
Drake University, a private university in Des Moines, Iowa, offers over 140 undergraduate and graduate programs. Sports are a significant part of life at Drake, with the university competing in the NCAA Division I-FCS and being one of the Pioneer Football League schools. Out of the total undergraduate enrollment of 2,702 students (as of fall 2023), 553 are student-athletes participating in varsity sports, with 271 males and 282 females. Drake's most famous event, the Drake Relays, is a world-class track and field competition that attracts top collegiate athletes and Olympians. The university's athletic history dates back to 1885 when baseball became its first varsity sport, followed by football and track.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of student athletes | 553 |
| Number of male student athletes | 271 |
| Number of female student athletes | 282 |
| Average sports-related student aid | $9,623 |
| Average sports-related student aid for males | $6,773 |
| Average sports-related student aid for females | $12,363 |
| Number of head coaches for men's teams | 7 |
| Number of head coaches for women's teams | 9 |
| Average salary of women's team head coaches | $76,656 |
| Average salary of men's team head coaches | $157,367 |
| Number of players on the men's basketball team | 17 |
| Number of players on the women's basketball team | 28 |
| Number of players on the men's football team | 113 |
| Number of players on the women's volleyball team | 24 |
| Undergraduate enrollment (Fall 2023) | 2,702 |
| Number of student organizations | >160 |
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What You'll Learn

Drake University has 553 student athletes
Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, has a strong athletic programme and a rich history of sports. The university offers a wide range of athletic opportunities for its students, with 553 students participating in varsity sports.
The university's athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs, a nickname given to them by a sportswriter in 1904 who noticed that coach John L. Griffith brought his pet bulldogs to the practice fields. Drake University's varsity teams compete in the NCAA Division I-FCS, which is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the NCAA.
The university supports 16 Division I sports, including baseball, which became the school's first varsity sport in 1885, followed by football and track. Drake University also has a women's basketball team, which was established in 1904 but disbanded shortly after due to a ban. The team was later re-established, and today, the women's basketball programme has received a $5 million commitment from a local philanthropist, Suzie Glazer Burt, making it the largest non-capital donation ever for a women's basketball programme. The university's football team also has a notable history, including a famous victory over Simpson College in what is believed to be the first night football game west of the Mississippi River.
In addition to varsity sports, Drake University offers a range of intramural sports and sport clubs for students who want to compete at a high level while representing the university. These include Ultimate Frisbee and rugby, as well as over 20 other intramural sports. The university also hosts the annual Drake Relays, a world-class track and field competition that attracts top collegiate athletes and Olympians. This event has a long history, dating back to 1910, and has featured record-breaking performances, including an American broad jump record set by Jesse Owens in 1935.
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271 male and 282 female athletes
Sports are a prominent part of student life at Drake University, with a total of 553 students participating in varsity sports. Of these athletes, 271 are male, and 282 are female. Drake University's varsity sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I-FCS, and the school is one of the Pioneer Football League members.
The male athletes at Drake University have a variety of sports to choose from, including basketball, football, and baseball. The men's basketball team, for example, consists of 17 players led by a head coach and five assistant coaches. The football team is even larger, with 113 players, a head coach, and eight assistant coaches.
Female athletes at Drake University also have several sports options, including volleyball, basketball, and track and field. The women's volleyball team has 24 players, a head coach, and two assistant coaches. The basketball team is comprised of 28 players led by a head coach and four assistants. The female athletes have been highly successful, with the volleyball team achieving a positive financial balance and the basketball team receiving a $5 million donation from Suzie Glazer Burt, the largest non-capital donation ever for a women's basketball program.
In addition to varsity sports, Drake University offers a range of intramural sports options for students who want to participate in competitive sports on campus. The university also hosts the Drake Relays, a world-class track and field competition that attracts top collegiate athletes and Olympians. This event has a rich history, dating back to 1910, and is a significant tradition for the students, who kick off the relays with street painting.
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Drake competes in NCAA Division I-FCS
Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, has a long history of athletic excellence and a strong reputation for its sports teams, known as the Drake Bulldogs. The university's athletic programme is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and competes at the NCAA Division I level, specifically in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
The Bulldogs nickname was given to the university's athletic teams in 1904 when a sportswriter noticed that coach John L. Griffith brought his pet bulldogs to the practice fields. The football team has had several notable moments in the university's history, including an undefeated season in 2004, which led to their first undisputed conference title and playoff bid. They also played in the first night game at Soldier Field in Chicago, losing a close game to Oregon, and have made two appearances in the I-AA/FCS playoffs.
