symbol above their heads.
== Athletics ==
USF competed in its first intercollegiate athletic event on September 25, 1965, when it defeated the Florida Southern College men's soccer team. The university was admitted into the NCAA in 1968, and currently competes at the NCAA Division I level. USF was a charter member of the Sun Belt Conference, joined Conference USA in 1995, was admitted into the Big East Conference in 2003, and is currently a member of the American Conference. There are nearly 500 student-athletes across 20 varsity sports competing for the university each academic year. Michael Kelly is the current athletic director.
USF teams have won 171 conference championships and one NCAA national championship (women's swimming in 1985) as of May 2025. They also have four NCAA national runner up finishes (men's swimming in 1971, men's golf in 1971 and 1972, and rifle in 1989). Athletes have won 19 individual NCAA national championships (seven in women's swimming, six in men's swimming, two in rifle, three …
