JACKSONVILLE -- University of North Florida Director of Athletics, Lee Moon, was awarded a three-year contract extension that keeps him at the helm of Osprey Athletics through June of 2021.

"I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to continue my association with the University of North Florida," said Moon. "I am also very proud to represent all the amazing UNF Athletics family including the student-athletes, coaches, staff members and committed boosters, As a department, we have achieved some tremendous things both on the field and courts. We have also seen huge strides in the classroom and with the student-athlete experience. While I am proud of the things we have accomplished, we still have more things to do and I am looking forward to helping lead the department to future successes."

Since arriving at North Florida in February of 2009, Moon has helped guide Osprey Athletics to historic heights in all aspects of the department including competitive championships, academic accomplishments and facility enhancements. UNF has become one of the top programs in the ASUN Conference, claiming 36 conference championships under his leadership.

North Florida teams have advanced to the NCAA postseason in several sports including basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, men's soccer along with various track and field athletes. The Ospreys have consistently finished among the top challengers in the Bill Bibb Trophy standings, the all-sports race among ASUN Conference teams, finishing among the top three teams in six of the last seven seasons. UNF posted back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Additionally, UNF captured the program's third straight Men's All-Sports Championship crown in 2016-17. His commitment to success has also led the Ospreys to a recent streak of dominance in their crosstown rivalry with Jacksonville University, with UNF earning five of the last six titles in the River City Rumble competition

In addition, Moon's guidance has raised the performance level of UNF student-athletes in the classroom with the Osprey's regularly boasting a cumulative department GPA at or above a 3.0. UNF Athletics has maintained a cumulative department GPA of 3.0 or higher for 13 consecutive semesters. In 2016-17, North Florida student-athletes accumulated a program record 3.34 cumulative GPA highlighted by all 19 varsity teams boasting cumulative GPAs of 3.0 or higher during the academic year.

During his tenure, UNF has added two new varsity programs -- beach volleyball and women's golf -- along with overseeing upgrades to several of the Osprey's home venues. He spearheaded the funding for recent enhancements at UNF Arena, that included a state-of-the-art, four-sided, center-hung video display scoreboard and 40-foot digital scorer's tables along the sideline. The program's most recent digital enhancements will be new video scoreboards at baseball and softball for the 2018 season. In 2012, Moon was a part of another shining moment when UNF's Hodges Stadium hosted the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East preliminary round. Additionally, North Florida served as repeat host for the East Preliminary for three years from 2014-2016 and have been chosen to again host the event in 2019 and 2021.

Under Moon's leadership, total annual revenue is up 88 percent since his arrival in 2009, increasing the overall budget from $6.4 million to $12 million.  Significant increases in sponsorship sales, fundraising, and ticket sales has positioned the Athletic Department to lower its dependency on University support by 21 percent.

"Lee has done a remarkable job of ensuring Osprey Athletics are a source of pride for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and  the community," said UNF President John Delaney. "Under his guidance, UNF has enjoyed unprecedented successes both on the fields of competition and even more importantly in the classroom. The Athletic Department has made positive growth under Lee's direction and I am excited to see where we advance with his continued leadership."