Connecticut Huskies
Encyclopedia
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut
in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association
Division I and the Big East Conference
for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey (Atlantic Hockey
) and Women's Ice Hockey (Hockey East
). The major sports at the university are football (played at Rentschler Field) and men's and women's basketball (played on-campus at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion
and off-campus at the XL Center), although many of the other sports have large followings and a tradition of success.
", a name adopted in 1934 after the school's name changed from Connecticut Agricultural College to Connecticut State College in 1933; before then, the teams were referred to as the Aggies. Though there is a homophonic relationship between "UConn" and the Yukon
, where Huskies are native, the "Huskies" nickname predates the school's 1939 name change to the University of Connecticut; the first recorded use of "UConn" (as "U-Conn", both separately and with "Huskies") was later in 1939.
UConn's women's teams are not known as the "Lady Huskies," but simply as "UConn Huskies," the same as the men's team.
's Division I-A and in the Big East Conference
, except for hockey
, which is not sponsored by the Big East. The men's hockey program competes in Atlantic Hockey
and the women's hockey program is a member of Hockey East
. There has been speculation that Connecticut will follow both Syracuse University
and University of Pittsburgh
and join the Atlantic Coast Conference
.
The most notable athletic facilities are:
team had the second-highest team GPA in the country in 2004, and numerous UConn student-athletes, including former basketball star Emeka Okafor
, have been named Academic All-Americans.
UConn is best known for having its men's and women's basketball teams consistently ranked in or near the top 10 in the nation in their respective divisions. The men's team (coached by Jim Calhoun
) won the NCAA Div. I title in 1999, 2004, and 2011, and the women won in 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, and 2010, including undefeated seasons in 1995, 2002, 2009, and 2010. Kemba Walker, Emeka Okafor, Richard Hamilton
, Ray Allen
, Clifford Robinson
, Ben Gordon, Caron Butler
, Denham Brown
, Charlie Villanueva
, Kevin Ollie
, Hilton Armstrong
, Donyell Marshall
, Marcus Williams, Rudy Gay
, Josh Boone
, Travis Knight
, Jake Voskuhl
, are among the list of professional basketball players to achieve success after attending UConn.
As of 2009, UConn has officially become a Nike
sponsored school, signing a 10-year, $46 million contract.
as head coach. Under the tutelage of Auriemma, UConn has become one of the few schools that consistently competes for the national title in women's basketball. The Huskies are also part of one of the fiercest rivalries
in all of women's college sports. In the rivalry between UConn and the University of Tennessee
, there is no love lost between Auriemma and Tennessee
coach Pat Summitt
. The two schools have faced each other seven times in the NCAA Tournament, and four times in the NCAA Championship Game. UConn leads 5–2 in those games including a 4–0 record in the finals. UConn leads the all-time series 13–8. Summitt ended the regular season series in the summer of 2007. It is unknown why the series was ended, but media outlets reported that Tennessee reported to the NCAA that UConn committed minor recruiting infractions with the recruitment of Maya Moore which included a tour of ESPN while Moore was a junior in high school. Rebecca Lobo
, Jennifer Rizzotti
, Svetlana Abrosimova
, Shea Ralph
, Nykesha Sales
, Kelly Schumacher
, Swin Cash
, Kara Wolters
, Tamika Raymond, Diana Taurasi
, Asjha Jones
, Sue Bird
, Ann Strother
, Barbara Turner
, Jessica Moore
, Ashley Battle
, Barbara Turner
, Ketia Swanier
, Charde Houston
, Tina Charles
, Kalana Greene
and Renee Montgomery
are among the women's professional basketball players or WNBA draftees that attended UConn.
In 2002, UConn became the only school ever to have 4 women drafted among the top 10 of the first round of the 2002 WNBA draft, with National Player of the Year Sue Bird drafted 1st, Swin Cash drafted 2nd, Asjha Jones drafted 4th, and Tamika Williams Raymond drafted 6th. The 5th starter on the UConn 2002 NCAA championship team was future No. 1 WNBA draft choice and future 2-time National Player of the Year Diana Taurasi. A total of 11 UConn alumnae play in the WNBA in the 2010 season.
In 2004, UConn became the second school ever, and the first in Division I, to win the men's NCAA National Championship and the women's basketball title in the same season. It was also the first school to ever have both teams ranked number 1 in the nation at the same time (during the 1994–95 season), and has also spent the most weeks by far with both teams holding the number one spot, with the Duke Blue Devils
being the only other team ever to achieve the feat, for a short period during the 2003–2004 season.
In 2006, UConn became the third school ever to have 4 players drafted in Round 1 of the NBA Draft
, and the first school ever to have 5 players selected in the two-round draft. In the first round, Rudy Gay
, Hilton Armstrong
, Marcus Williams and Josh Boone
were selected. In the second round, Denham Brown
was selected. It should also be noted that Rashad Anderson
also entered the NBA draft and will play for a leading European professional team in the 2006–2007 season.
In 2008, freshman Maya Moore
made history by being named Big East Player of the Year, the first time a freshman was so honored in either men's or women's basketball. She was named Big East Player of the Year again in 2009.
UConn women entered the 2008–2009 season ranked No. 1 in all national polls. They finished the season ranked as No. 1 as well, winning the national championship, finishing the season with a perfect 39–0 record, while winning every game by 10 points or more(BB). At the end of the year, Maya Moore
swept the National Player of the Year honors, receiving the Wooden, Wade and Naismith Awards, and she, Renee Montgomery
and Tina Charles
were named to various All-America teams. Coach Geno Auriemma
received his record sixth recognition as the National Coach of the Year.
UConn women entered the 2009–2010 season ranked No. 1 in all the national polls, and remained ranked No. 1 every week for the entire season. They finished the season as the first back-to-back undefeated National Champions, beating No. 2 Stanford at the San Antonio Alamodome. UConn also set the national consecutive victory record at 78 when it won its 7th National Championship at the Alamodome.
UConn women entered the 2010–2011 season ranked No. 1 in all the national polls. On December 19, 2010, the UConn Huskies beat No. 10 ranked Ohio State at Madison Square Garden's annual Maggie Dixon Classic to tie the NCAA consecutive win streak to 88 games, and on December 21, 2010 they beat No. 20 ranked Florida State at the XL Center in Hartford to set a new NCAA consecutive win record at 89 games, the streak ended at 90 on December 30, 2010 with a 71–59 loss at Stanford.
Of the six times women's programs having perfect season and tournament records, UConn has accomplished the feat four times (and only team to do it in consecutive seasons).
UConn is not only a pipeline to both the NBA and the WNBA, but to coaching ranks throughout the sport of basketball. UConn alumnae in the coaching ranks include head coaches Jennifer Rizzotti
at University of Hartford, and Jamelle Elliott
at the University of Cincinnati and assistant coaches Shea Ralph
at UConn, Ann Strother
at the University of Colorado, Stacy Hansmeyer at the University of Oklahoma. Mel Thomas
is the Director of Basketball Operations at Florida Gulf Coast University. Tamika Williams
Raymond is Head Coach of the national team of India and formerly Assistant Coach at Ohio State University and the University of Kansas.
Only six women in the history of women's basketball in America have attained the Triple Crown Plus One(an NCAA national championship, a WNBA Championship, a World Championship & an Olympic Gold Medal). Four of these women are UConn alumnae: Sue Bird
, Swin Cash
, Kara Wolters
& Diana Taurasi
.
players Maurizio Rocha, Chris Gbandi
, Damani Ralph
, Bobby Rhine
, Julius James
, Shavar Thomas
, O'Brian White
, Kwame Watson-Siriboe
, Toni Ståhl
, and Chukwudi Chijindu
each attended UConn. A consistently competitive and frequent NCAA tournament team, the UConn women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA National Championship title games in 1984, 1990, 1997, and 2003, losing each time to the University of North Carolina.
conference only two years after becoming a full I-A member, was bowl-eligible in its first season in I-A, and was invited to a bowl game in its first season as a conference member. The Huskies defeated the University of Toledo
in the 2004 Motor City Bowl
by a score of 39–10, with quarterback Dan Orlovsky
being named Most Valuable Player. In 2003, the team was also honored for being one of only 7 schools in the U.S. to graduate 80% or better of its members; it was the only public school on the list. In 2007, the Huskies had their best year as they went 9–3, finished 7–0 at home and earned a berth in the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl
, where they were defeated by Wake Forest, 24–10. In 2008, the Huskies finished 7–5 and defeated Buffalo in the 2009 International Bowl
in Toronto.
During the 2009–2010 football season, cornerback
Jasper Howard
was stabbed to death on campus after celebrating the win early that day against the Louisville Cardinals
. UConn will honor Jasper for the remainder of 2009 and 2010, which would have been his Senior year. The Huskies would defeat SEC opponent South Carolina in the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl
. The next year, Connecticut made its first major bowl by winning the Big East Conference and going to the 2011 Fiesta Bowl
.
.
In 2010, the UConn baseball team set a program record for wins in a season with 48. This eclipsed the previous mark of 39. The team played as the No. 2 seed alongside No. 1 Florida State
(ACC
), No. 3 Oregon
Pac 10), and No. 4 Central Connecticut State (NEC
). The Huskies placed third in the regional with a 1–2 and played in front of 5,684 fans in their Friday opener against Oregon. The team finished the season ranked 23rd in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll and 28th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll.
In the summer of 2010, Huskies George Springer and Matt Barnes were named to the Collegiate USA National Team. Also, four players were named to their respective collegiate summer league All-Star teams- John Sulzicki of the Butler BlueSox
(Prospect League
), Greg Nappo of the Haymarket Senators (Valley Baseball League
), Billy Ferriter of the North Fork Ospreys (Hamptons Collegiate Baseball
), and Michael Zaccardo of the Riverhead Tomcats (Hamptons Collegiate Baseball
).
In 2011, UConn baseball was ranked 1st in the Big East Conference
preseason poll. George Springer and Matt Barnes were named preseason Big East Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. The team advanced to the first Super Regional in program history where they were eliminated by eventual champion South Carolina.
