MEDIA ADVISORY: Keiser University to kick off Capitol Day with press conference celebrating NAIA National Championship football team

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – On Wednesday, January 31, Keiser University will kick off its Capitol Day events with an 8:25 AM press conference to celebrate the 2023 NAIA National Champion Seahawk Football Team and welcome new head coach Myles Russ. The press conference occurs during Keiser University Day at the Capitol, a day-long event where members of the Keiser University community from across the state gather on the hill to celebrate the University’s positive impact on Florida.

WHAT:
Press Conference to celebrate the 2023 NAIA National Championship Seahawk Football Team. The Seahawks earned the 2023 championship following a 31-21 defeat of No. 1 Northwestern College (Iowa). The Seahawks took the crown in only their sixth season a program and after previously falling to Northwestern in the 2022 NAIA Championship.

Keiser University will also take the opportunity to welcome the Seahawk’s new football coach Myles Russ, who was named head coach on January 29, 2024. Russ joined the Seahawks coaching staff in 2017 as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 2019.

Keiser University leaders first envisioned a football team in 2008. The University announced the program in 2016 and played its first season in 2018. Since that time, the Seahawks have amassed a 55-15 overall record with five-straight appearances in the NAIA Football Championship Series and two-straight appearances in the national championship game.

Quick Facts about Keiser University Athletics:

• Keiser University is home to 19 NAIA national championships and have won 17 of them since 2015.
• In 2023 alone, the Seahawks took home four national championships (football, men’s swimming, women’s swimming, men’s lacrosse).
• The Keiser University men’s swimming team have won the last five NAIA Championships dating back to 2018 (championship not held in 2021).
• Keiser University athletes have earned 835 All-American honors, and 498 Academic All-American/Scholar-Athletes awards.
• The Seahawks claimed the 2021-22 Learfield Cup, which is presented annually to the colleges and universities in the U.S. with the most success in collegiate athletics on the field and in the classroom.
• In 2023, 16 of 20 Seahawk teams earned a GPA above a 3.0 and 19 of 20 teams above a 2.75.

 WHO:          

• Representative Randy Fine (R-Brevard)
• Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., Keiser University Chancellor
• Gardy Vonk, Ph.D., Keiser University Flagship President
• Kris Swogger, Keiser University Athletic Director
• Myles Russ, Keiser University Head Football Coach
• Members of the cabinet and Florida legislators are expected to join Keiser University faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to celebrate the national Championship Seahawks

WHEN:
Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 8:25 AM

WHERE:
Florida Capitol Building, Second Floor Rotunda
400 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32399

MORE:
Throughout the day, stop by the first-floor rotunda to explore Keiser University’s impact on the state of Florida. Discover our unique academic programs and meet our high-achieving students, faculty, and alumni. The Keiser University nursing simulation mobile bus will also be located in the large vehicle area and open to the public.

Members of the press are invited to attend, and on-camera interviews will be available. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

• Jeff LaLiberte at [email protected] or 954-821-3986

 The press conference will be streamed live at Keiser University’s Official YouTube page. To view the press conference virtually, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/@KeiserUniversityofficial/streams.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, the university now offers over 100-degree programs, ranging from associate to doctoral levels. As a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, Keiser University is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. In 2024, it was ranked 21st in the U.S. for Social Mobility by U.S. News and World Report.

Keiser Athletics is home to more than 800 student-athletes in 27 different sports. Athletic events are played in the West Palm Beach area, including five on the KU Flagship Campus (Keiser Multi-Purpose Field, Alumni Field, Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center, Arrigo-Vecellio Field, And Silvester Field). The Seahawks have amassed 19 National Championships, 57 conference regular season titles, 55 conference tournament crowns, four Sun Conference Commissioner’s Cups, and one LEARFIELD Director’s Cup Championship.

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