division II Championships, the Buccaneers won their first national championship in program history Sunday.

Women's Golf: Conquering the Course

The women's golf program at Barry University became the seventh different Buccaneer program to win a national championship. The No. 1-ranked Buccaneers overcame a two-stroke deficit in the final three holes to win the NCAA Division II National Championship by a stroke over No. 2 Dallas Baptist Saturday at the par-72, 6,206-yard Findlay Country Club.

Men's Soccer: An Improbable Run to Glory

The men's soccer team completed an improbable run to the national championship in 2018 under long-time head coach Steve McCrath, marking the eighth different Buccaneer program to achieve national title success. The Barry Buccaneers scored twice in six minutes in the second half to rally past the West Chester Rams 2-1 to win the NCAA Division II National Championship at Highmark Stadium on Saturday for the team's first national title.

Expanding Horizons: New Sports and Continued Growth

Barry University is committed to expanding its athletic offerings and providing opportunities for student-athletes to excel in a variety of sports. The addition of men's and women's lacrosse, set to compete in the spring of 2027, marks a significant step in this direction. The university will begin the search for head coaches during the 2025â26 academic year, paving the way for recruitment and team development ahead of the 2027 season. The additions bring the total number of sports at Barry to 18, from its present number of 13. Swimming will mark a new foray for the Bucs. As the Bucs dive into the pool, they join 75 other men's programs and 103 other women's programs in Division II. Beach volleyball is one of the newer NCAA-sponsored sports with 82 teams across all three divisions. The cross country programs return after being discontinued in 1992. The men's team won the Sunshine State Conference title in 1988, led by All-American and conference champ Brooks Petty. Lenny McDonald was the individual champ in 1991. The women's team won the crown in 1989, while Diane Daley was the individual champ in 1992.

A Commitment to Excellence: Athletics and Academics

Barry University's commitment to its student-first philosophy ensures that student-athletes have the opportunity to reach their full potential, both in their chosen sports and in their academic pursuits. Winning starts here at Barry University in the fields of competition and in the classroom. It's exciting to see our athletic program expand and offer new opportunities for aspiring student athletes to pursue their educational and professional goals at Barry University while striving for excellence in these sports," Barry Vice President For Mission and Student Engagement Dr. Scott Smith said. The Buccaneers have also excelled in the classroom and in the community. The Bucs have had 591 scholar and Academic All-Americans over the years and have captured many major academic awards, including 10 NCAA Woman of the Year finalists, the most in the division and second-most across all divisions. Barry has had 15 Sunshine State Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year, nine on the women's side and six on the men's. Both numbers are conference records.

The Sunshine State Conference: A Conference of Champions

Barry University has been a successful program in the Sunshine State Conference since it joined the league in 1988. The Buccaneers have captured numerous national championships and crowned many All-Americans. As an NCAA Division II member school, Barry University furthers the universityâs commitment to excellence by providing a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that offers national recognition for student athletes. BarryU is the home to 28 NCAA National Championships and 104 Sunshine State Conference Championships.

Division II Philosophy: A Comprehensive Approach

Division II's philosophy calls for a comprehensive program of learning and development in a personal setting. Division II provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition and development of societal attitudes in service to community. Division II relies on a partial-scholarship model to administer athletics-based financial aid. Division II recently retained a consultant firm to conduct a study that helps member schools and prospective members better understand both the real cost of the investments made by Division II institutions and the value they receive in return for their investments.

The Mission of ICAR: Integrating Athletics and Academics

The mission of intercollegiate athletics and recreation (ICAR) department and its programs is to provide opportunities for those with outstanding athletic abilities to excel in intercollegiate and recreational sport participation while completing their degrees in higher education at Barry University. ICAR fulfills its role within the mission of Barry University by complementing classroom instruction. Each sport program integrates body, mind, and spirit in healthy athletic competition that promulgates the universityâs core commitments: teamwork, fair play, self-discipline, search for knowledge and truth through intercollegiate sport competition, and social justice involving experiences with team members of differing nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. All athletic activities and events are actively published and promoted to also elicit involvement and support from the community. Additionally, ICAR serves as a vehicle by which the university extends its presence in a variety of communities. Staff, coaches, and student athletes must, therefore, display a professional decorum suitable for very visible ambassadors of Barry University.

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