*1996 tournament results vacated by NCAA
championships between 1947 and 1975, including 12 by Hugh Greer
. In 1979, UConn was one of the seven founding schools of the Big East Conference, which was created to focus on basketball. In the early days of the Big East, UConn struggled behind national powers Georgetown
and Syracuse
. Prior to the 1986–87 season UConn hired Jim Calhoun to be the program's new head coach, but the Huskies difficulties continued and they finished the season with a record of 9–19, their fifth straight losing season. But in 1988, the team showed significant improvement and gained a berth in the NIT
. UConn went on a run in the tournament and defeated Ohio State
72–67 at Madison Square Garden to win the NIT, the school's first national basketball title.
The 1990 "Dream Season" would bring UConn basketball to the national stage. Led by Chris Smith
, Nadav Henefeld and Tate George
, UConn went from unranked in the preseason to winning the Big East Regular Season and Tournament Championships, both for the first time. 1990 also marked the opening of Gampel Pavilion, the program's new on-campus home. In the NCAA Tournament
the Huskies garnered a No. 1 seed in the East Region, but trailed Clemson
70–69 with 1 second remaining in the Sweet 16. Scott Burrell's
full-court pass found Tate George on the far baseline. George spun, fired, and hit a buzzer-beater that is known in Connecticut
simply as "The Shot". They would be eliminated on a buzzer-beater 2 days later by Duke
, losing in overtime 79–78.
UConn rose as a national program throughout the 1990s, winning five more Big East Regular Season and three more Big East Tournament Championships, but the Final Four
still eluded Calhoun and the program until the 1999 NCAA Tournament
. The Huskies were the top seed in the West region and a win over Gonzaga
in the regional finals sent UConn to Tropicana Field
in Tampa Bay
for the Final Four. They defeated Ohio State 64–58 in the semi-final to face off against Duke in the final. Despite having been ranked No. 1 for half of the year, the Huskies entered the national championship game as 9-point underdogs. The game was tight throughout, and when the final buzzer sounded, UConn had defeated Duke 77–74.
The 1999 National Championship would not be the last. In 2004, the Huskies returned to the Final Four. Once again, they faced Duke, this time in the National Semifinal, and used a late run to beat the Blue Devils 79–78. Two nights later, led by Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor
, UConn beat Georgia Tech
82–73 to win the championship.
In the 2009 NCAA Tournament
, UConn was awarded the No. 1 seed in the West. Led by AJ Price, Hasheem Thabeet
and Jeff Adrien
, the Huskies reached the Final Four
by defeating No. 16 seed Chatanooga in the 1st round, No. 9 seed Texas A&M
in the 2nd round, No. 5 seed Purdue in the Sweet 16 and No. 3 seed Missouri
in the Elite Eight. This marks the 3rd time in the programs history to reach the Final Four. In the 2 other occurrences, UConn also came out of the West region and won the national championship on both occasions.
to Rentschler Field. In 2004, the Huskies were admitted as full football members of the Big East, and went 3–3 in conference play, en route to a 7–4 regular-season record. The school made its first-ever appearance in a bowl game, winning the 2004 Motor City Bowl over Toledo
by a score of 39–10. 2007 was a breakout year for the UConn Football team. They achieved a national ranking for the first time, becoming the second fastest team ever to attain a ranking after moving to division I-A, shared the Big East Championship with a 5–2 conference record, went 7–0 at home (only the second Big East team to ever do so), finished the season 9–3, and climbed as high as 13th in the BCS standings. The team was rewarded for their efforts with an invitation to the Meineke Car Care Bowl. In 2008 the Huskies earned their second-straight 7+ win season, and on January 3, 2009 in Toronto, Canada they made their school record, second-straight bowl appearance in the 2009 International Bowl
, playing against the University of Buffalo. The Huskies struggled with turnovers, but managed a 38–20 win over the Bulls, behind RB Donald Brown
's MVP performance. The win gave the Huskies their second Bowl Win in three attempts.
* Men's
o Basketball - 1999, 2004, 2011
o Soccer - 1948, 1981, 2000
* Women's
o Basketball - 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010
o Field Hockey - 1981, 1985
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I and the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey (Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey–only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey has no women's...
) and Women's Ice Hockey (Hockey East
Hockey East
Hockey East Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference....
). The major sports at the university are football (played at Rentschler Field) and men's and women's basketball (played on-campus at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion
Harry A. Gampel Pavilion
Harry A. Gampel Pavilion is a 10,167-seat multi-purpose arena in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. The arena opened on January 21, 1990, and is the largest on campus arena in New England. It was named after Harry A. Gampel, who donated one million dollars for the construction of the arena...
and off-campus at the XL Center), although many of the other sports have large followings and a tradition of success.
Name
The university's teams are nicknamed "HuskiesHusky
Husky is a general name for a type of dog originally used to pull sleds in northern regions, differentiated from other sled dog types by their fast hard pulling style...
", a name adopted in 1934 after the school's name changed from Connecticut Agricultural College to Connecticut State College in 1933; before then, the teams were referred to as the Aggies. Though there is a homophonic relationship between "UConn" and the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
, where Huskies are native, the "Huskies" nickname predates the school's 1939 name change to the University of Connecticut; the first recorded use of "UConn" (as "U-Conn", both separately and with "Huskies") was later in 1939.
UConn's women's teams are not known as the "Lady Huskies," but simply as "UConn Huskies," the same as the men's team.
Leagues
UConn's teams participate in the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
's Division I-A and in the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
, except for hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, which is not sponsored by the Big East. The men's hockey program competes in Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey–only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey has no women's...
and the women's hockey program is a member of Hockey East
Hockey East
Hockey East Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference....
. There has been speculation that Connecticut will follow both Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
and University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
and join the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
.
Facilities
- Harry A. Gampel PavilionHarry A. Gampel PavilionHarry A. Gampel Pavilion is a 10,167-seat multi-purpose arena in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. The arena opened on January 21, 1990, and is the largest on campus arena in New England. It was named after Harry A. Gampel, who donated one million dollars for the construction of the arena...
on the Storrs campus, the regular home for both men's and women's basketball - XL Center in HartfordHartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, the second home for both basketball teams - Rentschler Field in East HartfordEast Hartford, ConnecticutEast Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,252 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, home to the footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team - Joseph J. Morrone Stadium on the Storrs campus, the regular home for both men's and women's soccer and lacrosse.
- Burton Family Football Complex on the Storrs campus, "serves as the on-campus home of UConn football and complements Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Opened in 2006" (www.uconnhuskies.com)
- Mark R. Shenkman Training Center on the Storrs campus, adjacent to the Burton Family Football Complex "an 85000 square feet (7,896.8 m²) training complex, featuring a 120-yard long state-of-the-art FieldTurf playing surface, an 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) strength and conditioning area, and state-of-the-art video capabilities, the indoor training center provides UConn's football team with the most technologically advanced training equipment" (www.uconnhuskies.com). Also serves as a home to UConn Club and Intramural sports.
Reputation
Approximately 70% of all UConn student-athletes graduate from the university, and almost 50% maintain a 3.0 GPA. The women's lacrosseLacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
team had the second-highest team GPA in the country in 2004, and numerous UConn student-athletes, including former basketball star Emeka Okafor
Emeka Okafor
Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi Okafor, abbreviated as Emeka Okafor , is an American basketball power forward and center for the New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association. Prior to the NBA, Okafor attended Houston's Bellaire High School, and the University of Connecticut.-Early life:Okafor...
, have been named Academic All-Americans.
UConn is best known for having its men's and women's basketball teams consistently ranked in or near the top 10 in the nation in their respective divisions. The men's team (coached by Jim Calhoun
Jim Calhoun
James A. Calhoun is the head coach of the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team. His teams have won three national championships , played in four Final Fours , won the 1988 NIT championship, and have won seven Big East tournament championships...
) won the NCAA Div. I title in 1999, 2004, and 2011, and the women won in 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, and 2010, including undefeated seasons in 1995, 2002, 2009, and 2010. Kemba Walker, Emeka Okafor, Richard Hamilton
Richard Hamilton (basketball)
Richard "Rip" Hamilton is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons. Hamilton is 6'7" tall, weighs 193 lbs , and plays shooting guard. He currently is the Pistons' team captain....
, Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
, Clifford Robinson
Clifford R. Robinson
Clifford "Cliff" Ralph Robinson is a former American professional basketball player, formerly of the National Basketball Association.-Highlights:...
, Ben Gordon, Caron Butler
Caron Butler
James Caron Butler, widely known as Caron Butler , is an American professional basketball player who most recently played at small forward for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.-Early life:...
, Denham Brown
Denham Brown
Denham W. Brown is a Canadian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Ciclista Olímpico in the Liga Nacional de Basquet.- High school :...
, Charlie Villanueva
Charlie Villanueva
Charlie Alexander Villanueva is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association....
, Kevin Ollie
Kevin Ollie
Kevin Jermaine Ollie is an American former professional basketball player. He played for eleven National Basketball Association franchises in thirteen seasons...
, Hilton Armstrong
Hilton Armstrong
Hilton A. Armstrong, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for ASVEL Basket. He played forward/center for the University of Connecticut Huskies...
, Donyell Marshall
Donyell Marshall
Donyell Lamar Marshall is a retired American professional basketball player, at the small forward and power forward positions. During his extensive NBA career, he played with eight different teams...
, Marcus Williams, Rudy Gay
Rudy Gay
Rudy Carlton Gay, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies...
, Josh Boone
Josh Boone
Oscar Joshua "Josh" Boone is an American professional basketball player. He was a forward–center for the Connecticut Huskies, where he played for three years. He declared for the 2006 NBA Draft after his junior season, forgoing his final year of college...
, Travis Knight
Travis Knight
Travis Knight is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1996 NBA Draft...
, Jake Voskuhl
Jake Voskuhl
Robert Jacob "Jake" Voskuhl is an American professional basketball center.After attending Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Voskuhl went to the University of Connecticut from 1996–2000, where he was the starting center on the school's 1999 NCAA National Championship team. The squad also featured...
