IMG Academy

File:Bradenton, Florida.jpg

Nick Bollettieri founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in 1978. Sports company IMG purchased the academy in 1987.{{cite web |url=http://www.bradenton.com/2012/08/19/4163910/new-img-brand-to-unify-bradenton.html |title=New IMG brand to unify Bradenton campus | Bradenton Herald |website=Bradenton.com |date=August 19, 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003003549/http://www.bradenton.com/2012/08/19/4163910/new-img-brand-to-unify-bradenton.html |archive-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead}} IMG acquired the youth division of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in 1993 and added programs for soccer and baseball in 1994. Hockey and basketball programs were added in 2000 and 2001, respectively, and by 2002 the IMG campus had expanded to {{convert|190|acre|km2}}.{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1027520/1/index.htm |title=The Ultimate Jock School: The education is intensive—and expensive—at IMG Academies, where sports come first and classes are fit into training regimens designed to help students reach their athletic goals |website=sportsillustrated.cnn.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125022420/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1027520/1/index.htm |archive-date=January 25, 2014}} IMG Academy suspended its hockey program in 2003.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} Football was added in 2010,{{cite web |author=Stephen Spiewak |url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/D0S-6DLfEd-UswAcxJTdpg/john-madden,-img-academies-launch-img-madden-football-academy.htm |title=John Madden, IMG Academies launch IMG Madden Football Academy |website=MaxPreps.com |date=March 18, 2010 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116132837/http://www.maxpreps.com/news/D0S-6DLfEd-UswAcxJTdpg/john-madden,-img-academies-launch-img-madden-football-academy.htm |url-status=live }} as well as lacrosse.{{cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/img-lacrosse-academy-to-begin-offering-instruction-in-march/5895 |title=IMG Lacrosse Academy to begin offering instruction in March |publisher=Inside Lacrosse |date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116132836/http://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/img-lacrosse-academy-to-begin-offering-instruction-in-march/5895 |url-status=live }} Track & field and cross country were added in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://sportstechie.net/img-academy-launches-track-field-and-cross-country-program/ |title=IMG Academy launches Track & Field and Cross Country program |publisher=Sports Techie |date=May 20, 2013 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116132837/http://sportstechie.net/img-academy-launches-track-field-and-cross-country-program/ |url-status=live }}

IMG Academy currently sits on {{convert|450|acre|ha}} of land, and in 2011, IMG paid $7.5 million for an additional {{convert|110|acre|ha}} adjacent to the current campus for future expansion. In 2014, IMG purchased an additional {{convert|24|acre|ha}}. The land borders IMG's west campus, where the sports performance academy is undergoing a $198 million expansion.{{cite web|url=http://www.bradenton.com/2014/07/09/5245120_img-acquires-manatee-fruit-land.html?rh=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827104242/http://www.bradenton.com/2014/07/09/5245120_img-acquires-manatee-fruit-land.html?rh=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 27, 2014|title=IMG acquires Manatee Fruit land for $1.5 million - IMG Academy - Bradenton Herald|date=August 27, 2014|access-date=April 19, 2019}}

The IMG Pendleton School was founded in 1999 as a co-educational, college preparatory school for athletic students. In 2012, the school changed its name to "IMG Academy".{{cite web |url=http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2012/0831 |title=Pendleton School becomes IMG Academy |website=FHSAA.org |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-date=August 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827123803/http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2012/0831 |url-status=live }} It delivers both academics and athletics.{{cite web |url=http://www.imgacademy.com/prep-school-program/overview |title=Why |publisher=IMG Academy |date=May 22, 2015 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903023118/http://www.imgacademy.com/prep-school-program/overview |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

In 2021, the school's football team faced off against Bishop Sycamore in which they won in a 58–0 rout. Bishop Sycamore received scrutiny after the game and its existence was questioned.{{cite web | url=https://patch.com/florida/bradenton/apparent-fake-school-bishop-sycamore-got-img-academy-schedule | title=Apparent Fake School Bishop Sycamore Got on IMG Academy Schedule | date=August 31, 2021 | access-date=September 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 11, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011151508/https://patch.com/florida/bradenton/apparent-fake-school-bishop-sycamore-got-img-academy-schedule | url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Layton |first=Jeremy |date=2021-08-31 |title=‘Fake’ high school pulled off national scam |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/fake-high-school-pulled-off-national-scam/news-story/700b66b79aa6eb3c0df92bbafa500f7c |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230201174110/https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/fake-high-school-pulled-off-national-scam/news-story/700b66b79aa6eb3c0df92bbafa500f7c |archive-date=2023-02-01 |access-date=2024-12-17 |work=news.com.au |language=en-GB}}

