Paradise Brew 3/28: Coach Kittley Cracks Wise

First-year head coach Zach Kittley was mic'd up at a recent practice, displaying his embracing personality, as the squad prepares for Saturday's scrimmage.

March 28, 2025

Good morning, Owls Family. The Florida Atlantic football team surpassed the midway point of the allotted 15 spring practices as the Owls continue to stress technique, playing with energy and preparing for this Saturday's scrimmage.
 
First-year head coach Zach Kittley was mic'd up at a recent practice, displaying his embracing personality. Kittley was also the focal point of Thursday's media availability.

What else do we have mixed into today’s Brew? Check it out below!

🥎 Men’s Tennis goes for eight straight against Liberty
⛳️ Women’s Golf has final regular season event in Phoenix
🦉 And much, much more

🔼 ‘Runners Up. No. 22 Florida Atlantic softball hits the road for a three-game series against AAC opponent UTSA. All three games are on ESPN+ with tonight’s first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. This is followed by a 1 p.m. start on Saturday before the series concludes on Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
The Owls (29-5, 8-1) will look to continue their hot AAC start that places them at the top of the league standings, taking on a Roadrunners team (14-16, 2-7) that is looking for their first series win.

🔼 Battle of the Birds. The Florida Atlantic Owls baseball team heads to the Lone Star state for a three-game weekend series with the UTSA Roadrunners. Tonight's first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Saturday's middle game is set for 5 p.m. ET, and Sunday's finale will get underway at 2 p.m. ET. The Owls (19-6) and the Roadrunners (20-7) both enter the second weekend of league play at 2-1 in the American Athletic Conference.

🔼 Stay Hot, Guys. The No. 70 Florida Atlantic men's tennis team began its seven-match winning streak with a road win. This week, the Owls return to the road hoping to extend the streak with a match today at 3 p.m. ET versus host Liberty. The squad then heads to Charlotte for a Sunday, March 30, match at 11 a.m.

The Owls are coming off a 6-1 victory over fellow AAC member Tulane on Sunday and celebrated sophomore Mark Halvicek earning AAC Player of the Week honors on Tuesday.

🔼 Possibly Prickly Play at Papago. The FAU women's golf team will compete in its final regular season spring event beginning today in Phoenix, Arizona. The PING/ASU Invitational will be a three-day, 54-hole event contested at Papago Golf Club.
 
The Owls will carry a roster of six players this weekend, led by sophomore Charlotte Perkins at the top position. Freshmen Nancy Cox and Maddie Rathjen also keep their places from the lineup used three weeks ago at the Gators Invitational in Gainesville, Florida. Sophomore Giulia Scarcello returns to the starting five, while senior Olivia Florence steps into the lineup for the first time this spring. Freshman Amelia Cobb will compete as an individual. 

🔼 A Look at FAU’s Two-Sport Athlete. Episode 26 of Florida Atlantic's Inside the Owls' Burrow first airs tonight at 6 p.m. ET and again on tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. The show originates on FanDuel Sports Network Florida and can also be viewed on fausports.com and YouTube.

This week's show features Kyle Boylston, the only two-sport student-athlete on campus. Forte will follow Boylston through a day as a 2025 baseball outfielder while doubling as a safety on the football team.

The No. 22-ranked softball team members also show their unique way of celebrating hits, with players either imitating popular TikTok dances or creating one of their own.

🔼 We Meet Again … And Again. The Florida Atlantic women's track & field team will travel to North Carolina and down south to compete in two meets, starting with the Raleigh Relays today before the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, March 29. 

Owl distance runners will take on the meet hosted by N.C State this afternoon, participating in the 1500-meter, 10000-meter, and the 3000-meter steeplechase. The sprint group will be in Coral Gables for the second consecutive weekend at the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational hosted by Miami, Florida.

Number of the Day: 14

We’re counting down the days to Florida Atlantic’s 2025 football spring game on Friday night, April 11, at 6:30 pm ET! In honor of the 14 days we have left until the spring game, we look at #14 on the squad—Jade Card. A three-star recruit with a composite score of .868, Card chose FAU over offers from Florida State, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Ole Miss and SMU. Now that’s impressive!

Countdown to Kickoff is brought to you by Shiner Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers. We don’t just handle cases – we fight tirelessly for your rights, seeking the compensation you deserve while providing compassionate, personalized legal support every step of the way.

⇢⇢⇢ With football on the brain, today’s trivia asks: What team does FAU play for its first home game this upcoming season?

Have a guess?

Scroll to the bottom to find out!

🦉 ONE BIG THING

FAU Baseball’s One-Two Punch. From the bump to the plate, these two Owls have it covered.

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Friday, March 28
🏌🏽‍♀️ Women’s Golf @ PING/ASU Invitationals in Phoenix, Arizona
🏐 Volleyball vs. Lynn @ 9 a.m. ET
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ Liberty @ 3 p.m. ET | Live Video | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball @ UTSA @ 7 p.m. ET
🥎 Softball @ UTSA @ 7 p.m. ET ESPN+ | Live Video | Live Stats

Saturday, March 29
🏌🏽‍♀️ Women’s Golf @ PING/ASU Invitationals in Phoenix, Arizona
👟 Women’s X-Country/Track & Field @ UM Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida
🥎 Softball @ UTSA @ 1 p.m. ET ESPN+ | Live Video | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball @ UTSA @ 5 p.m. ET
⚽️ Women’s Soccer vs. Keiser @ 6 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 30
🏌🏽‍♀️ Women’s Golf @ PING/ASU Invitationals in Phoenix, Arizona
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ Charlotte @ 11 a.m. ET | Live Video | Live Stats
⚾️ Baseball @ UTSA @ 2 p.m. ET

🦉 Go here for the complete Florida Atlantic University Athletics Calendar

Paradise Trivia is brought to you by Choice Mortgage Group, the Official Mortgage Lender of Florida Atlantic Athletics.

The Answer: Florida A&M!

The Florida Atlantic and Florida A&M football teams play one another in Paradise on Saturday, Sept. 6 (Time TBA), for the Owls’ home opener.

The two teams have only played each other once before, with FAU winning 38-8 on Oct. 30, 2004.

🦉 Have an awesome weekend, Owl Fam!