, are among the list of professional basketball players to achieve success after attending UConn.
As of 2009, UConn has officially become a Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
sponsored school, signing a 10-year, $46 million contract.
Basketball
Strong alumni, student, and fan support for UConn's men's basketball teams helped the Huskies' women's basketball program attract Geno AuriemmaGeno Auriemma
Luigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...
as head coach. Under the tutelage of Auriemma, UConn has become one of the few schools that consistently competes for the national title in women's basketball. The Huskies are also part of one of the fiercest rivalries
Sports rivalry
A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes. This pressure of competition is felt by players, coaches, and management, but is perhaps felt strongest by the fans. The intensity of the rivalry varies from a friendly competition on one end to serious violence on the...
in all of women's college sports. In the rivalry between UConn and the University of Tennessee
UConn-Tennessee rivalry
The women's basketball rivalry between the University of Tennessee Lady Vols and the University of Connecticut Huskies is one of the fiercest rivalries in college basketball, and perhaps the only one to reach national consciousness out of the women's game...
, there is no love lost between Auriemma and Tennessee
Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA women's basketball competition...
coach Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt
Patricia "Pat" Head Summitt is an American women's college basketball coach. She is currently the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team. She is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history of either a men's or women's team in any division...
. The two schools have faced each other seven times in the NCAA Tournament, and four times in the NCAA Championship Game. UConn leads 5–2 in those games including a 4–0 record in the finals. UConn leads the all-time series 13–8. Summitt ended the regular season series in the summer of 2007. It is unknown why the series was ended, but media outlets reported that Tennessee reported to the NCAA that UConn committed minor recruiting infractions with the recruitment of Maya Moore which included a tour of ESPN while Moore was a junior in high school. Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin is an American television basketball analyst and a former player in the professional Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 to 2003...
, Jennifer Rizzotti
Jennifer Rizzotti
Jennifer Rizzotti is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player, and current Division I coach. She is the daughter of Tom Rizzotti and Carol Rizzotti.-College:...
, Svetlana Abrosimova
Svetlana Abrosimova
Svetlana Olegovna Abrosimova is a Russian basketball player who has played in college, the Olympics, and in professional leagues. She currently plays for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA. She is usually called by her nickname, "Svet" or "Sveta".Abrosimova was born in Leningrad, Russian SFSR,...
, Shea Ralph
Shea Ralph
Shea Sydney Ralph is a former collegiate basketball player and current assistant coach for the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. Ralph was proficient in multiple sports, set state high school records in basketball, and earned multiple national player of the year awards in...
, Nykesha Sales
Nykesha Sales
Nykesha Simone Sales is a former professional basketball player in the WNBA, most recently for the Connecticut Sun. Her primary position is the small forward. Her second position is shooting guard. In 1999 Sales was added to the roster of the USA FIBA Senior National Team team...
, Kelly Schumacher
Kelly Schumacher
Kelly Schumacher is an American born Canadian professional basketball player and professional volleyball player...
, Swin Cash
Swin Cash
Swintayla Marie Cash , better known as Swin Cash, is an American WNBA player who plays for the Seattle Storm. A prolific scorer and rebounder, as well as a capable ball handler and defender, she helped lead the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002...
, Kara Wolters
Kara Wolters
Kara Wolters is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player.Standing at six feet and seven inches , she was appropriately nicknamed "Big Girl". She is the tallest player in University of Connecticut women's basketball history and one of the tallest women to ever play in the WNBA...
, Tamika Raymond, Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, Asjha Jones
Asjha Jones
Asjha Takera Jones is a professional basketball player. She plays the power forward position for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.-Early years:...
, Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
, Ann Strother
Ann Strother
Ann Elise Strother is an American basketball coach, and former professional player, most recently for the Indiana Fever. Strother played at the collegiate level for the Connecticut Huskies, helping the team to two national titles....
, Barbara Turner
Barbara Turner (basketball)
Barbara Renee Turner is an American professional basketball player. She plays for Tarsus in Turkey and formerly the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. A small forward, she is 6 feet tall and 78 kg weight....
, Jessica Moore
Jessica Moore (basketball)
Jessica Moore is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, most recently playing for the Connecticut Sun. Jessica was a Center for the UConn Huskies from 2000–2005.-High school:...
, Ashley Battle
Ashley Battle
Ashley Battle , is a professional basketball player. Drafted by the Seattle Storm in 2005, she played 2 games for them before being waived. She was with the New York Liberty for the 2006 through 2009 seasons. Battle played collegiately for the University of Connecticut women's basketball...
, Barbara Turner
Barbara Turner (basketball)
Barbara Renee Turner is an American professional basketball player. She plays for Tarsus in Turkey and formerly the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. A small forward, she is 6 feet tall and 78 kg weight....
, Ketia Swanier
Ketia Swanier
Naketia "Ketia" Marie Swanier is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.-College career:...
, Charde Houston
Charde Houston
Charde Lakishia Houston is a professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the Minnesota Lynx....
, Tina Charles
Tina Charles (basketball)
Tina Charles is an American women's basketball player with the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association and the Galatasaray Medical Park of the TWBL. Originally from Jamaica, New York, Charles was drafted 1st overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft...
, Kalana Greene
Kalana Greene
Kalana Lanette Greene , is a basketball guard, currently for the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA, and CCC Polkowice in Poland. She played her college career at the University of Connecticut, where the Huskies were the 2009 and 2010 NCAA national Champions.-Early life:Greene grew up in St...
and Renee Montgomery
Renee Montgomery
Renee Danielle Montgomery is an American basketball player who won a national championship with the UConn Huskies in 2009. She currently plays for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.-High school:...
are among the women's professional basketball players or WNBA draftees that attended UConn.
In 2004, UConn became the second school ever, and the first in Division I, to win the men's NCAA National Championship and the women's basketball title in the same season. It was also the first school to ever have both teams ranked number 1 in the nation at the same time (during the 1994–95 season), and has also spent the most weeks by far with both teams holding the number one spot, with the Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
being the only other team ever to achieve the feat, for a short period during the 2003–2004 season.
In 2006, UConn became the third school ever to have 4 players drafted in Round 1 of the NBA Draft
2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
, and the first school ever to have 5 players selected in the two-round draft. In the first round, Rudy Gay
Rudy Gay
Rudy Carlton Gay, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies...
, Hilton Armstrong
Hilton Armstrong
Hilton A. Armstrong, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for ASVEL Basket. He played forward/center for the University of Connecticut Huskies...
, Marcus Williams and Josh Boone
Josh Boone
Oscar Joshua "Josh" Boone is an American professional basketball player. He was a forward–center for the Connecticut Huskies, where he played for three years. He declared for the 2006 NBA Draft after his junior season, forgoing his final year of college...
were selected. In the second round, Denham Brown
Denham Brown
Denham W. Brown is a Canadian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Ciclista Olímpico in the Liga Nacional de Basquet.- High school :...
was selected. It should also be noted that Rashad Anderson
Rashad Anderson
Rashad Shaheed Anderson is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Iowa Energy. He previously played guard/forward for the UConn Huskies. Rashad was drafted on November 5, 2009 by the Iowa Energy of the NBA Developmental League...
also entered the NBA draft and will play for a leading European professional team in the 2006–2007 season.
In 2008, freshman Maya Moore
Maya Moore
Maya April Moore is an American basketball forward for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA and Ros Casares Valencia of Euroleague. Moore was the winner of the 2006 and 2007 Naismith Prep Player of the Year. She was selected as the John Wooden Award winner in 2009 after leading Connecticut to the...
made history by being named Big East Player of the Year, the first time a freshman was so honored in either men's or women's basketball. She was named Big East Player of the Year again in 2009.
UConn women entered the 2008–2009 season ranked No. 1 in all national polls. They finished the season ranked as No. 1 as well, winning the national championship, finishing the season with a perfect 39–0 record, while winning every game by 10 points or more(BB). At the end of the year, Maya Moore
Maya Moore
Maya April Moore is an American basketball forward for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA and Ros Casares Valencia of Euroleague. Moore was the winner of the 2006 and 2007 Naismith Prep Player of the Year. She was selected as the John Wooden Award winner in 2009 after leading Connecticut to the...
swept the National Player of the Year honors, receiving the Wooden, Wade and Naismith Awards, and she, Renee Montgomery
Renee Montgomery
Renee Danielle Montgomery is an American basketball player who won a national championship with the UConn Huskies in 2009. She currently plays for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.-High school:...
and Tina Charles
Tina Charles (basketball)
Tina Charles is an American women's basketball player with the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association and the Galatasaray Medical Park of the TWBL. Originally from Jamaica, New York, Charles was drafted 1st overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft...
were named to various All-America teams. Coach Geno Auriemma
Geno Auriemma
Luigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...
received his record sixth recognition as the National Coach of the Year.
UConn women entered the 2009–2010 season ranked No. 1 in all the national polls, and remained ranked No. 1 every week for the entire season. They finished the season as the first back-to-back undefeated National Champions, beating No. 2 Stanford at the San Antonio Alamodome. UConn also set the national consecutive victory record at 78 when it won its 7th National Championship at the Alamodome.
UConn women entered the 2010–2011 season ranked No. 1 in all the national polls. On December 19, 2010, the UConn Huskies beat No. 10 ranked Ohio State at Madison Square Garden's annual Maggie Dixon Classic to tie the NCAA consecutive win streak to 88 games, and on December 21, 2010 they beat No. 20 ranked Florida State at the XL Center in Hartford to set a new NCAA consecutive win record at 89 games, the streak ended at 90 on December 30, 2010 with a 71–59 loss at Stanford.
Of the six times women's programs having perfect season and tournament records, UConn has accomplished the feat four times (and only team to do it in consecutive seasons).
