The University of Hartford Board of Regents’ decision in May 2021 to transition the school’s athletics program from NCAA Division I to Division III made statewide news and drew the ire and outrage of some students, alum and sports fans. It even led to a student-led lawsuit claiming UHart “reneged on its commitment” to student-athletes. […]
The University of Hartford Board of Regents’ decision in May 2021 to transition the school’s athletics program from NCAA Division I to Division III made statewide news and drew the ire and outrage of some students, alum and sports fans.
It even led to a student-led lawsuit claiming UHart “reneged on its commitment” to student-athletes.
Nearly a year later — and in the midst of a new five-year strategic plan — UHart President Gregory Woodward, who faced the brunt of the controversy, anger and outcry, said he stands by the decision to move to Division III because it’s in the best long-term interests of the school.
In March, the NCAA officially approved the transition, which will happen no later than Sept. 1, 2025.
“As leaders of the University of Hartford, we are required to make decisions that are in the best long-term interest of the institution and the entire university community,” Woodward said in an interview with the Hartford Business Journal. “The Division III intercollegiate athletics model better aligns with the university’s mission and goals of creating exceptional academic athletes and wellness experiences for all students.”
The decision to move to Division III came on the heels of a university-sponsored study on the matter.
The study — prepared by CarrReport and led by former UConn Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway — concluded the school was losing about $13 million annually on its athletics program and transitioning to Division III would save nearly $10 million a year.
Critics tried to poke holes in the report’s conclusions, arguing the savings would be much less, but Woodward and the Board of Regents moved forward with the plan anyway.
The school’s 17 athletic programs are currently competing in Division I but are not in a conference, while they await the move to Division III in a few years.
Woodward spoke frankly about whether or not UHart needs to have a strong sports program to attract students. He said it does not.
“Athletics is the lowest thing on the list of why students come here,” he said. “Our sporting events are not very well-attended. We have athletes, great athletes and coaches and it’s a sad thing to see excellence be unaffordable for us, but it is unaffordable for us.”
Woodward said UHart garners less than $500,000 a year in gifts for its sports programs. He said the university lost donors after the decision to move to Division III, but declined to disclose the financial impact.
Meantime, Woodward said over the next two years, UHart will be adding field hockey, men’s and women’s ice hockey, and will be bringing back men’s and women’s tennis.
