University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Greg Roy Announces Retirement
3/2/2022 5:02:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
STORRS, Conn. – After 37 years at UConn, Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Greg Roy has announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2022 outdoor track and field season.
"It has been an honor to serve the University of Connecticut and the Division of Athletics for the past 37 years," said Roy. "To have experienced the University-wide renaissance and be a part of the evolution of all UConn Athletics has been a thrill. At the core of that experience are the student-athletes. I started my coaching career in a quest to 'Give Back' what I had received through my own athletic experience. I found that to be an impossible task. No matter how much I thought I had given, the student-athletes always gave more back. To them I will be eternally grateful and thank them for allowing me to be a part of their lives. I thank everyone who has helped me throughout my career, especially those I have had the pleasure to work and coach with at UConn. Go Huskies!"
"Greg Roy is one of the most successful coaches in the history of UConn athletics," director of athletics David Benedict said. "In his 37 years as head coach, his teams have captured 18 conference championships and 27 New England Championships, while 26 student-athletes have earned at least one All-America honor. Along the way, he has served as a tremendous ambassador for the University, and has made a positive impact on countless student-athletes and coaches. We will miss Greg but I'm pleased to know he isn't done quite yet. Fresh off of a pair of BIG EAST Indoor Championships, I'm sure our men's and women's track & field teams will be eager to send Coach Roy out in style by adding a couple more championships to his resume during the outdoor season."
Coach Roy began his career at UConn in 1985 when he was named the Head Men's Cross-Country Coach and an Assistant Coach with the track program. He was elevated to the Men's Head Track & Field Coach in 1989 and in 2019, he assumed his current role as Director of Cross Country and Track & Field, overseeing the combining of the Huskies' men and women's programs.
During his tenure, Roy's teams won 18 conference championships, most recently claiming the 2022 BIG EAST men's and women's indoor championship last week. He has led his teams to 16 BIG EAST titles, 11 indoor and five outdoor. UConn made its return to the conference last season and announced their return with a record-breaking win at the 2021 BIG EAST Outdoor Championship. The Huskies set new BIG EAST records for total team points, piling up 294, and individual event champions with 12 title winners.
The Huskies also won a pair of American Athletic Conference crowns during the UConn's time in the league, taking the 2014 indoor title and the 2015 outdoor crown, winning it at home in Storrs at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex.
His teams also claimed 25 NEICAAA New England Indoor Championships as well as a pair of outdoor championships as well, winning at home in Storrs in 1998 and 1999. The Huskies won five IC4A indoor title, two outdoor championships and a cross country crown as well.
Under his tutelage, UConn has had 44 All-American performances in cross country and track and field with 10 student-athletes in the program achieving All-American status 15 times.
Among his many coaching accolades, he and his coaching staff were named the BIG EAST or AAC Coaching Staff of the Year 19 times, most recently earning the award on the both the men's and women's side at last week's BIG EAST Championships. He was named the NCAA District I Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1990, the NCAA District I Outdoor Track Coach of the year in 1996 and the NCAA District I Indoor Track Coach of the year four times (1990, 1994, 1997, 1999). He was also named the NCAA Northeast Region Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002.
A national search to identify Roy's successor will begin at the conclusion of the outdoor season.
37 seasons at UConn
2019 – Named Director of Cross Country and Track & Field
1989 – Named Head Track & Field Coach
1985 – Named Assistant Track Coach at UConn / Head Cross Country Coach
BIG EAST Championships (16 – 11 indoor/5 outdoor)
1980 Indoor
1982 Outdoor
1997 Indoor
2002 Indoor
2002 Outdoor
2004 Indoor
2006 Indoor
2008 Indoor
2009 Indoor
2011 Indoor
2011 Outdoor
2013 Indoor
2013 Outdoor
2021 Outdoor
2022 Indoor (M/W)
American Athletic Conference Championships
2014 Indoor
2015 Outdoor
New England Championships – 27 (25 Indoor/2 Outdoor)
IC4A Championships – 8 (5 Indoor/2 Outdoor/1 Cross Country)
Coaching Awards
NCAA District I Indoor Track Staff of the Year, 1989-90
New England Indoor Track Staff of the Year, 1989-90
NCAA District I Cross Country Coach of the Year, 1990
New England Cross Country Coach of the Year, 1990
NCAA District I Outdoor Track Coach of the Year, 1996
NCAA District I Indoor Track Coach of the Year 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999
USTFCCCA Northeast Region Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, 1999-2001, 2009, 2011, 2021
USTFCCCA Northeast Region Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, 2001, 2021
NCAA Northeast Region Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, 2001-2002
Conference Indoor Staff of the Year, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014. 2022 (M/W)
Conference Outdoor Staff of the Year, 2001, 2002, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2021
All-Americans
Andy Ball - Cross Country, 1990
Dudley Dorival - 110m Hurdles, 1995, 1996, 1997 / 55m Hurdles, 1996
Travis Landreth - Cross Country, 1997
Steve Santoli - 35lb. Weight, 1998
Ray Wilks - Shot Put, 1999
Haven Barnes - Distance Medley, 2000
Elliot Blount - Distance Medley, 2000
Kevin Jensen - Distance Medley, 2000
Dan Wilson - Distance Medley, 2000 / Cross Country, 2000, 2001 / Mile, 2002 / 1500m, 2002
Joe Mendel - 400m, 2002, 2003
Paul Pisano - Javelin, 2002, 2003
Will Thomas - Decathlon, 2002, 2003 / Heptathlon, 2004
Mike Deibler - High Jump, 2003
Logan Jones - 800m, 2004
Joel Legare - 800m, 2004, 2006
Brian Gagnon - 800m, 2008, 2009
Mike Rutt - 800m, 2008, 2009, 2011
Marquis Thomas - High Jump, 2009
Jesse Chapman - Decathlon, 2013
Alvaro Chavez – 800m, 2014
Eric Masington – Discus, 2014
Craig Hunter – Pole Vault, 2015, 2016, 2018
Cory Duggan – Pole Vault, 2015
Safir Scott – High Jump, 2018 / Long Jump, 2021
Travis Snyder – Pole Vault, 2021
Jordan Torney – Decathlon, 2021
Players Mentioned