UConn is not only a pipeline to both the NBA and the WNBA, but to coaching ranks throughout the sport of basketball. UConn alumnae in the coaching ranks include head coaches Jennifer Rizzotti
Jennifer Rizzotti
Jennifer Rizzotti is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player, and current Division I coach. She is the daughter of Tom Rizzotti and Carol Rizzotti.-College:...
at University of Hartford, and Jamelle Elliott
Jamelle Elliott
Jamelle Renee Elliott is a basketball coach, currently employed as the Head Coach of the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team.-Early life and high school:...
at the University of Cincinnati and assistant coaches Shea Ralph
Shea Ralph
Shea Sydney Ralph is a former collegiate basketball player and current assistant coach for the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. Ralph was proficient in multiple sports, set state high school records in basketball, and earned multiple national player of the year awards in...
at UConn, Ann Strother
Ann Strother
Ann Elise Strother is an American basketball coach, and former professional player, most recently for the Indiana Fever. Strother played at the collegiate level for the Connecticut Huskies, helping the team to two national titles....
at the University of Colorado, Stacy Hansmeyer at the University of Oklahoma. Mel Thomas
Mel Thomas
Melanie Eileen "Mel" Thomas was born August 26, 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Jeff and Mary Thomas She is an American basketball player who played for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2004-2008.-High school:...
is the Director of Basketball Operations at Florida Gulf Coast University. Tamika Williams
Tamika Williams
Tamika Maria Raymond is an Assistant Coach at Kansas University. She was a professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA...
Raymond is Head Coach of the national team of India and formerly Assistant Coach at Ohio State University and the University of Kansas.
Only six women in the history of women's basketball in America have attained the Triple Crown Plus One(an NCAA national championship, a WNBA Championship, a World Championship & an Olympic Gold Medal). Four of these women are UConn alumnae: Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
, Swin Cash
Swin Cash
Swintayla Marie Cash , better known as Swin Cash, is an American WNBA player who plays for the Seattle Storm. A prolific scorer and rebounder, as well as a capable ball handler and defender, she helped lead the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002...
, Kara Wolters
Kara Wolters
Kara Wolters is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player.Standing at six feet and seven inches , she was appropriately nicknamed "Big Girl". She is the tallest player in University of Connecticut women's basketball history and one of the tallest women to ever play in the WNBA...
& Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
.
Soccer
In addition to its basketball success, UConn is known for its championship soccer teams. The men's team has won two NCAA National Championships, in 1981 and 2000, and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America named the undefeated 1948 team the national champion. The 2000 team was known for its stellar depth on the bench including the likes of Garrett Grinsfelder, Michael Rueda, and Ryan Brown, who exuded the team's "never say die" attitude. The men's team won back to back Big East championships in (2004 and 2005) UConn also has the best average attendance in the nation for both men's and women's soccer. Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
players Maurizio Rocha, Chris Gbandi
Chris Gbandi
Chris Gbandi is a Liberian footballer currently playing for Miami FC in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-College:...
, Damani Ralph
Damani Ralph
Damani Ralph is a Jamaican football player, who last played for Russian team FC Rubin Kazan in Russia.- Amateur/College :...
, Bobby Rhine
Bobby Rhine
Bobby Rhine was an American soccer player who last played for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.Rhine played college soccer at the University of Connecticut, where he was a second-team All-American in 1998. He was drafted by the then-Dallas Burn sixth overall in the 1999 MLS College Draft...
, Julius James
Julius James
Julius James is a Trinidadian footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-College:...
, Shavar Thomas
Shavar Thomas
Shavar Thomas is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Amateur and college:...
, O'Brian White
O'Brian White
O'Brian White is a Jamaica footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
, Kwame Watson-Siriboe
Kwame Watson-Siriboe
Kwame Watson-Siriboe is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
, Toni Ståhl
Toni Ståhl
Toni Ståhl is a Finnish footballer currently playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.-Early career in Finland:...
, and Chukwudi Chijindu
Chukwudi Chijindu
Chukwudi Chijindu is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Blues of the USL Professional Division, on loan from Chivas USA.-Youth:...
each attended UConn. A consistently competitive and frequent NCAA tournament team, the UConn women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA National Championship title games in 1984, 1990, 1997, and 2003, losing each time to the University of North Carolina.
Football
UConn football moved up to Division I-A status in 2000, was included in official NCAA Division I-A statistics for the first time in 2002, and became a full Big East member in 2004. UConn has been recognized as having the fastest progression out of I-AA in NCAA history, as it was invited into a BCSBowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
conference only two years after becoming a full I-A member, was bowl-eligible in its first season in I-A, and was invited to a bowl game in its first season as a conference member. The Huskies defeated the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
in the 2004 Motor City Bowl
2004 Motor City Bowl
The 2004 Motor City Bowl, part of the 2004–05 NCAA football bowl games season, occurred on December 27, 2004 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.- Team selection :...
by a score of 39–10, with quarterback Dan Orlovsky
Dan Orlovsky
Daniel John Orlovsky is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. The Detroit Lions drafted Orlovsky in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
being named Most Valuable Player. In 2003, the team was also honored for being one of only 7 schools in the U.S. to graduate 80% or better of its members; it was the only public school on the list. In 2007, the Huskies had their best year as they went 9–3, finished 7–0 at home and earned a berth in the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl
2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl
The 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl, one of 27 non-BCS bowl games played after the 2007 NCAA football regular season, took place on Saturday, December 29, 2007 with a 1:00PM EST kickoff at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, where they were defeated by Wake Forest, 24–10. In 2008, the Huskies finished 7–5 and defeated Buffalo in the 2009 International Bowl
2009 International Bowl
The 2009 International Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Buffalo Bulls at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 3, 2009. The game was the final contest of the 2008 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision football...
in Toronto.
During the 2009–2010 football season, cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Jasper Howard
Jasper Howard
Jasper Tyrone Howard , was a cornerback for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2007 to 2009. He was fatally stabbed on October 18, 2009, hours after UConn's win over the Louisville Cardinals.- Early life :...
was stabbed to death on campus after celebrating the win early that day against the Louisville Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
. UConn will honor Jasper for the remainder of 2009 and 2010, which would have been his Senior year. The Huskies would defeat SEC opponent South Carolina in the 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl
2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl
The 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Connecticut Huskies of the Big East Conference and the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference , on January 2, 2010 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama...
. The next year, Connecticut made its first major bowl by winning the Big East Conference and going to the 2011 Fiesta Bowl
2011 Fiesta Bowl
The 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game played as part of the 2011 Bowl Championship Series of the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
.
Baseball
The UConn baseball team is coached by Jim Penders and plays home games at J. O. Christian FieldJ. O. Christian Field
J. O. Christian Field is a baseball stadium in Storrs, Connecticut. It is the home field of the University of Connecticut Huskies college baseball teams. The stadium holds 2,000 people. It is named after former UConn baseball coach and athletic director, J. Orlean Christian....
.
In 2010, the UConn baseball team set a program record for wins in a season with 48. This eclipsed the previous mark of 39. The team played as the No. 2 seed alongside No. 1 Florida State
Florida State Seminoles baseball
The Florida State Seminoles baseball team represents Florida State University in NCAA Division I college baseball and are one of the most successful collegiate baseball programs in the United States without a College World Series championship....
(ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
), No. 3 Oregon
Oregon Ducks baseball
The Oregon Ducks baseball team represents the University of Oregon in NCAA Division I college baseball in the Pacific-10 Conference/ They are coached by George Horton and play their home games on campus at PK Park.-History:...
Pac 10), and No. 4 Central Connecticut State (NEC
Northeast Conference
The Northeast Conference is a college athletic conference whose schools are members of the NCAA. The NCAA designates the Northeast Conference to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for Division I Men's Football and to Division I Sports for all other sports.Founded in 1981 as the ECAC-Metro...
). The Huskies placed third in the regional with a 1–2 and played in front of 5,684 fans in their Friday opener against Oregon. The team finished the season ranked 23rd in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll and 28th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll.
In the summer of 2010, Huskies George Springer and Matt Barnes were named to the Collegiate USA National Team. Also, four players were named to their respective collegiate summer league All-Star teams- John Sulzicki of the Butler BlueSox
Butler BlueSox
The Butler BlueSox are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Butler, Pennsylvania, in the United States. They are a member of the East Division of the summer collegiate Prospect League.-History:...
(Prospect League
Prospect League
The Prospect League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. Players are not paid so as to maintain their college eligibility...
), Greg Nappo of the Haymarket Senators (Valley Baseball League
Valley Baseball League
The Valley Baseball League is an NCAA-sanctioned collegiate summer baseball league in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Each Valley Baseball League season consists of 44 games played during summer. Many Valley Baseball League players have continued on to play in Major League Baseball.The...
), Billy Ferriter of the North Fork Ospreys (Hamptons Collegiate Baseball
Hamptons Collegiate Baseball
Hamptons Collegiate Baseball is a summer baseball organization located in The Hamptons in the U.S. state of New York. It is a five-team division, also known as the Hampton Division, that is part of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, consisting of the Sag Harbor Whalers, Southampton Breakers,...
), and Michael Zaccardo of the Riverhead Tomcats (Hamptons Collegiate Baseball
Hamptons Collegiate Baseball
Hamptons Collegiate Baseball is a summer baseball organization located in The Hamptons in the U.S. state of New York. It is a five-team division, also known as the Hampton Division, that is part of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, consisting of the Sag Harbor Whalers, Southampton Breakers,...
).
In 2011, UConn baseball was ranked 1st in the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
preseason poll. George Springer and Matt Barnes were named preseason Big East Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. The team advanced to the first Super Regional in program history where they were eliminated by eventual champion South Carolina.
Baseball
- Playing Facility: J. O. Christian FieldJ. O. Christian FieldJ. O. Christian Field is a baseball stadium in Storrs, Connecticut. It is the home field of the University of Connecticut Huskies college baseball teams. The stadium holds 2,000 people. It is named after former UConn baseball coach and athletic director, J. Orlean Christian....
- Head Coach: Jim PendersJim PendersJim Penders is currently the manager of the Connecticut Huskies baseball team. Penders began his time with the Huskies baseball family in 1991, as a player on the varsity team. In his senior year, he was named a co-captain and went on to lead the Huskies to victory in the Big East Tournament...
