History of IMG Academy in Timeline

IMG Academy is a preparatory boarding school and sports training facility located in Bradenton, Florida. Spanning over 600 acres, it offers various programs including sports camps for young athletes and adults, a boarding school with a post-graduate/gap-year option, events, and professional/collegiate training. Additionally, IMG Academy provides services such as group hosting and corporate retreats, catering to a wide range of athletic and educational needs.

1978: Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy Founded

In 1978, Nick Bollettieri founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

1978: Opening of IMG Academy

Since opening in 1978, IMG Academy has trained hundreds of Olympic and professional athletes.

1987: IMG Purchases Academy

In 1987, the sports company IMG purchased the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

1987: Wimbledon and U.S. Open Participants

In 1987, thirty-two academy students or former students were in the Wimbledon draw and twenty-seven were in the U.S. Open.

1993: Acquisition of David Leadbetter Golf Academy

In 1993, IMG acquired the youth division of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy.

1994: Addition of Soccer and Baseball Programs

In 1994, IMG added programs for soccer and baseball to the academy.

January 1999: Start of Bradenton Academy

In January 1999, the Bradenton Academy was started with the backing of IMG and Nike.

1999: Start of Soccer Program

IMG Academy offered an academy soccer program and year-round soccer camps starting in 1999.

1999: Founding of IMG Pendleton School

In 1999, the IMG Pendleton School was founded as a co-educational, college preparatory school for athletic students.

2000: Addition of Hockey Program

In 2000, IMG added a hockey program to the academy.

2001: Addition of Basketball Program

In 2001, IMG added a basketball program to the academy.

2002: Campus Expansion

By 2002, the IMG campus had expanded to 190 acres (0.77 km).

2002: Growth of the Bradenton Academy

In 2002, the Bradenton Academy grew from an initial twenty players to thirty.

2003: Suspension of Hockey Program

In 2003, IMG Academy suspended its hockey program.

2003: Growth of the Bradenton Academy

In 2003, the Bradenton Academy grew from thirty players to forty, and the program was split into a U-16 squad and a U-17 squad.

2005: NBA Age Restriction Rules Implemented

In 2005, the NBA first implemented age restriction rules.

March 2010: Announcement of John Madden Football Academy

In March 2010, IMG announced the John Madden Football Academy.

September 2010: First Full-Time Lacrosse Student-Athlete

In September 2010, IMG Academy hosted their first full-time lacrosse student-athlete, Matthew Xirinachs.

2010: Project 2010

In 2010, IMG 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.

2010: Addition of Football and Lacrosse Programs

In 2010, IMG added football and lacrosse programs.

2011: Land Acquisition for Expansion

In 2011, IMG paid $7.5 million for an additional 110 acres (45 ha) adjacent to the current campus for future expansion.

2011: Matthew Xirinachs joins Drexel Men's Lacrosse Team

In Fall 2011, Matthew Xirinachs went on to join the Drexel men's lacrosse team.

2012: Launch of High School Lacrosse Team

In 2012, IMG Academy launched a high school lacrosse team.

2012: School Renamed IMG Academy

In 2012, the IMG Pendleton School changed its name to "IMG Academy".

2013: First High School Football Team

In 2013, IMG Academy fielded a high school football team for the first time. MaxPreps also called IMG Academy the "nation's top high school football facility" in 2013.

2013: Addition of Track & Field and Cross Country Programs

In 2013, IMG added track & field and cross country programs.

2014: Additional Land Purchased

In 2014, IMG purchased an additional 24 acres (9.7 ha) bordering the west campus for a $198 million expansion of the sports performance academy.

2015: Kevin Wright Named Head Coach

In 2015, Kevin Wright was named head coach after Chris Weinke accepted a position as quarterbacks coach with the then-St. Louis Rams. Wright guided the program to its first undefeated regular season (9–0) in 2015.

