University of Connecticut Athletics
Establishing a legacy with UConn Athletics means making a lasting impact that supports generations of Huskies to come. Through endowed scholarships, endowed coaching positions, or planned gifts, donors have the opportunity to create meaningful, permanent contributions that strengthen the foundation of UConn's athletic programs. These types of gifts provide critical long-term financial stability, enabling the university to offer consistent support to student-athletes both on and off the field. They also serve as powerful tools for recruiting and retaining top-tier talent—ensuring UConn remains competitive at the highest levels. By investing today, you help shape a future of sustained excellence for UConn Athletics.
As part of the Because of UConn campaign, our goal is to raise our athletics endowment to $75 million through a combination of new endowed gifts, fully funding established endowments, as with an increased focus on planning giving. Below you will find information on the avenues needed to be taken to accomplish this goal.
TURNING PASSION INTO ACTION
The Romaniellos, who currently reside in St. Petersburg, Florida, recently put their passion into action by establishing the Star Kids Kathy and Geno Auriemma Scholarship to support women’s basketball players. The scholarship is fully endowed and will completely cover all costs of the present-day value of a full women’s basketball scholarship, an amount that has increased over time.
“With the UConn women’s basketball program, obviously you see the results on the court, but that’s not really the results we’re talking about,” Steve explains. “What we see is women coming out of the program with a work ethic. They’re determined. They’re adaptable. The experiences that they have through this program clearly position them for a better chance at success after basketball, in life more generally. And those are the results we’re looking for.”
ENDOWMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Partial Endowed Student-Athlete Scholarships
Threshold: $125,000 - $1.49 million
Endowed scholarships provide essential financial support for UConn student-athletes across all of our varsity programs. By expanding our pool of endowed scholarships, we can empower current and future Huskies to pursue their academic and athletic goals at the highest level. Donors also have the opportunity to make a lasting impact by endowing scholarships for specific teams, helping to strengthen individual programs while contributing to the overall success of UConn Athletics.
Full Endowed Student-Athlete Scholarships
Threshold: $1.5 million +
Full endowed scholarships provide critical financial support for UConn student-athletes across all of our varsity sports. Growing our endowed scholarship base will ensure that current and future Huskies have the opportunity to pursue a world-class education while competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics. Donors can choose to support the sport most meaningful to them by endowing a scholarship for a specific team. Those who establish a full endowed scholarship will be honored with a named student-athlete, creating a lasting and personal legacy within UConn Athletics.
Endowed Basketball Coaching Positions
Endowing the Women's and Men's Basketball Head Coaching positions or Assistant Coaching positions at UConn is a powerful way to support the nation’s premier basketball programs with lasting impact. This type of gift provides permanent funding to help retain and attract elite coaching talent, ensuring the program's continued success and national prominence. It also cements the donor’s legacy in UConn history, aligning their name with a storied tradition of excellence.
Position | Gift Amount | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Head Men's Basketball Coaching Position | $10 million | OPEN |
| Head Women's Basketball Coaching Position | $10 million | OPEN |
| Assistant Men's Basketball Coaching Position(s) | $1 million | OPEN |
| Assistant Women's Basketball Coaching Position(s) | $1 million | OPEN |
Endowed Football Coaching Positions
Endowing the Head or Assistant Coaching positions within UConn Football is a meaningful way to support the continued rise of a program built on pride, tradition, and statewide loyalty. This type of gift provides lasting financial resources to help attract and retain top coaching talent, ensuring sustained success on the field and continued momentum for the program. It also offers donors a unique opportunity to leave a legacy tied to the resurgence of Connecticut’s team, strengthening UConn Football’s foundation for generations to come.
| Position | Gift Amount | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Head Football Coaching Position | $5 million | OPEN |
| Assistant Football Coaching Position | $500,000 | OPEN |
PLANNED GIVING
Making a planned gift to UConn Athletics is a meaningful way to leave a lasting legacy while supporting the future success of Husky student-athletes. These gifts—whether through a will, trust, retirement account, or other estate planning vehicle—allow donors to make a significant impact without affecting their current financial situation. Planned gifts provide long-term resources that enhance scholarships, coaching, facilities, and programmatic support, helping UConn remain competitive across all sports. By including UConn Athletics in your estate plans, you ensure that your values and passion for the Huskies will benefit generations to come.
For questions about giving a gift to establish an endowed fund or planned gift, please call the Husky Athletic Fund at 860-486-7172 or email Ted Woodward at twoodward@foundation.uconn.edu.