- Most Victories: 48 in 2010
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 16
- College World SeriesCollege World SeriesThe College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
Appearances: 5: 19571957 College World SeriesThe 1957 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 8 to June 12. The eleventh tournament's champion was the University of California, coached by George Wolfman...
, 19591959 College World SeriesThe NCAA Men's Division I College World Series involved 8 schools playing in double-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college baseball. It began on June 12, and ended with the championship game on June 18...
, 19651965 College World SeriesThe 1965 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 7 to June 12. The nineteenth tournament's champion was Arizona State University, coached by Bobby Winkles...
, 19721972 College World SeriesThe 1972 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 9 to June 16. The twenty-sixth tournament's champion was the University of Southern California, coached by Rod Dedeaux...
, 19791979 College World SeriesThe 1979 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 1 to June 8. The thirty-third tournament's champion was California State University, Fullerton, coached by Augie Garrido... - Super Regional Appearances: 2011
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2011
- Big East Tournament Championships: 2: 1990 & 1994
- Big East Regular Season Championships: 1: 2011
- All-Americans: 14
- Olympians: 2
- Players Drafted Or Signed: 119
Players
- Charles NagyCharles NagyCharles Harrison Nagy is an American former Major League Baseball All-Star right-handed pitcher who played for 14 seasons in the major leagues from to , mostly with the Cleveland Indians, and currently serves as the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Early life and amateur career:Nagy...
- Walt DropoWalt DropoWalter Dropo , nicknamed "Moose", was an American college basketball standout and a professional baseball first baseman...
- Pete WalkerPete WalkerPeter Brian Walker is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Walker is a graduate of East Lyme High School in East Lyme, Connecticut. He completed his college degree at Charter Oak State College. He attended the University of Connecticut and was drafted by the New York Mets...
- Jason GrabowskiJason GrabowskiJason William Grabowski is a retired Major League Baseball player. Graduated from The Morgan School in Clinton, Connecticut in 1994. In the offseason, his contract was sold to the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Pacific League...
- Bob SchaeferBob SchaeferRobert Walden Schaefer is a former interim manager, bench coach and farm system official in American Major League Baseball. He is currently the special assistant to the general manager with the Washington Nationals....
- Dan IassognaDan IassognaDaniel Ralph Iassogna is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He joined the major league staff in and wears uniform number 58....
- Jim ReynoldsJim ReynoldsJames Norris Reynolds IV is a Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the major league staff in and wears uniform number 77....
- Roberto Hernández
- Jesse CarlsonJesse CarlsonJesse Craig Carlson is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. Born in New Britain, Connecticut, Carlson graduated from Berlin High School, where he starred in basketball as well as baseball. Carlson was a member of the team that defeated Seymour Connecticut High School...
- Jeff FulchinoJeff FulchinoJeffrey Paul Fulchino is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. His rise to prominence came under the tutelage of Edward Poisson, head baseball coach of Trinity High School in Manchester, New Hampshire. Fulchino is the pride of Hollis, New Hampshire. He is the first Hollis...
- Rajai DavisRajai DavisRajai Davis [RAH-jay] is an American professional baseball center fielder with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
Men's Basketball
- Playing Facilities: Harry A. Gampel PavilionHarry A. Gampel PavilionHarry A. Gampel Pavilion is a 10,167-seat multi-purpose arena in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. The arena opened on January 21, 1990, and is the largest on campus arena in New England. It was named after Harry A. Gampel, who donated one million dollars for the construction of the arena...
& XL Center - Head Coach: Jim CalhounJim CalhounJames A. Calhoun is the head coach of the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team. His teams have won three national championships , played in four Final Fours , won the 1988 NIT championship, and have won seven Big East tournament championships...
- Most Victories: 34 in 1999
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 28*
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2011
- National Championships: (3) 1999, 2004, & 2011
- Final FourFinal fourFinal Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
s: (4) 19991999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....
, 20042004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
, 20092009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
, 20112011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.... - Big East Regular Season Championships: (10) 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
- Big East Tournament Championships: (7) 1990, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2011
- NIT Appearances: 11
- NIT Championships: 1 19881988 National Invitation Tournament-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Colorado State 58, Boston College 57...
- All-Americans: 13
- Drafted Players: 33
- Players Currently In The NBA: 13 (ranks tied for 1st amongst all colleges)
- Basketball Hall Of FameBasketball Hall of FameThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
rs: 1 (coach Jim CalhounJim CalhounJames A. Calhoun is the head coach of the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team. His teams have won three national championships , played in four Final Fours , won the 1988 NIT championship, and have won seven Big East tournament championships...
)
History and coaches
UConn Men's Basketball was once a regional power, winning 18 Yankee ConferenceYankee Conference
The Yankee Conference was a collegiate sports conference in the eastern United States. It once sponsored competition in many sports, but eventually became a football-only league...
championships between 1947 and 1975, including 12 by Hugh Greer
Hugh Greer
Hugh Greer was the UConn Huskies men's basketball coach from 1946 to 1963.-Early life and education:Born in Suffield, Connecticut, Hugh Greer went to school at Connecticut Agricultural College...
. In 1979, UConn was one of the seven founding schools of the Big East Conference, which was created to focus on basketball. In the early days of the Big East, UConn struggled behind national powers Georgetown
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
and Syracuse
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. Prior to the 1986–87 season UConn hired Jim Calhoun to be the program's new head coach, but the Huskies difficulties continued and they finished the season with a record of 9–19, their fifth straight losing season. But in 1988, the team showed significant improvement and gained a berth in the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
. UConn went on a run in the tournament and defeated Ohio State
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
72–67 at Madison Square Garden to win the NIT, the school's first national basketball title.
The 1990 "Dream Season" would bring UConn basketball to the national stage. Led by Chris Smith
Chris Smith (basketball)
Christopher 'Chris' Gerard Smith is an American former professional basketball player, in the point guard position.-Basketball career:Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Smith played collegiately at the University of Connecticut...
, Nadav Henefeld and Tate George
Tate George
Tate Claude George is an American businessman and former professional basketball player who was selected by the New Jersey Nets with the 22nd overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft from the University of Connecticut...
, UConn went from unranked in the preseason to winning the Big East Regular Season and Tournament Championships, both for the first time. 1990 also marked the opening of Gampel Pavilion, the program's new on-campus home. In the NCAA Tournament
1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 1990, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Denver, Colorado...
the Huskies garnered a No. 1 seed in the East Region, but trailed Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
70–69 with 1 second remaining in the Sweet 16. Scott Burrell's
Scott Burrell
Scott David Burrell is an American retired professional basketball player and current assistant coach for Quinnipiac University. He has played internationally and was also a professional baseball player...
full-court pass found Tate George on the far baseline. George spun, fired, and hit a buzzer-beater that is known in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
simply as "The Shot". They would be eliminated on a buzzer-beater 2 days later by Duke
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, losing in overtime 79–78.
UConn rose as a national program throughout the 1990s, winning five more Big East Regular Season and three more Big East Tournament Championships, but the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
still eluded Calhoun and the program until the 1999 NCAA Tournament
1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....
. The Huskies were the top seed in the West region and a win over Gonzaga
Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball
The Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Gonzaga University. The school competes in the West Coast Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in the regional finals sent UConn to Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, which has been the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays. It has also served as the host stadium for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, an NCAA-sanctioned college...
in Tampa Bay
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
for the Final Four. They defeated Ohio State 64–58 in the semi-final to face off against Duke in the final. Despite having been ranked No. 1 for half of the year, the Huskies entered the national championship game as 9-point underdogs. The game was tight throughout, and when the final buzzer sounded, UConn had defeated Duke 77–74.
The 1999 National Championship would not be the last. In 2004, the Huskies returned to the Final Four. Once again, they faced Duke, this time in the National Semifinal, and used a late run to beat the Blue Devils 79–78. Two nights later, led by Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor
Emeka Okafor
Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi Okafor, abbreviated as Emeka Okafor , is an American basketball power forward and center for the New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association. Prior to the NBA, Okafor attended Houston's Bellaire High School, and the University of Connecticut.-Early life:Okafor...
, UConn beat Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
82–73 to win the championship.
In the 2009 NCAA Tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
, UConn was awarded the No. 1 seed in the West. Led by AJ Price, Hasheem Thabeet
Hasheem Thabeet
Hasheem Thabeet is a Tanzanian professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Houston Rockets of the NBA. He was drafted as the 2nd pick overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2009 NBA Draft after playing with the Connecticut Huskies...
and Jeff Adrien
Jeff Adrien
Jeff Adrien is an American professional basketball player. He is a 6'7" forward. Adrien formerly served as captain for the University of Connecticut Huskies.-High school:...
, the Huskies reached the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
by defeating No. 16 seed Chatanooga in the 1st round, No. 9 seed Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
in the 2nd round, No. 5 seed Purdue in the Sweet 16 and No. 3 seed Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the Elite Eight. This marks the 3rd time in the programs history to reach the Final Four. In the 2 other occurrences, UConn also came out of the West region and won the national championship on both occasions.
Players
- Richard "Rip" HamiltonRichard Hamilton (basketball)Richard "Rip" Hamilton is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons. Hamilton is 6'7" tall, weighs 193 lbs , and plays shooting guard. He currently is the Pistons' team captain....
1996–99 - Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
1993–96 - Emeka OkaforEmeka OkaforChukwuemeka Ndubuisi Okafor, abbreviated as Emeka Okafor , is an American basketball power forward and center for the New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association. Prior to the NBA, Okafor attended Houston's Bellaire High School, and the University of Connecticut.-Early life:Okafor...
2001–04 - Clifford RobinsonClifford R. RobinsonClifford "Cliff" Ralph Robinson is a former American professional basketball player, formerly of the National Basketball Association.-Highlights:...
1985–89 - Khalid El-AminKhalid El-AminKhalid El-Amin is an American professional basketball player. He was a member of the 1999 UConn men's basketball team that won the NCAA championship. He is originally from Minnesota where he played for North High School in Minneapolis...