2016: National Prep Championship Appearance

In 2016, IMG Academy's postgraduate program made its only appearance in the National Prep Championship in New Haven, Connecticut.

2017: End of Soccer Program

In 2017, IMG Academy ended their academy soccer program and year-round soccer camps.

2017: McDonald's All American Game Selections

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. Also, Jonathan Isaac was the 6th overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft.

2017: First Draft Combine Hosted

In 2017, IMG Academy hosted their first ever draft combine, the Professional Basketball Combine, as an alternative for seniors to measure their abilities and potentially enter the NBA.

2017: Closure of Bradenton Academy

In 2017, the Bradenton Academy was closed due to the proliferation of U.S. Development Academy programs.

2018: Anfernee Simons Enters NBA Draft

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.

2018: New Women's Program

In 2018, IMG Academy made a new women's lacrosse program.

2018: Second Draft Combine Hosted

In 2018, the Professional Basketball Combine was held once again, gaining more popularity with the participation of LiAngelo Ball.

2018: Start of Tuition Fee Violations

Starting in 2018, IMG Academy accepted tuition fees from two students whose parents were sanctioned for providing financial support to a Mexican drug trafficking organization; these violations continued until 2022.

July 2019: Hiring of Women's Team Head Coach

In July 2019, the women's lacrosse team hired head coach Jeff McGuigan.

2019: Tennis Programs Led by Rohan Goetzke

In 2019, IMG Academy's tennis programs, offering year-round tennis camps, were led by director Rohan Goetzke. The campus included 35 outdoor hard courts, 5 indoor hard courts, and 16 green clay courts.

June 15, 2020: Approval of WNBA Season Plan

On June 15, 2020, the plan to hold the entire WNBA 2020 season at IMG Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic was approved.

2021: Football Team Victory Against Bishop Sycamore

In 2021, IMG Academy's football team won against Bishop Sycamore with a score of 58–0, leading to scrutiny and questions about Bishop Sycamore's existence.

2022: End of Tuition Fee Violations

In 2022, IMG Academy ended accepting tuition fees from two students whose parents were sanctioned for providing financial support to a Mexican drug trafficking organization; these violations started in 2018.

2022: Hiring of Director of Volleyball

In 2022, IMG Academy hired two-time Olympian Donald Suxho as Director of Volleyball to launch its entry into girls' indoor volleyball.

April 2023: Endeavor Announces Sale of IMG Academy

In April 2023, Endeavor announced the sale of IMG Academy to BPEA EQT for $1.26 billion.

April 25, 2023: Endeavor Agrees to Sell IMG Academy

On April 25, 2023, Endeavor agreed to sell IMG Academy to private equity firm BPEA EQT at a value of $1.25 billion.

June 2023: Sale of IMG Academy Completed

In June 2023, the sale of IMG Academy to BPEA EQT was completed.

June 28, 2023: Deal Completed

On June 28, 2023, the deal to sell IMG Academy to BPEA EQT was completed.

2023: Addition of Girls' Volleyball

In 2023, IMG Academy successfully added girls' volleyball.

2023: Inaugural Class of Girls' Volleyball

In Fall of 2023, the inaugural class of 29 girls included two teams that will compete in the 18U and 16U club circuit.

2025: Addition of New Sport

In 2025, IMG Academy has announced the addition of its third new sport.

2025: Launch of Softball Program

In 2025, IMG Academy is set to launch softball, to further enhance opportunities for female athletes.

2025: Introduction of Boys' Volleyball Summer Camps

In 2025, IMG Academy will introduce boys' volleyball with summer camps.

February 12, 2026: OFAC Announces Fine for IMG Academy

On February 12, 2026, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that IMG Academy agreed to pay $1.72 million in fines to settle 89 apparent violations of counter-narcotics sanctions.

2026: Start of Wrestling Program

In 2026, IMG Academy announced the start of its wrestling program. It will begin with spring and summer camps in 2026 and with the boarding school program in the fall of 2026.