University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Mourns The Passing Of Former Coach, Administrator Ron DuBois
11/4/2022 5:02:00 PM | General
WAKEFIELD, R.I. -- Colonel Ron Dubois, a distinguished military leader and a valued member of the University of Connecticut Athletic staff for four decades as both a coach and administrator, passed away peacefully Thursday (Nov. 3, 2022) at South County Hospital in Wakefield, R.I., surrounded by his loving family. He was 88 years old.
Ron Dubois (known as "The Colonel" to friends and colleagues) enjoyed a 29-year military career that spanned the globe, rising to the rank of Colonel. He commanded battalion-sized units, and although a career field artillery officer, he earned a combat infantry badge in Vietnam, amongst other combat awards.
Dubois served two tours of duty each at the Pentagon and in the former West Germany.
For his final tour, Dubois came to Storrs to administer the U.S. Army ROTC Program for the state of Connecticut.
Before retiring from the Army in 1982 he had already began his lengthy second career that spanned four decades in various key roles within the UConn Division of Athletics.
He launched his involvement with UConn Athletics in 1978, serving as an assistant men's ice hockey coach from 1978-85. From 1984-87, he was Associate Director of the UConn Athletic Development Fund, working with his close friend Dee Rowe.
During the 1987-88 academic year, Dubois was Assistant AD for Facilities and Finance, directing the UConn Athletic budget and becoming UConn's supervisor as the construction of Gampel Pavilion began.
From 1988 until his appointment in the summer of 2002 as head men's golf coach, Dubois served as Associate Director of Athletics for Operations and Facilities. In that role Dubois was the day-to-day liaison on all athletic facility improvement projects that took place over a 15-year span. Included in those projects were Gampel Pavilion, construction of both the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex and the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum, renovations to J.O. Christian Field (baseball) and Morrone Stadium (soccer), and renovations and remodeling of the Hugh S. Greer Field House, Guyer Gymnasium and Brundage Pool.
In 2002, Dubois began a successful five-year span as head coach of the UConn Men's Golf program that underwent a resurgence during his tenure, capturing tournament titles in three different seasons, including the 2004 New England Fall Championship. Seven different Husky golfers earned medalist honors in the five seasons under his leadership.
"We were so sad to learn of the passing of Coach Dubois," said current UConn golf coach Dave Pezzino, who took over the program when Dubois retired. "Ron was a great supporter of my teams and was a fixture at our annual team fundraiser at Shelter Harbor. He was truly a lifelong Husky, serving in so many roles as a coach and an administrator. We will miss him greatly."
