Florida Polytechnic University director of recreation and athletics Derek Lower this week said the school is seeking to join Sun Conference in eight sports.
"We’re looking to join the NAIA and the Sun Conference in the near future with men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, baseball and softball," Lower told Bay News 9.
Lower hopes the move can be made by this fall after the school proceeded with the hiring of eight new coaches.
The first sport to compete this year will be men’s soccer in August.
Until facilities can be built, the school will play at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, which will be home to the men’s and women’s soccer and baseball programs. Basketball and softball will be played at Polk State College.
Lower said he aims for all sports to be on campus within five years.
"I hope that’s a realistic timeline and basketball, a basketball arena is the first thing to come online," he said. "Just being in the Florida sunshine, I think that’s what the sport needs."