1997–2000 - Donyell MarshallDonyell MarshallDonyell Lamar Marshall is a retired American professional basketball player, at the small forward and power forward positions. During his extensive NBA career, he played with eight different teams...
1991–94 - Caron ButlerCaron ButlerJames Caron Butler, widely known as Caron Butler , is an American professional basketball player who most recently played at small forward for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.-Early life:...
2000–02 - Ben Gordon 2001–04
- Jake VoskuhlJake VoskuhlRobert Jacob "Jake" Voskuhl is an American professional basketball center.After attending Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Voskuhl went to the University of Connecticut from 1996–2000, where he was the starting center on the school's 1999 NCAA National Championship team. The squad also featured...
1996–2000 - Josh BooneJosh BooneOscar Joshua "Josh" Boone is an American professional basketball player. He was a forward–center for the Connecticut Huskies, where he played for three years. He declared for the 2006 NBA Draft after his junior season, forgoing his final year of college...
2003–06 - Hilton ArmstrongHilton ArmstrongHilton A. Armstrong, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for ASVEL Basket. He played forward/center for the University of Connecticut Huskies...
2002–2006 - Scott BurrellScott BurrellScott David Burrell is an American retired professional basketball player and current assistant coach for Quinnipiac University. He has played internationally and was also a professional baseball player...
1989–93 - Tate GeorgeTate GeorgeTate Claude George is an American businessman and former professional basketball player who was selected by the New Jersey Nets with the 22nd overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft from the University of Connecticut...
1986–90 - Rudy GayRudy GayRudy Carlton Gay, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies...
2004–06 - Travis KnightTravis KnightTravis Knight is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1996 NBA Draft...
1992–96 - Donny MarshallDonny MarshallDonny E. Marshall is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers the 2nd round of the 1995 National Basketball Association Draft.-Career:...
1991–95 - Kevin OllieKevin OllieKevin Jermaine Ollie is an American former professional basketball player. He played for eleven National Basketball Association franchises in thirteen seasons...
1991–95 - Wes BialosukniaWes BialosukniaWesley John "Wes" Bialosuknia is a retired American basketball player. He was a 6'2" 185 lb guard, and played collegiately for the University of Connecticut Huskies...
1964–67 - Doron ShefferDoron ShefferDoron Sheffer , is an Israeli professional basketball player formerly with Maccabi Tel Aviv.Sheffer first gained fame at age 21 when he led Hapoel Galil Elyon to a 1993 victory in the Israeli League semifinals over Maccabi Tel Aviv...
1993–96 - Chris SmithChris Smith (basketball)Christopher 'Chris' Gerard Smith is an American former professional basketball player, in the point guard position.-Basketball career:Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Smith played collegiately at the University of Connecticut...
1988–92 - Hasheem ThabeetHasheem ThabeetHasheem Thabeet is a Tanzanian professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Houston Rockets of the NBA. He was drafted as the 2nd pick overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2009 NBA Draft after playing with the Connecticut Huskies...
, 2006–09 - Charlie VillanuevaCharlie VillanuevaCharlie Alexander Villanueva is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association....
2003–05 - Marcus Williams 2003–06
- Kemba WalkerKemba WalkerKemba Hudley Walker is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Bobcats. Walker grew up in The Bronx, New York and graduated from Rice High School in 2008. With the Huskies basketball team at Connecticut, Walker was the 2nd leading college basketball scorer in the United States...
2008–11 - Dom PernoDom PernoDom Perno is an American basketball coach and current associate athletic director at George Washington University. He was head basketball coach at the University of Connecticut for nine seasons, from 1977 to 1986, compiling a 139-114 record, making both the NCAA tournament and NIT. He coached...
1961–64
Games
- February 27, 1954 – Worthy Patterson's buzzer-beater at Holy CrossCollege of the Holy CrossThe College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
gave UConn an upset of the then-powerhouse Crusaders, 78–77. - March 14, 1964 – UConn upset PrincetonPrinceton Tigers men's basketballThe Princeton Tigers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Princeton University. The school competes in the Ivy League in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Tigers play home basketball games at the Jadwin Gymnasium in...
and star forward Bill BradleyBill BradleyWilliam Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
52–50 in the Sweet 16 at Cameron Indoor StadiumCameron Indoor StadiumCameron Indoor Stadium is an indoor arena located on the West Campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. It is home to the Duke Blue Devils men's and women's basketball teams, the women's volleyball team, and the men's wrestling team....
. The victory was sealed when Dom Perno stole the ball from Bradley with 19 seconds to play. Perno later becsme UConn's coach. - February 28, 1970 – With 4 players unavailable, and a share of the Yankee Conference Regular-Season Championship on the line, UConn beat Rhode IslandRhode Island Rams men's basketballThe Rhode Island Rams men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Ten Conference representing the University of Rhode Island. The team is currently coached by Jim Baron, who is in his 10th year...
35–32 at the UConn Field House, in what became known as "The Slowdown Game". Played before the shot clock-eraShot clockA shot clock is used in some sports to quicken the pace of the game. It is normally associated with basketball, but has also found use in sports such as snooker, professional lacrosse, water polo, and korfball....
, UConn dribbled endlessly for 38 minutes to make up for the limited roster and save energy. - March 30, 1988 – UConn defeated Ohio State 72–67 at Madison Square GardenMadison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
to win the NIT. - January 27, 1990 – UConn beat No. 15 St. John'sSt. John's University (New York City)St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
72–58 in the first game at Gampel Pavilion. - March 11, 1990 – UConn beat Syracuse 78–75 at Madison Square Garden to win its first Big East Tournament Championship.
- March 22, 1990 – Tate George hit "The Shot" to beat Clemson 71–70 in the 1990 Sweet 16 at Brendan Byrne ArenaContinental Airlines ArenaIzod Center is a multi-purpose arena, in the MetLife Sports Complex, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. It opened in 1981 and currently has a maximum seating capacity of 20,000...
in East Rutherford, New JerseyEast Rutherford, New JerseyEast Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,913. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
. - March 9, 1996 – With UConn trailing Georgetown, led by Allen IversonAllen IversonAllen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
, 74–63 with 4 minutes remaining, the Huskies closed the game with a 12–0 run and won the Big East Championship 75–74 on an off-balance floater from All-American Ray Allen at Madison Square GardenMadison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. - March 29, 1999 – UConn won its first National Championship, defeating DukeDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
77–74 at Tropicana FieldTropicana FieldTropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, which has been the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays. It has also served as the host stadium for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, an NCAA-sanctioned college...
in St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
. - April 5, 2004 – UConn won its second National Championship, defeating Georgia TechGeorgia Institute of TechnologyThe Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
82–73 at the AlamodomeAlamodomeThe Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...
in San Antonio, Texas. - March 12, 2009 – In the quarterfinals of the 2009 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament2009 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament- Championship Game :- Syracuse vs. Connecticut :The quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 12 between Syracuse and Connecticut lasted for six overtime periods, the second-longest game in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball history...
, UConn played a six-overtime game against Syracuse, the longest game in Big EastBig East ConferenceThe Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
history, and the second longest game in NCAA history. UConn never trailed in the first five overtime periods, but Syracuse won 127–117. - March 28. 2009 – defeated MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
82–75 to win the Arizona Regional Final and advance to their third Final Four
Women's Basketball
- Playing Facility: Gampel Pavilion & XL Center
- Head Coach: Geno AuriemmaGeno AuriemmaLuigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...
- Most Victories: 39 in 2002, 2009, 2010
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 23
- Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2011
- Undefeated Seasons: (4) 1995, 2002, 2009, 2010
- National Championships: (7) 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010
- Final Fours: (12) 1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Big East Regular Season Championships: (18) 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Big East Tournament Championships: (16) 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- All-Americans: 11 (19 appearances), including Maya MooreMaya MooreMaya April Moore is an American basketball forward for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA and Ros Casares Valencia of Euroleague. Moore was the winner of the 2006 and 2007 Naismith Prep Player of the Year. She was selected as the John Wooden Award winner in 2009 after leading Connecticut to the...
, only the 2nd freshman nationally named an All-American - National Players Of The Year: 6
- Drafted Players: 19
- Players in the WNBA: 23 (present or former)
- Basketball Hall Of FameBasketball Hall of FameThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
rs: 1 (Geno AuriemmaGeno AuriemmaLuigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...
) - Women's Basketball Hall of FameWomen's Basketball Hall of FameThe Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...
rs: 2 (Auriemma and Rebecca LoboRebecca LoboRebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin is an American television basketball analyst and a former player in the professional Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 to 2003...
) - Only Woman's basketball program to have had every game in a season televised, an annual feat since the 1994–1995 season.
- Most consecutive victories in NCAA history, with 90 wins.
Players
- Sue BirdSue BirdSuzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
, now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Diana TaurasiDiana TaurasiDiana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, now a member of the Phoenix MercuryPhoenix MercuryThe Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises... - Svetlana AbrosimovaSvetlana AbrosimovaSvetlana Olegovna Abrosimova is a Russian basketball player who has played in college, the Olympics, and in professional leagues. She currently plays for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA. She is usually called by her nickname, "Svet" or "Sveta".Abrosimova was born in Leningrad, Russian SFSR,...
, now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Ann StrotherAnn StrotherAnn Elise Strother is an American basketball coach, and former professional player, most recently for the Indiana Fever. Strother played at the collegiate level for the Connecticut Huskies, helping the team to two national titles....
, formerly a member of the Atlanta DreamAtlanta DreamThe Atlanta Dream is a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2008 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Dream Too LLC, which is composed of two Atlanta... - Nykesha SalesNykesha SalesNykesha Simone Sales is a former professional basketball player in the WNBA, most recently for the Connecticut Sun. Her primary position is the small forward. Her second position is shooting guard. In 1999 Sales was added to the roster of the USA FIBA Senior National Team team...
, retired from Connecticut SunConnecticut SunThe Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season... - Rebecca LoboRebecca LoboRebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin is an American television basketball analyst and a former player in the professional Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 to 2003...