On April 25, 2023, parent company Endeavor agreed to sell IMG Academy to private equity firm BPEA EQT at a value of $1.25 billion - the sale was completed in June.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/endeavor-sells-img-academy-private-equity-eqt-1235401441/ |title=Endeavor Sells IMG Academy to Private Equity Firm BPEA EQT for $1.25B |date=April 25, 2023 |access-date=April 25, 2023 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Alex |last=Weprin}}{{Cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230627680161/en/Endeavor-Completes-Sale-of-IMG-Academy-to-BPEA-EQT-in-Partnership-with-Nord-Anglia-Education|title= Endeavor Completes Sale of IMG Academy to BPEA EQT, in Partnership with Nord Anglia Education|work=Business Wire|date= June 28, 2023|access-date=2023-07-28|language=en-US}}

File:Tennis Courts IMG Academy - Bradenton.jpg

IMG Academy tennis programs offer year-round tennis camps ranging from one to five weeks in length and from 2019 to 2019 were led by director Rohan Goetzke.{{cite web | url=https://www.courtsense.com/rohan-goetzke/ | title=Rohan Goetzke | CourtSense }}{{cite web |url=http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/6830 |title=Banking giant BNP Paribas and French Open sign five-year extension: This week in tennis business with Justin Cohen |publisher=World Tennis Magazine |date=May 30, 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222102513/http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/6830 |url-status=live }} The campus has 35 outdoor hard courts, 5 indoor hard courts, and 16 green clay courts.{{cite web|url=http://www.imgacademies.com/nick-bollettieri-tennis-academy/tennis-department/sports-facilities/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823142140/http://www.imgacademies.com/nick-bollettieri-tennis-academy/tennis-department/sports-facilities/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 23, 2012|title=IMG Academy Bollettieri tennis program Sports Facilities|date=August 23, 2012|access-date=April 19, 2019}}

In 1987, thirty-two academy students or former students were in the Wimbledon draw and twenty-seven were in the U.S. Open. Famous past students include Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Jim Courier, Kei Nishikori, Alejandro Tabilo, Anna Kournikova, Serena Williams, and Maria Sharapova.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/nick-bollettieri|title=Nick Bollettieri|work=TennisFame|access-date=2 December 2021|date=2 December 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624024738/https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/nick-bollettieri/|url-status=live}} Current students include Michael Mmoh.

IMG announced the John Madden Football Academy in March 2010 and held its first camp from June 4–6, 2010. The football program offers a residency program and year-round camps ranging from three days to five weeks in length and was previously led by former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke.{{cite web |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/03/19/img-academies-launches-john-madden-football-academy/ |title=IMG Academies launches John Madden football academy - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel |website=Articles.orlandosentinel.com |date=March 19, 2010 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116132836/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-03-19/news/os-img-academies-john-madden-football-0319_1_img-academies-florida-state-quarterback-football-program |url-status=live }} The academy fielded a high school football team for the first time in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.imgacademies.com/madden-football-academy/news/img-academy-to-field-a-high-school-football-team-in-2013/1456/ |title=IMG Academy To Field A High School Football Team In 2013 |website=www.imgacademies.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831100448/http://www.imgacademies.com/madden-football-academy/news/img-academy-to-field-a-high-school-football-team-in-2013/1456/ |archive-date=August 31, 2012}} In 2013, MaxPreps called IMG Academy the "nation's top high school football facility."{{cite web |author=Stephen Spiewak |url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/GZqTevVQyk-pjG-hsNGJmQ/behind-the-scenes-photos-from-img-academy.htm |title=Behind the scenes photos from IMG Academy |website=MaxPreps.com |date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116132837/http://www.maxpreps.com/news/GZqTevVQyk-pjG-hsNGJmQ/behind-the-scenes-photos-from-img-academy.htm |url-status=live }} Kevin Wright was named head coach in 2015 after Weinke accepted a position as quarterbacks coach with the then-St. Louis Rams.{{cite web|title = IMG Academy names Steve Walsh as director of football and Kevin Wright as coach|url = http://usatodayhss.com/2015/img-academy-names-steve-walsh-as-director-of-football-and-kevin-wright-as-coach|website = USA Today High School Sports|date = March 30, 2015|access-date = February 17, 2016|language = en-US|archive-date = October 11, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221011151509/https://usatodayhss.com/2015/img-academy-names-steve-walsh-as-director-of-football-and-kevin-wright-as-coach|url-status = live}} Wright guided the program to its first undefeated regular season (9–0) in 2015.{{cite web|title = IMG Academy Football Top Performers|url = http://www.bradenton.com/sports/article53849335.html|website = bradenton|access-date = February 17, 2016|archive-date = February 18, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160218152535/http://www.bradenton.com/sports/article53849335.html|url-status = live}}

