University of Connecticut Athletics
Another Great Year to be a Husky
6/22/2026 10:00:00 AM | General
A Message from Director of Athletics David Benedict
Dear UConn Nation,
The past five years have arguably been the most transformational in the history of collegiate athletics. From the introduction of NIL opportunities to the transfer portal to revenue sharing, the metamorphosis has been staggering. On one hand, it is heartening to see how student-athletes have been able to drive personal branding and enjoy financial benefits associated with their name, image and likeness. Yet, the sudden, seismic shifts in our industry have also shaken many athletic departments across the country, resulting in an assortment of outcomes, including some familiar schools suffering competitively.Â
Fortunately, the intense determination and charitable spirit of all those who bleed blue have allowed us to navigate the somewhat turbulent waters of change and maintain the winning tradition that has been such a source of pride for the Husky faithful. We feel truly blessed to have such passionate supporters who are dedicated to our greatness and understand the teamwork required to stay on top.
The 2025-26 academic year has reflected the excellence that is synonymous with UConn Athletics:
- 8 Husky teams won a total of 10 conference regular season and/or tournament championships
- Football advanced to its 2nd straight bowl game after a 2nd consecutive 9-win season
- Men's and Women's Basketball both advanced to their respective Final Four in the same year for the 6th time
- UConn was the only Division I school in the nation to have its men's and women's basketball teams and men's and women's ice hockey teams advance to NCAA Tournament play
- 11 student-athletes across 9 sports earned All-America honors
- 2 student-athletes earned prestigious national awards: Sarah Strong from Women's Basketball was named the national player of the year and Tia Chan from Women's Ice Hockey was named the national goalie of the year
Our prideful achievements extended to the classroom as well. The cumulative student-athlete grade point average following the Spring 2026 semester is an impressive 3.38. In the semester just completed, 18 teams and 75% of our total student-athlete population achieved over a 3.0 grade point average with 69 Huskies earning a perfect 4.0 semester GPA. It takes a village, and we are grateful to our coaches and staff, especially our academic counselors, for promoting and encouraging academic achievement.
When the fiscal year closes, we expect it to be another milestone mark in terms of fundraising. Over the past five years, nearly $200 million in gifts have helped us create an exceptional and memorable journey for our nearly 600 student-athletes. In that same time period, the number of Husky Athletic Fund members has grown by 56%, and today, we have more than 9,300 benefactors. If you haven't yet joined our UConn family as a donor, please consider a gift of any size to help us be the best we can be.
Over $400 million in capital investments over the last 10 years have resulted in state-of-the-art training and competition venues, which elevate the experience for student-athletes and fans alike. As many of you are aware, we are in the midst of a significant renovation of Gampel Pavilion. The current project includes upgraded team locker rooms and meeting spaces, roof modernization and grab-and-go concession areas which are expected to be completed for the upcoming basketball season. Late in 2027, we will unveil new donor hospitality spaces and a student-athlete training table.Â
The Bailey Student-Athlete Success Center, which will house the Nayden Center for Academic Excellence, will open in early 2027. This facility will include dedicated areas to enhance the holistic development and overall well-being of our student-athletes, such as sports medicine, nutrition and mental health. The Bailey Center will also include coaches' offices, locker rooms and training spaces for many of our Olympic sports. We also recently completed construction of a new on-site locker room at the UConn Tennis Complex, broke ground on a new rowing boathouse, and, thanks to the generosity of one of our many dedicated donors, the final touches are being put on two new synthetic turf practice fields on campus for our football team.
While all of our 21 Husky teams prepare for what promises to be another outstanding year, we are eagerly anticipating the football season this fall, under the leadership of new head coach Jason Candle. The coaching staff has hit the ground running, assembling a squad that is excited to compete and maintain the upward trajectory of the program. The 2026 home schedule is the most attractive in years, with North Carolina, Syracuse and Maryland all coming to East Hartford. If you're a football season ticket holder, we truly appreciate your support. If not, please reserve your seats today. The continued success of our football program remains critically important to our future.Â
The college athletics landscape continues to evolve and reshape itself. And it's not entirely clear how or where it will all land. Through any period of transition, the most successful organizations embrace change and proactively position themselves for ongoing success. At UConn, we will always keep our eyes on the prize. That is, to provide our student-athletes with the very best possible college experience here in Storrs and foster a championship culture that permeates everything we do.Â
Thank you for believing in our mission and supporting the young men and women who wear the UConn uniform. We look forward to the coming academic year, cheering with you for the white-and-blue and sharing more memorable moments together.
Sincerely,
Director of Athletics
