Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics

VCU competes in NCAA Division I, meaning big-time college athletics with full scholarships and serious competition. The Rams field 13 varsity sports with 397 total athletes, representing just 1.9% of the student body. VCU plays in the Atlantic 10 Conference and awards over $8.2 million in athletic scholarships annually. The basketball program gained national attention with its improbable Final Four run in 2011 under coach Shaka Smart. That Cinderella story put VCU on the map and created lasting excitement around the program. The school maintains a crosstown rivalry with the University of Richmond. While athletics don't dominate campus culture like at traditional sports powerhouses, VCU basketball games can generate real energy in downtown Richmond when the team is performing well.