IMG Academy offered an academy soccer program and year-round soccer camps from 1999 to 2017. IMG Academy was home to U.S. Soccer's full-time residency program for the United States' U-16 and U-17 men's national teams. It was integral in developing the United States' top youth soccer prospects. The Bradenton Academy grew from an initial twenty players to thirty in 2002 and then to forty in 2003. The program was split into a U-16 squad and a U-17 squad. The girls program was a member of the Girls Academy League.

The academy traced its roots back to Project 2010 which highlighted ways U.S. Soccer could make the senior men's national team a legitimate threat to win the World Cup by the end of the decade. Two programs that were born from Project 2010 were Generation Adidas (previously called Project-40) and the Bradenton Academy. The academy was started in January 1999 with the backing of IMG and Nike, but was closed in 2017 due to the proliferation of U.S. Development Academy programs.{{cite web|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/03/17/19/22/20170317-news-u17mnt-after-fulfilling-mission-us-soccer-residency-program-to-complete-final-semester|title=U.S. Soccer Residency Program Set to Complete Final Semester After 18 Years|website=Ussoccer.com|language=en|access-date=March 23, 2017|archive-date=March 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323233414/http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/03/17/19/22/20170317-news-u17mnt-after-fulfilling-mission-us-soccer-residency-program-to-complete-final-semester|url-status=live}}

IMG Academy has an academy baseball program and year-round camps, in addition to summer Wood Bat Leagues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imgacademy.com/boarding-school/athletics/baseball|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301030416/https://www.imgacademy.com/boarding-school/athletics/baseball|url-status=dead|title=IMG Academy Baseball Program | IMGAcademy.com|archivedate=March 1, 2022|website=IMG Academy}}

IMG Academy's postgraduate program played in their only appearance in the 2016 National Prep Championship in New Haven, Connecticut. Among the teams were Brewster Academy, DME Academy, Elev-8 Sports Institute, Fork Union Military Academy, Hargrave Military Academy, IMG Academy, Northfield Mount Hermon School, and more.{{cite web|title=National Prep Championship Field Announced|url=http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/national-prep-championship-field-announced-2|website=New Englang Recruiting Report|access-date=February 29, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011151517/https://newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/national-prep-championship-field-announced-2|url-status=live}} The head coach of IMG's national high school team is Sean McAloon, who previously was the head coach at St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C.

Its basketball alumni include Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell and Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, the 6th overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft. In 2017, IMG Academy had its first two selections to the McDonald's All American Game: Trevon Duval was selected to the boys game and Rellah Boothe was selected to the girls game. In 2018, Anfernee Simons entered directly from the academy to the 2018 NBA draft, becoming the second player in the academy's history to do so and the first American to enter and be selected in an NBA draft directly after graduating from high school since the league first implemented age restriction rules in 2005

During the preparation for the 2017 NBA draft, the IMG Academy hosted their first ever draft combine. The Professional Basketball Combine was held as an alternative (mainly for seniors) to measure their abilities and potentially give them the chance to enter the NBA, if not allow them the chance to play in the NBA G League or even overseas, with nearly every participant that year doing exactly that. Currently,{{When|date=February 2022}} four players that participated in the event signed two-way contracts to enter the NBA properly, with eight of them going overseas and 11 players entered the G League.{{cite web|url=http://www.professionalbasketballcombine.com/2017-pbc-participants.html|title=2017 PBC Participants|website=PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL COMBINE|access-date=April 19, 2019|archive-date=October 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011151554/https://www.professionalbasketballcombine.com/2017-pbc-participants.html|url-status=live}} The event would be held once again in 2018, gaining more popularity that year with the participation of former UCLA player and current professional player LiAngelo Ball.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2018/05/21/pro-basketball-combine-nba-draft-liangelo-ball-lavar-ball|title=LiAngelo Ball and a new lifeline for NBA hopefuls|website=Si.com|date=May 21, 2018 |access-date=April 19, 2019|archive-date=October 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011151511/https://www.si.com/nba/2018/05/21/pro-basketball-combine-nba-draft-liangelo-ball-lavar-ball|url-status=live}}

