UConn AD Highlights 'Competitive Success, 'Fundraising Growth' Amid 'Changing College Sports Landscape

STORRS, CT — University of Connecticut Director of Athletics David Benedict Monday said the university’s athletic department is continuing to thrive amid sweeping changes in college athletics, pointing to competitive success, record fundraising and major facility investments in a letter released to supporters.

In a message to "UConn Nation," Benedict said the past five years have brought some of the most significant changes in the history of collegiate sports, citing the introduction of name, image and likeness compensation, the transfer portal and revenue-sharing models that have dramatically altered the landscape for athletic programs nationwide.

Despite those changes, Benedict said UConn has maintained its competitive standing through strong donor support and continued investment in student-athletes and athletic programs.

During the 2025-26 academic year, Benedict highlighted several major athletic accomplishments across the university’s 21 varsity programs.

Among the achievements, eight Husky teams captured a combined 10 conference regular season or tournament championships. The football program reached its second consecutive bowl game after posting back-to-back nine-win seasons.

Both UConn Huskies men's basketball and UConn Huskies women's basketball advanced to their respective Final Fours, marking the sixth time both programs accomplished that feat in the same season.

UConn was also the only NCAA Division I school in the country to have its men’s and women’s basketball teams, along with both men’s and women’s ice hockey programs, qualify for NCAA Tournament competition, according to Benedict.

Eleven student-athletes across nine sports earned All-America honors during the year. Benedict also highlighted two major national award winners: Sarah Strong, who was named national player of the year in women’s basketball, and Tia Chan, who earned national goalie of the year honors in women’s ice hockey.

Academic performance also remained strong, Benedict said. UConn student-athletes posted a cumulative 3.38 grade point average following the Spring 2026 semester. Eighteen teams and roughly 75 percent of student-athletes recorded semester GPAs above 3.0, while 69 athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.

On the fundraising front, Benedict said UConn athletics expects another milestone year when the fiscal year closes. Over the last five years, the department has received nearly $200 million in donations supporting approximately 600 student-athletes.

Membership in the Husky Athletic Fund has grown by 56 percent during that same period, with more than 9,300 current donors supporting the program.

The university has also invested more than $400 million in athletic facilities over the last decade, he said. Major ongoing projects include renovations at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, where upgraded locker rooms, meeting spaces, roof modernization and expanded concession areas are expected to be completed before the upcoming basketball season.

Additional long-term projects include the Bailey Student-Athlete Success Center, scheduled to open in early 2027, which will house academic support services, sports medicine, nutrition resources and mental health services for student-athletes.

Other recently completed or ongoing projects include a new locker room at the UConn Tennis Complex, construction of a new rowing boathouse and two new synthetic turf practice fields for the football program.

Looking ahead, Benedict said the university is focused heavily on the 2026 football season under new head coach Jason Candle.

The upcoming home schedule includes games against the University of North Carolina in football, Syracuse in and Maryland in football.

Benedict said while the future of college athletics "continues to evolve, UConn remains committed to maintaining what he described as a championship culture while providing student-athletes with the best possible college experience in Storrs."