, now works for ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming.... - Jamelle ElliottJamelle ElliottJamelle Renee Elliott is a basketball coach, currently employed as the Head Coach of the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team.-Early life and high school:...
, now a Head Coach at University of CincinnatiUniversity of CincinnatiThe University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio.... - Ashley BattleAshley BattleAshley Battle , is a professional basketball player. Drafted by the Seattle Storm in 2005, she played 2 games for them before being waived. She was with the New York Liberty for the 2006 through 2009 seasons. Battle played collegiately for the University of Connecticut women's basketball...
, formerly a member of the San Antonio Silver StarsSan Antonio Silver StarsThe San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio... - Kelly SchumacherKelly SchumacherKelly Schumacher is an American born Canadian professional basketball player and professional volleyball player...
, formerly a member of the Detroit ShockDetroit ShockThe Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion... - Kara WoltersKara WoltersKara Wolters is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player.Standing at six feet and seven inches , she was appropriately nicknamed "Big Girl". She is the tallest player in University of Connecticut women's basketball history and one of the tallest women to ever play in the WNBA...
, now the color commentator for the Connecticut Huskies Radio Network - Jennifer RizzottiJennifer RizzottiJennifer Rizzotti is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player, and current Division I coach. She is the daughter of Tom Rizzotti and Carol Rizzotti.-College:...
, now the Head Coach of the University of Hartford - Shea RalphShea RalphShea Sydney Ralph is a former collegiate basketball player and current assistant coach for the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. Ralph was proficient in multiple sports, set state high school records in basketball, and earned multiple national player of the year awards in...
, now an Assistant Coach for Geno AuriemmaGeno AuriemmaLuigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships... - Swin CashSwin CashSwintayla Marie Cash , better known as Swin Cash, is an American WNBA player who plays for the Seattle Storm. A prolific scorer and rebounder, as well as a capable ball handler and defender, she helped lead the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002...
, now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Barbara TurnerBarbara Turner (basketball)Barbara Renee Turner is an American professional basketball player. She plays for Tarsus in Turkey and formerly the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. A small forward, she is 6 feet tall and 78 kg weight....
, now a member of Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi S.K. Women's BasketballMersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi S.K. Women's BasketballMersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi S.K. Women's Basketball is the women basketball section of Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi S.K., a major sports club in Mersin, Turkey.-Achievements:*Turkish Women's Basketball League:**Runners-up : 2008-09... - Asjha JonesAsjha JonesAsjha Takera Jones is a professional basketball player. She plays the power forward position for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.-Early years:...
, now a member of the Connecticut SunConnecticut SunThe Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season... - Tamika (Williams) Raymond, now Assistant Coach at Kansas University and Head Coach, national team of India
- Kerry BascomKerry BascomKerry Bascom is a retired basketball player. She played forward and center for the Connecticut Huskies from 1987–1991, scoring 2,177 points, a school record until broken in 1998 by Nykesha Sales...
- Jessica MooreJessica Moore (basketball)Jessica Moore is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, most recently playing for the Connecticut Sun. Jessica was a Center for the UConn Huskies from 2000–2005.-High school:...
, now a member of the Los Angeles SparksLos Angeles SparksThe Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... - Ketia SwanierKetia SwanierNaketia "Ketia" Marie Swanier is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.-College career:...
, now a member of the Phoenix MercuryPhoenix MercuryThe Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises... - Charde HoustonCharde HoustonCharde Lakishia Houston is a professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the Minnesota Lynx....
, now a member of the Minnesota LynxMinnesota LynxThe Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season... - Mel ThomasMel ThomasMelanie Eileen "Mel" Thomas was born August 26, 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Jeff and Mary Thomas She is an American basketball player who played for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2004-2008.-High school:...
Author of book, "Heart of a Husky" and Director of Basketball Operations at Florida Gulf Coast University - Renee MontgomeryRenee MontgomeryRenee Danielle Montgomery is an American basketball player who won a national championship with the UConn Huskies in 2009. She currently plays for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.-High school:...
, now a member of the Connecticut SunConnecticut SunThe Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season... - Tina CharlesTina Charles (basketball)Tina Charles is an American women's basketball player with the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association and the Galatasaray Medical Park of the TWBL. Originally from Jamaica, New York, Charles was drafted 1st overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft...
, All American, 2010 Naismith National Player of the Year, now a member of the Connecticut SunConnecticut SunThe Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
and WNBA's Rookie of the Year for 2010 - Maya MooreMaya MooreMaya April Moore is an American basketball forward for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA and Ros Casares Valencia of Euroleague. Moore was the winner of the 2006 and 2007 Naismith Prep Player of the Year. She was selected as the John Wooden Award winner in 2009 after leading Connecticut to the...
, All American, 2010 Wade Trophy National Player of the Year,now a member of the Minnesota LynxMinnesota LynxThe Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season... - Kalana GreeneKalana GreeneKalana Lanette Greene , is a basketball guard, currently for the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA, and CCC Polkowice in Poland. She played her college career at the University of Connecticut, where the Huskies were the 2009 and 2010 NCAA national Champions.-Early life:Greene grew up in St...
, All Big East, now a member of the New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
.
Men's Cross Country/Track and Field
- Head Coach: Greg Roy
- Penn Relays Championship of America Titles: (1) 2000
- Big East Indoor Track and Field Championships: (6) 1987, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009
- Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships: (2) 1982, 2002
- Big East Relay Championships: 2
- All-Americans: 32
Women's Cross Country/Track and Field
- Head Coach: Bill Morgan
- Olympians: 1 (In Women's Bobsled)
- Big East Indoor Track and Field Championships: (2) 2008, 2009
- Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships: (1) 1995
- NCAA All-Americans: 9
Field Hockey
- Playing Facility: George J. Sherman Sports Complex
- Head Coach: Nancy Stevens
- Most Victories: 23 in 1999
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 19
- National Championships: (2) 1981 & 1985
- Final Fours: (10) 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2011
- Big East Regular Season Championships: (12) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011
- Big East Tournament Championships: (11) 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
- All-Americans: 46
- Olympians: 2
Connecticut Huskies Football
Main Article Connecticut Huskies footballConnecticut Huskies football
The Connecticut Huskies football team is a collegiate football team that competes in NCAA Division I-A and the Big East Conference. Connecticut first fielded a team in 1896, and participated in Division I-AA until 1999. The Huskies began their two-year Division I-A transition period in 2000, and...
- Playing Facility: Rentschler Field
- Head Coach: Paul PasqualoniPaul PasqualoniPaul Pasqualoni is the current head coach of the University of Connecticut football team. On January 13, 2011, Pasqualoni was named to lead the Huskies, two weeks after former coach Randy Edsall left for the University of Maryland....
- Most Victories: 10 in 1998
- NCAA Appearances (I-AA): (1) 1998
- Bowl Game Victories: 3
- Bowl Game Appearances: 5
- Last Bowl Game Appearance: 2011 Fiesta Bowl2011 Fiesta BowlThe 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game played as part of the 2011 Bowl Championship Series of the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
- Big East Championships: 2007 (shared with West Virginia), 2010 (shared with West Virginia and Pittsburgh)
- First Team All-Americans: 9
- Drafted Players: 14
- Players Currently In The NFL: 6
- All-Time NFL Players: 72
History and coaches
In the late 1990s, UConn decided to go from I-AA, where it had sporadic success, including making the 1998 I-AA playoffs, to I-A. UConn played as a I-A Independent from 1999 to 2003. During this time, the Huskies went from 2–9 to 9–3, and moved from Memorial StadiumMemorial Stadium (Storrs)
Memorial Stadium is a stadium in Storrs, Connecticut. It was primarily used for American football, and was the home field of the University of Connecticut football team between 1953 and 2002, before the opening of Rentschler Field. The stadium holds 16,200 people and was built in 1953. It was...
to Rentschler Field. In 2004, the Huskies were admitted as full football members of the Big East, and went 3–3 in conference play, en route to a 7–4 regular-season record. The school made its first-ever appearance in a bowl game, winning the 2004 Motor City Bowl over Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
by a score of 39–10. 2007 was a breakout year for the UConn Football team. They achieved a national ranking for the first time, becoming the second fastest team ever to attain a ranking after moving to division I-A, shared the Big East Championship with a 5–2 conference record, went 7–0 at home (only the second Big East team to ever do so), finished the season 9–3, and climbed as high as 13th in the BCS standings. The team was rewarded for their efforts with an invitation to the Meineke Car Care Bowl. In 2008 the Huskies earned their second-straight 7+ win season, and on January 3, 2009 in Toronto, Canada they made their school record, second-straight bowl appearance in the 2009 International Bowl
International Bowl
The International Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association collegiate American football bowl game played in Toronto from 2007 through 2010...
, playing against the University of Buffalo. The Huskies struggled with turnovers, but managed a 38–20 win over the Bulls, behind RB Donald Brown
Donald Brown (American football)
Donald Eugene Brown II is an American football running back for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was the starting running back for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2006 to 2008.-High school career:Brown attended Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, New...
's MVP performance. The win gave the Huskies their second Bowl Win in three attempts.
Players
- Deon AndersonDeon AndersonDeon Terry Anderson is a Free Agent American football fullback who most recently played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He attended and played college football at the University of Connecticut after graduating from the Avon Old Farms School in 2002. He was drafted in the...
– currently on the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... - Dan OrlovskyDan OrlovskyDaniel John Orlovsky is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. The Detroit Lions drafted Orlovsky in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
– currently on the Houston TexansHouston TexansThe Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Alfred FincherAlfred FincherAlfred William Fincher is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
– formerly on the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... - Tyvon BranchTyvon BranchTyvon A. Branch is an American football safety for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Connecticut.-Oakland Raiders:Branch was selected by the Raiders in the 4th round...
– currently on the Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Donald Thomas – currently on the Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- Danny LansanahDanny LansanahDaniel Delray Lansanah is an American football linebacker for Las Vegas Locomotives the of the United Football League. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Connecticut....