Drake University supports a range of varsity sports, with a total of 553 student-athletes participating. This includes 282 female athletes and 271 male athletes, who, on average, receive around $9,623 in sports-related student aid. The university has 16 head coaches, with 9 leading women's teams and 7 leading men's teams. The women's volleyball team has 24 players, while the men's basketball team has 17, and the football team has 113 players.
The university's most famous athletic event is the Drake Relays, which began in 1910 and now draws athletes from all over the world, including Olympians. This event has become a tradition, with students kicking it off each year by decorating areas of Carpenter Avenue with street paintings.
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Drake's famous sports event, the Drake Relays
Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, is home to more than 2,700 undergraduate students and offers over 140 undergraduate and graduate programs. The university has a strong athletic tradition, with approximately 553 students participating in varsity sports. The school's athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs, a name given to them by a sportswriter in 1904 who noticed that coach John L. Griffith brought his pet bulldogs to the practice fields.
Drake University's most famous event is the Drake Relays, an outdoor track and field competition held on campus in Drake Stadium. The event was founded in 1910 by Griffith and has since become one of the top track and field events in the United States, billed as "America's Athletic Classic". The inaugural event was held during a blizzard and drew just 100 spectators and 82 athletes from local colleges and high schools. However, the Drake Relays quickly grew in popularity, with attendance soaring to 500 spectators and 250 athletes in its second year.
The Drake Relays has a rich history of record-breaking performances. In 1914, the event saw its first world record set. By 1922, it had expanded to two days, attracting 10,000 fans and becoming the first major track and field event to be broadcast on radio. The event has continued to evolve, with women's events added beginning in 1961, and it now includes a variety of competitions such as the Grand Blue Mile, an indoor pole vault, and a decathlon.
The Drake Relays has featured some of the most renowned athletes in history, including Jesse Owens, who set an American broad jump record at the event in 1935. Hundreds of Olympic gold medalists have competed at the Drake Relays, including Caitlyn Jenner, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Wilma Rudolph, Frank Shorter, Gwen Torrence, and Jeremy Wariner. The event serves as a platform for athletes to gain international recognition, with many Drake Relays competitors going on to represent their countries at the Olympic Games.
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Drake's varsity sports include basketball, football, volleyball, and rugby
Drake University, a private university in Des Moines, Iowa, offers a wide range of athletic opportunities for its students. While the exact number of students who are athletes is not readily available, the university has a rich history of sports participation, with a variety of varsity sports on offer, including basketball, football, volleyball, and rugby.
Drakes' varsity sports have a long and illustrious history. Baseball was the university's first varsity sport, introduced in 1885, followed by football and track. In 1904, a women's basketball team was formed, but it was unfortunately disbanded due to social norms of the time. Drake's football team has had notable successes, including a victory over Simpson College in what is believed to be the first night football game west of the Mississippi River. The university's teams are nicknamed the "Bulldogs," a moniker bestowed upon them by a sportswriter who noticed the coach's pet bulldogs on the practice fields.
Basketball has been a part of Drake University's athletic program since the early 20th century, with the women's team facing challenges in the past due to societal expectations. However, the university has a strong commitment to providing athletic opportunities for all students. Volleyball is another popular sport at Drake, though the exact details of its establishment are unclear.
Rugby, while not mentioned in the sources, is likely a more recent addition to Drake's varsity sports. Rugby has gained popularity in universities across the United States, offering a fast-paced and physically demanding sport that attracts students with a diverse range of athletic abilities and backgrounds.
Drake University takes pride in its athletic programs and encourages student participation. The university's sports teams have a rich history, with notable achievements in football and the establishment of baseball as the first varsity sport. Today, Drake offers a range of varsity sports, including basketball, football, volleyball, and rugby, fostering a competitive and active environment for its student-athletes.
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Frequently asked questions
553 students are athletes at Drake University, with 271 male athletes and 282 female athletes.
Drake University has 16 Division I sports teams, including basketball, football, volleyball, and rugby.
There are 16 head coaches, with 7 leading men's teams and 9 leading women's teams.
The average amount of sports-related student aid received by athletes at Drake University is $9,623, with male athletes receiving an average of $6,773 and female athletes receiving an average of $12,363.
The total undergraduate enrollment at Drake University is approximately 2,700 students.











































