Athletic Director's Message

Athletic Director's Message

This promises to be an exciting year for Daytona State's varsity sports program. We continue to embrace our holistic approach to bridging the principles of athletics and competition with the high academic standards and achievement expected from our student-athletes. We also challenge our students and staff to be servant leaders, and their enthusiastic involvement in numerous community service learning projects continues to make a positive difference in our local community.

The new academic year begins with great anticipation. The thrill of upcoming competition is heightened by the excellent history of our athletic program and its student-athletes. On the field and in the fairways, our Daytona State Falcons distinguished themselves among the nation's best in 2021-2022, with 4 appearences at NJCAA National Championships in Men's Cross-Country, Women's Cross-Country, Men's Soccer, and Women's Golf, and a Region VIII Championships in Men's Cross-Country.

Also this past year, our athletes proved once again that Daytona State's philosophy of putting academics first is helping to prepare tomorrow's leaders on and off the field. Academic honors included:

  • National Academic Team of the Year (12th time) – Baseball (3.78 team GPA)
  • Women’s Golf - 9th place (3.46 team GPA)
  • Women's Softball – 78th place, (3.39 team GPA)
  • Women’s Volleyball – 54th place, (3.34 team GPA)
  • Men's Soccer - 14th place, (3.22 team GPA)
  • Women's Soccer - 56th place, (3.15 team GPA)
  • FCSAA Male Academic Team of the Year – Baseball (16th consecutive)
  • Mid-Florida Conference Male Academic Team of the Year - Baseball
  • Larry Monts Scholar-Athlete Award - Harleigh Bilz Crist (Women's Cross-Country)
  • FCSAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Will Diaz (Men's Soccer)
  • 22 NJCAA All-Academic Third Team (3.6 GPA)
  • 19 NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (3.8 GPA)
  • 26 NJCAA All-Academic First Team (4.0 GPA)
  • Athletic Department student cohort earned a cumulative 3.19 GPA for the 2021/22 academic year.

This year promises to be a continuation of academic success for our teams and athletes. I encourage you to get out and see some exciting events and support our student-athletes in all their endeavors during their time at Daytona State. Our collective support matters.

Join me and let's make this year the best ever for our athletic program!

Go Falcons!

Will Dunne, Athletics Director
Daytona State College