NSU names court for Crutchfield; Barry adds flag football; STU adds hockey

Coach Jim Crutchfield has received a rare distinction.

Crutchfield, who led Nova Southeastern University’s men’s basketball teams to NCAA Division II national titles in 2023 and 2025, had the court named after him on Friday night.

The floor now reads: “Crutchfield Court.”

Following the ceremony, No. 1 NSU defeated sixth-ranked Alabama Huntsville, 87-79, making it a perfect season-opening night for Crutchfield.

“It’s a heck of an honor,” Crutchfield said of the ceremony. “Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this. I thought I would have to be retired or dead to have this type of honor, and yet I’m still here.”

Sharks fans are thrilled. When Crutchfield arrived here in March of 2017, NSU had just finished a 6-20 season. Since then, he has transformed NSU’s program.

Over the past four years, the Sharks have a combined record of 135-5.

In addition, NSU has won 85 consecutive home games.

STU ADDS HOCKEY

Starting next fall, St. Thomas University will field a men’s hockey team. The Bobcats will compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division II.

The Bobcats will play their home games at the Baptist Health IcePlex, which is where the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers train.

As of yet, the Bobcats do not have a coach, but Jake Goldstein – the 23-year-old son of Panthers play-by-play man Steve Goldstein – is serving as director of operations.

Jake Goldstein said he is aiding in recruitment until a coach is hired.

“Ideally, we’d like to have a good mix of local kids, out-of-state guys and international players,” said Goldstein, who played hockey at Cypress Bay High. “We’d like to sign 25 to 30 players. We’re open to players from everywhere. We’d be happy to fill our roster with Canadians, Americans, Finns, Russians … Whoever can compete at this level, we’re going to give them a fair chance.”

The schedule will include club teams from FAU, Tampa and Florida.

“With the success of the Panthers, there’s never been a better time for us to jump into this thing,” Goldstein said. “Youth hockey is booming.”

BARRY ADDS FLAG

Women’s flag football, which has operated as a Barry University club team for the past three years, will become a Bucs varsity sport next season.

A search for the program’s first coach has already begun.

Although there are several NAIA schools with flag-football programs, Barry becomes the first NCAA school in Florida to add the sport.

Edison High coach Vincent Hall said he is thrilled that another Miami university – along with NAIA schools St. Thomas and Florida Memorial – will now field a flag football team.

“It’s an honor for the girls,” Hall said. “If you’ve noticed, flag football is growing.”

To Hall’s point, according to the International Federation of American Football, there are 2.4 million kids age 17 and younger who play organized flag football in the U.S. In addition, flag football has been added an Olympic sport for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

“I’m just waiting for girls to go to school for free by playing football, just like the guys,” Hall said. “I just want flag football to get bigger and bigger.”