– formerly on the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... - Tyler LorenzenTyler LorenzenTyler John Lorenzen is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
– member of the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
team that won Super Bowl XLIVSuper Bowl XLIVSuper Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of... - Donald BrownDonald Brown (American football)Donald Eugene Brown II is an American football running back for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was the starting running back for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2006 to 2008.-High school career:Brown attended Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, New...
– currently on the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
(First 1st-Round Draft Choice in UConn Football history) - Darius ButlerDarius Butler-New England Patriots:Butler was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. On July 10, 2009, he signed a four-year contract with the Patriots that included a total of about $2.1 million in guaranteed money....
– currently on the New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... - William BeattyWilliam Beatty (American football)William Keith Beatty is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is currently the starting Left Tackle. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
– currently on the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Cody BrownCody BrownCody Dion Brown is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
– currently on the Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Julius WilliamsJulius WilliamsJulius Williams is an Canadian football defensive end who is currently playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
– currently on the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Brian KozlowskiBrian KozlowskiBrian Scott Kozlowski is an American football tight end in the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1993...
– free agent – former member of the NFL Giants ('93–'96), Falcons ('97–'03), and Redskins ('03–'07) - Nick GiaquintoNick GiaquintoNicholas Albert Giaquinto is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins. Giaquinto played in the 1982 and 1983 Super Bowls with the Redskins and retired after the 1983 season, ending his four-year NFL career...
– retired – member of the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
team that won Super Bowl XVIISuper Bowl XVIISuper Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
Former coaches/assistant coaches
- Lou HoltzLou HoltzLouis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
- Skip HoltzSkip HoltzLouis Leo "Skip" Holtz, Jr. is the head coach of the University of South Florida football team. For the previous five years, he served as the head coach of the East Carolina University football team...
- Kirk FerentzKirk FerentzKirk James Ferentz is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since 1999. From 1990 to 1992, Ferentz was the head football coach at the University of Maine. He has also served as an assistant coach...
– also played as a linebacker at UConn - Norries WilsonNorries WilsonNorries Wilson was the 18th head coach of the Columbia University football team, and the first African-American head football coach in the Ivy League...
- Steve SpagnuoloSteve SpagnuoloSteven Christopher Spagnuolo is the current head coach of the St. Louis Rams. He was previously the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants from January 2007 to January 2009, and also served for eight years under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles.-Early years:Born...
– defensive coordinator of the Super Bowl XLIISuper Bowl XLIISuper Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
Champion New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Men's Golf
- Head Coach: Dave Pezzino
- NCAA Appearances: (1) 1980
- Big East Championships: (1) 1994
Men's Ice Hockey
- Playing Facility: Mark Edward Freitas Ice ForumMark Edward Freitas Ice ForumMark Edward Freitas Ice Forum is a 2,000-seat hockey rink in Storrs, Connecticut. It is home to the University of Connecticut Huskies men's and women's college ice hockey teams. It opened on November 7, 1998, replacing the outdoor UConn Ice Arena, which was in use since the 1960s...
- Head Coach: Bruce Marshall
- Most Wins at D-I: 20 in 1998–99
- Most Wins Overall: 22 in 1991–92 (UConn played in Division III for men's ice hockey only until 1998–99)
- MAACMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceThe Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
Hockey League Championships: (1) 2000 (League is now known as Atlantic Hockey) - All-Americans: 9
Women's Ice Hockey
- Playing Facility: Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum
- Head Coach: Heather Linstad
- Most Wins: 16 in 2004–05
Women's Lacrosse
- Playing Facility: Sherman Sports Complex
- Head Coach: Megan Cersosimo
- Most Wins: 12 in 2005
- ECAC Championships: (1) 2006
- All-Americans: 2
Men's Soccer
- Playing Facility: Joseph J. Morrone StadiumMorrone StadiumMorrone Stadium, officially known as Joseph J. Morrone Stadium is the on-campus soccer stadium at University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut.The 4,500-seat stadium was built in 1969. and has undergone many renovations...
- Head Coach: Ray Reid
- Most Victories: 21 in 1980
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 28
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2010
- National Championships: (3) 1948, 1981, 2000
- College Cups: (5) 1981, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000
- All-Americans: 33
- National Players of the Year: 3
- Big East Regular Season Championships: (11) 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009
- Big East Tournament Championships: (7) 1983, 1984, 1989, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
- MLSMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Draft Picks: 14
Players
- O'Brian WhiteO'Brian WhiteO'Brian White is a Jamaica footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
- Damani RalphDamani RalphDamani Ralph is a Jamaican football player, who last played for Russian team FC Rubin Kazan in Russia.- Amateur/College :...
- Joe Morrone, Jr.Joe Morrone, Jr.Joseph "Joe" Morrone, Jr. is a former U.S. soccer midfielder. He was the 1980 Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate player of the year and the 1981 North American Soccer League Rookie of the Year....
- Chris GbandiChris GbandiChris Gbandi is a Liberian footballer currently playing for Miami FC in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-College:...
- Dan DoniganDan DoniganDan Donigan is a retired United States soccer forward who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League...
- Julius JamesJulius JamesJulius James is a Trinidadian footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-College:...
- Ryan CordeiroRyan CordeiroRyan Cordeiro is an American soccer player who last played for Real Maryland Monarchs in the USL Second Division.-College:...
- Bryheem HancockBryheem HancockBryheem Hancock is a former American soccer player who played professional soccer as a goalkeeper for clubs in the Major League Soccer, and A-League. He is currently the assistant coach to University of South Florida.-Club career:Hancock began playing soccer during his tenure at the University of...
- Mpho MoloiMpho MoloiMpho Moloi is a South African footballer, currently playing for Harrisburg City Islanders in the USL Second Division.-College:...
- Kevin BurnsKevin BurnsKevin Burns is an American television and film producer, director, and screenwriter. His work can be seen on A&E, National Geographic Channel, E!, Animal Planet, AMC, Bravo, Travel Channel, Lifetime, and The History Channel.-Early life:...
- Bonginkosi MacalaBonginkosi MacalaBonginkosi Macala is a South African football player who plays as a defender and midfielder for Engen Santos in the Premier Soccer League....
Women's Soccer
- Playing Facility: Morrone Stadium
- Head Coach: Len Tsantiris
- Most Victories: 23 in 1997
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 28
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2010
- NCAA Championship Game Appearances: (4) 1984, 1990, 1997, 2003
- College Cups: (7) 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1994, 1997, 2003
- All-Americans: 26 Players Awarded 44 Times
- Big East Regular Season Championships: (8) 1995,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
- Big East Tournament Championships: (2) 2002, 2004
- All-Big East Selections: 81
Players
- Niki CrossNiki CrossNiki Cross is a defender American soccer defender who plays for the Boston Breakers and the Boston Aztec Breakers Reserve . She scored her first career WPS goal for the now defunct Saint Louis Athletica of Women's Professional Soccer.-External links:* * *...
- Kristen GraczykKristen GraczykKristen Marie Graczyk is an American soccer forward and defender currently playing for FC Gold Pride of Women's Professional Soccer...
- Mary-Frances MonroeMary-Frances MonroeMary-Frances Monroe is an American soccer midfielder currently playing for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer and is a former member of the United States women's national soccer team.-External links:...
- Sara WhalenSara WhalenSara Whalen Hess was born on April 28, 1976, in Natick, Massachusetts. Whalen played for the United States Women's National Soccer Team from 1997 to 2000, and was a founding player of WUSA.-Soccer career:...
- Stephanie LabbéStephanie LabbéStephanie Labbé is a Canadian football player. She is a goalkeeper for the Piteå IF ladies team.-College career:...
- Meghan SchnurMeghan SchnurMeghan Schnur is an American soccer midfielder currently playing for Sky Blue FC of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States U-23 women's national soccer team. Schnur is an alumnus of Butler Senior High School.Schnur played college soccer at the University of Connecticut...
- Brittany Taylor (soccer)
Softball
- Playing Facility: Connecticut Softball Stadium
- Head Coach: Karen Mullins
- Most Victories: 45 in 1993
- Women's College World SeriesWomen's College World SeriesThe Women's College World Series is the final portion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for college softball in the United States. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket then compete in a best-of-three title game series...
Appearances: (1) 1993 - Big East Regular Season Championships: (6) 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- Big East Tournament Championships: (7) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001
- All-Americans: 7
Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving
- Playing Facility: Wolf-Zackin Natatorium
- Head Coaches: Swimming – Bob Goldberg | Diving – John Bransfield
- Big East Champions: 5
- Olympians: 1
Men's Tennis
- Playing Facility: UConn Tennis Courts
- Head Coach: Glenn Marshall
- Most Victories: 20 in 2000
Women's Tennis
- Playing Facility: UConn Tennis Courts
- Head Coach: Glenn Marshall
- Most Victories: 14 in 2002
Women's Volleyball
- Playing Facility: Gampel Pavilion
- Head Coach: Holly Strauss
- Most Victories: 35 in 1979
- Big East Regular Season Championships: 2 1994 & 1998
National Championships
The University of Connecticut has won has won 14 national team championships all time. In addition, the Intercollegiate Soccer Football Association (ISFA) named the 1948 men's soccer team national champions. The NCAA did not have a tournament for men's soccer until 1959.* Men's
o Basketball - 1999, 2004, 2011
o Soccer - 1948, 1981, 2000
* Women's
o Basketball - 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010
o Field Hockey - 1981, 1985
Pageantry
- Mascot: Jonathan the HuskyJonathan the HuskyJonathan the Husky is the mascot of the University of Connecticut. All UConn huskies are named Jonathan in honor of Jonathan Trumbull, the last colonial and first state Governor of Connecticut...
- Marching Band: University of Connecticut Marching BandUniversity of Connecticut Marching BandThe University of Connecticut Marching Band , nicknamed "The Pride of Connecticut," was formed in 1904 as an all-male ROTC band. It is currently under the direction of Dr. David Mills and assisted by Marvin McNeill. There are about 300 members in the band...
, known as "The Pride of Connecticut." - Additional Supporting Mascots: UConn Man (Blue & Gray suit) and America Man (American Flag suit)
- Fight Songs: UConn Husky and Fight On Connecticut