University of Connecticut Athletics
Men's Track and Field
- Title:
- Assistant Athletic Director of Athletics Administration
- Email:
- czuppani@uconn.edu
- Sport Administration:
- Field Hockey, Cross Country and Track & Field, Men's Basketball (Secondary)
Catherine Zuppani is entering her eighth year at UConn and was recently promoted to associate athletic director of external operations and NIL strategy in September 2024, after serving as assistant athletic director of administration from October 2021 – August 2024.
In her role, Zuppani is a lead partner in NIL at UConn including overseeing its strategy, brand management, student-athlete education, group licensing, and all day-to-day NIL operations for the department across all 19 athletic programs. She also serves as the administrator for field hockey, M/W track and field and women’s cross country, and is the secondary administrator for Men’s Basketball.
In addition, she is a member of Athletic Director David Benedict’s executive and senior leadership team and provides direct day-to-day advisement for both David and Deputy AD/Chief Operating Officer, Jason Butikofer. This includes coordinating and executing special projects and department-wide strategic planning initiatives.
Prior to Zuppani’s new role in administration from 2021-24, she oversaw all day-to-day event and facility operations for UConn’s 21 athletic programs from 2019-2021. This included oversight of all internal and external events, graphic enhancement projects, facility projects, and was the primary scheduling contact for all athletic team practices, camps, clinics, Conference and NCAA Championships. During that time, Zuppani was also the lead on the athletic village capital project which included the Rizza Performance Center, Morrone Stadium, Elliot Ballpark, Softball Complex, and Rec Field. Prior to her promotion to assistant athletic director of operations & facilities in August 2019, she began her journey in Storrs as director of event management in May of 2017.
Prior to moving back to the northeast, Zuppani previously served as the coordinator of event management at Auburn University for two seasons and was responsible for the event operations, game management, SEC and NCAA Championships for equestrian, women’s basketball and gymnastics programs, among other duties. She also played a major role in coordinating and executing gameday for football at Auburn, including the management of the Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt, and Old Dominion concert held in Jordan-Hare Stadium in April 2016.
Zuppani received a bachelor’s in sport management with a minor in business administration from High Point University in 2012 before earning her Master’s in sport management as an operations and facilities graduate assistant for the University Athletic Association (UAA) at the University of Florida in 2015.
