A Message From Director of Athletics
Jeffrey A. Hathaway
 Dear
Friends of UConn Athletics:
We are pleased to welcome you to
UConnHuskies.com. At UConn, we have adapted the motto: “Today’s
Student-Athletes…Tomorrow’s Leaders.” This reflects our core
philosophy --- for our student-athletes to earn their UConn degree, to give our
student-athletes the opportunity to compete in their chosen sport at the highest
level and for our student-athletes to be leaders in society.
Our mission is clearly focused
on developing our student-athletes into well-rounded individuals. Success in
athletics is certainly important, but the objective is much loftier. We want our
Husky student-athletes to achieve academically and be active members of the
community.
Through academics, community
service and athletics, we can make an extremely positive impact upon our
student-athletes and prepare them for life after college. The lessons learned
as a student-athlete in any of our 24 sports at UConn will last a lifetime. We
profile five student-athletes in this year’s report to illustrate the wonderful
young people who wear the Husky blue and white.
The outstanding tradition of
Husky athletics continued again this year. UConn teams participated in NCAA
Championship play in four team sports and four individual sports. The Husky
field hockey team competed in the NCAA national semifinals, our women’s
basketball team advanced to the Elite Eight, and our men’s and women’s soccer
teams continued their long tradition of NCAA Tournament play. Individuals from
both our men’s and women’s cross country teams as well as our women’s indoor and
outdoor track and field squads took part in the NCAAs.
In BIG EAST competition, the
field hockey team won the conference tournament, while the women’s basketball
squad won the regular season championship.
Once again, more than 40 percent
of our 650 student-athletes earned a 3.0 “B-or-better” grade-point average in
either or both the fall and spring semesters. Our student-athletes are active in
numerous outreach activities, including the collection of coats, books, toys and
food for those in need of assistance.
For the second consecutive year,
we were honored by the National Consortium for Academics and Sport (NCAS) for
our efforts to assist former student-athletes in completing their UConn degrees.
We were also recognized by the NCAS for our community service initiatives.
There is great pride in two new
facilities that opened on campus in 2006 – The Burton Family Football Complex
and the Mark R. Shenkman Training Center. The Division of Athletics received
Environmental Leadership Awards for the design and construction of these
buildings.
I am especially grateful to our
wonderful coaches. They are outstanding educators, leaders and mentors who are
constantly focused on the development of our student-athletes.
UConn made history again as
women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame this past September. Along with men’s basketball coach
Jim Calhoun, a 2005 inductee, we are the only university to boast two active
Hall of Fame basketball coaches.
A number of other UConn coaches,
including Bill Morgan of women’s track and field, softball’s Karen Mullins, Greg
Roy of men’s track and field, rowing’s Jennifer Sanford-Wendry and field
hockey’s Nancy Stevens, received outstanding honors and celebrated milestones
this year.
Our great University continues
to enhance its strong national reputation. Special thanks to President Austin,
whose vision has lifted our University to unprecedented heights during his
tenure. The Division also extends sincere appreciation to UConn’s students,
faculty, staff and administrative team for enabling our institution to achieve
campuswide excellence. In addition, we offer a warm welcome to the University’s
14th President, Dr. Michael J. Hogan, as he joins the UConn community.
Thank you for your continuing
commitment to UConn Athletics and our student-athletes. Your support helps these
deserving young men and women enjoy an exceptional college experience, both
academically and athletically. With your ongoing commitment to the Division of
Athletics, we will continue to fulfill our mission of developing today’s
student-athletes into tomorrow’s leaders.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Hathaway
Director of Athletics |
