This book sets forth the history of intercollegiate athletics at Florida institute of Technology, commonly known as Florida Tech. Florida Tech was founded in 1958 on Florida's Space Coast in order to provide continuing education for engineers and scientists at nearby Cape Canaveral in the early days of space exploration. Within a few years, the university began to develop a robust intercollegiate athletic program. The book seeks to pay tribute to the men and women who have been responsible for the success of the program. At the same time, it illustrates how an intercollegiate athletic program can succeed and remain consistent with the core values of the university.

In today's environment of big-time college sports, the distinction between intercollegiate sports and professional sports becomes blurred as academic institutions compromise academic standards in pursuit of athletic success and devote a disproportionate share of resources to athletics at the expense of academic needs. The book makes a compelling argument that an intercollegiate sports program can support and enhance the academic objectives of the institution without compromising academic standards or misallocating resources.

Florida Tech competes In NCAA Division II and the highly competitive Sunshine State Conference. It does so while adhering to its rigorous academic standards with an emphasis on science and engineering. The book demonstrates that in order to maintain such an athletic program, the university must have a strong, well-articulated value system and must insist that all adhere to those values.

Another conclusion to be drawn from the book is that volunteers devoting their efforts to support the athletic teams can go a long way toward offsetting the limited resources available within the university's budget.

Readers should find comfort in the fact that this book demonstrates that even today an intercollegiate sports program can be managed in a manner that causes the program to provide all of the benefits that caused colleges to sponsor sports programs while avoiding compromising the values of the institution.

William K. Jurgens served as the Director of Athletics at Florida Institute of Technology from 1976 until January 2020. He then served the school as Vice-President for University Relations before retiring in 2021. Jurgens began his career at Florida Tech in 1969 when he became head crew coach. The Panthers' crews won 17 Dad Vail national championships under Jurgens' leadership. As an athlete, Jurgens has rowed on the U.S. national team in international competition. He earned his undergraduate degree from Jacksonville University and a Master's of Science Education from Florida Tech. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Rowing Association and a member of the U.S. Olympic Rowing Committee. He has been a member of the board of the Dad Vail Regatta since 1990 and continues to hold that position. In 2016, Jurgens received the Jack Kelly Award from USRowing, which recognizes superior achievements in rowing or an individual who serves as an inspiration to American rowers. Jurgens is a member of the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame, the Jacksonville University Athletic Hall of Fame and the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.