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire WNBA 2020 season was held there. Under a plan approved on June 15, the shortened 22-game regular season was held without fans present.{{cite web|date=2020-06-12|title=Report: The WNBA's New Proposal For The 2020 Season Includes Full Pay|url=https://uproxx.com/dimemag/wnba-new-proposal-to-start-season-includes-full-pay/|access-date=2020-06-14|website=UPROXX|language=en-US|archive-date=September 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907102216/https://uproxx.com/dimemag/wnba-new-proposal-to-start-season-includes-full-pay/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=2020-06-15|title=WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/mystics/wnba-announces-plans-2020-season-start-late-july-florida|access-date=2020-06-15|website=NBC Sports Washington|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804023337/https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/mystics/wnba-announces-plans-2020-season-start-late-july-florida|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet|user=WNBA|number=1281726367139278848|date=July 10, 2020|title=Basketball officially returns July 25th. Are you ready for #WNBA Tip-Off 2020 presented by @ATT#ATTtipoff}}

IMG Academy has an academy lacrosse program and year-round camps. IMG Academy launched a high school team in 2012, featuring a new women's program made in 2018. Notable alumni include Tehoka Nanticoke.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/lacrosse-men/article/2018-05-22/college-lacrosse-memory-grandparents-fuels-tehoka-nanticokes|title=Memory of grandparents fuels Tehoka Nanticoke's play for UAlbany - NCAA.com|website=Ncaa.com|access-date=April 19, 2019|archive-date=July 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710133028/https://www.ncaa.com/news/lacrosse-men/article/2018-05-22/college-lacrosse-memory-grandparents-fuels-tehoka-nanticokes|url-status=live}} Prior to that, IMG Academy hosted their first full-time lacrosse student-athlete, Matthew Xirinachs, starting in September 2010. Xirinachs went on to join the Drexel men's lacrosse team in fall 2011.{{cite web |url=http://insidelacrosse.com/news/2012/06/20/img-academy-field-first-lacrosse-team |title=IMG Academy to Field First Lacrosse Team |publisher=Inside Lacrosse |date=July 23, 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623040332/http://insidelacrosse.com/news/2012/06/20/img-academy-field-first-lacrosse-team |archive-date=June 23, 2012 }}

The women's team hired head coach Jeff McGuigan in July 2019.

IMG Academy has an academy track and field and cross country program and year-round camps.{{cite web |url=http://imgacademy.com/sports/track-and-field-and-cross-country |title=IMG Academy Track and Field Program - Running Training |website=Imgacademy.com |access-date=December 15, 2015 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116132837/https://www.imgacademy.com/sports/track-and-field-and-cross-country |url-status=live }}

In 2022, IMG Academy hired two-time Olympian Donald Suxho{{Citation |title=United States Olympic Committee |date= |url=https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/athletes/donald-suxho |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913004317/http://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/athletes/donald-suxho |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 13, 2014 |work=Team USA |access-date=2023-03-29 |language=en}} as Director of Volleyball to launch its entry into girls' indoor volleyball beginning in fall of 2023. The inaugural class of 29 girls included two teams that will compete in the 18U and 16U club circuit.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-24 |title=IMG Academy adds girls volleyball to the roster |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/sports/img-academy-adds-girls-volleyball-to-the-roster |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS) |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-24 |title=Videos |url=https://www.fox13news.com/video/1198087 |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=FOX 13 Tampa Bay |language=en-US}}

{{main|List of IMG Academy alumni}}

Since opening in 1978, IMG Academy has trained hundreds of Olympic and professional athletes, including those in the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, NWSL, ATP, WTA, PGA Tour and LPGA Tour.

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{{Commons}}

• {{Official website|http://www.imgacademy.com}}

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Category:IMG Academy

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