Founded by the famed Bollettieri Academy now operated by IMG, the Academics have been a consistently successful club in the Premier Development League with only one sub-.500 campaign in 10 years in the league, reaching the playoffs four times.

Playing at IMG Academy, the home of the US Soccer U-17 Residency Program, the Academics players are exposed to some of the best talent in the country and players such as Michael Parkhurst and Heath Pearce. The club also founded a W-League team, the Athletics, in 2004.