Florida National’s Ryan Raposo Receives 2025-26 CAC Coach of Character Award

Florida National University Head Track & Field Coach Ryan Raposo has received the 2025-26 Continental Athletic Conference Coach of Character award. This is one of several end-of-the-year honors recognizing administrators, staff members and student-athletes among 12 member institutions.  

Raposo also serves as the Conquistadors' Director of Athletics and has created a culture that exemplifies the NAIA Champion of Character values of respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.

Raposo has overseen the last two CAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship meets, hosted by FNU.

As a coach and administrator, Raposo has instilled a teachable-moment protocol in which student-athletes can openly discuss their actions with a campus character liaison and staff member. He has had the individual draft a reflection and corrective action essay and apologize to their teammates and coaches for their actions.

Raposo also has developed personal accountability and character principles within the department by posting a picture of his watch in a team group chat room one minute after each practice has started. His team departs for road trips at the time originally stated on the trip's itinerary, without exception.

Raposo has had various FNU teams host youth athletic events and participate in community service and other community outreach initiatives.

Florida National University has had four consecutive Five-Star Gold ratings in the NAIA Champion of Character program during Raposo's athletic leadership.