Men's Track & Field | 12/1/2023 11:34:00 AM
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University is set to sponsor their first ever men's/women's Track & Field team this upcoming Spring 2024, under head coach Kevin Padin. Already one of the most successful NCAA Division II programs, Barry will look to bring in more accolades as they will play an even bigger role on the regional and national scene in the Spring with the addition of two more varsity sports.
The additions bring the total number of sports at Barry to 20, from its present number of 18. Both programs will compete in NCAA Division II.
Track & Field will mark a new foray for the Bucs. As the Bucs get prepared for racing on the track, they join more than 200 other men's programs and nearly 300 other women's programs in Division II.
The Sunshine State Conference (SSC) does not sponsor Track & Field as of now.
Padin gave his thoughts on what the new Track & Field programs bring to Barry, the athletic department, and potential student athletes.
"Anytime you add a sport with one of the highest participation rankings in the US, possibly the world, there is going to be plenty of excitement," said Padin. "We have some of the best high school track and field talent in the nation right here in South Florida. Coaches and student-athletes are excited for the opportunity to build this program's legacy, develop another winning program in an already highly successful athletics department. Track & Field has the potential to be one of the larger programs in our department, meaning plenty more opportunities for student-athletes to pursue quality higher education."
Being the first head coach for the Track & Field program at Barry, Padin is honored to be entrusted by the staff to build the programs into a level of success that is expected at Barry and to have the opportunity to develop student athletes.
"It's an honor to have been entrusted by Dr. [Mike] Allen, Dr. [Scott] Smith and the Barry community with this responsibility," said Padin. "My top priority will always be to foster a positive experience and develop student-athletes, prepare them to succeed both athletically and in life. The program will go through a developmental period, adding events in phases; however, we plan on closing the gap quickly with that of the rest of our athletics department and join in the yearly pursuit of winning championships. There has been tremendous interest from the class of 2024, and infusing their talent into our program will be another big step forward. "
The roster for both Track & Field teams will have some familiar faces from cross-country. Padin will also hold try-outs for the student population that is interested in joining the team, they have received interest from several students.
"The majority of our cross-country team will be participating in Track & Field this spring, running events ranging 400m to 10,000m," said Padin. "We will host try-outs for our current student population, which will then split into either competitive or developmental group for the remainder of this spring. Several students, with prior experience and success, have already shown interest in joining. We've even had students eager to take on team manager or volunteer coaching roles. Everyone involved will have a vital role in our program's ascension."
Padin, his staff and players are all ecstatic for the new season to start this upcoming Spring.
"The excitement level has been incredible, 12/10," said Padin. "Everyone is eager to kick things off and help this program reach its potential."
In addition to the athletic accomplishments, the Buccaneers have also excelled in the classroom and in the community. The Bucs have had 640 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. And for the last eight years, the Bucs have produced an Academic Success Rate of over 90%, earning the NCAA President's Award each year.
