DRAKE UNIVERSITY

ABOUT DRAKE

Located in Des Moines, Iowa's capital city, Drake University has fielded competitive athletic programs since its founding in 1881, serving a student body of 4,774 undergraduates across 16 varsity sports. Competing in the Missouri Valley Conference at the Division I FCS level, Drake sponsors both men's and women's teams across a broad spectrum of sports, including football, basketball, soccer, cross country, golf, tennis, and Olympic sports like swimming, diving, lacrosse, and volleyball. The athletic department operates from a campus setting in Iowa's metropolitan center, positioning student-athletes within a city environment while maintaining collegiate Division I standards.

Drake's balanced athletic portfolio emphasizes both team and individual sports, with seven men's teams and nine women's teams competing regionally within the MVC framework. The baseball and football programs anchor the men's offerings, while women's soccer, basketball, and volleyball represent prominent team sports on the women's side. Support for Olympic sports reflects institutional commitment to comprehensive athletics, with swimming and diving, lacrosse, and cross country programs providing additional competitive opportunities for roughly 400 student-athletes across the varsity roster.