Athletics

The University of Hartford’s intercollegiate athletics program operates under the umbrella of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Competing at the Division I level, the University offers varsity competition in 16 sports, eight for men (M) and eight for women (W). The 16 sports are baseball (M), basketball (M&W), cross country (M&W), golf (M&W), lacrosse (M), soccer (M&W), softball (W), indoor track and field (M&W), outdoor track and field (M&W), and volleyball (W). The university will add women’s lacrosse to its intercollegiate athletics program in the spring of 2018.

The University is a member of America East Conference. The membership includes nine institutions: Hartford, the University of Maine, the University of New Hampshire, Binghamton University, University at Albany, Stony Brook University, the University of Vermont, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The University is also a member of the Big Sky Conference for men’s golf and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for women’s golf.

America East offers championship competition in 18 sports. The America East provides member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field. The conference enjoys automatic qualifier status for NCAA postseason play in the sports of baseball (M), basketball (M&W), cross country (M&W), field hockey, lacrosse (M&W), soccer (M&W), softball (W), swimming & diving (W) outdoor track and field (M&W), indoor track and field (M&W) and volleyball (W).

The University attracts over 300 student-athletes from 23 states and 16 foreign countries, who experience success both on and off the field. The University of Hartford has won four-straight America East Academic Cup Championships for having the league’s highest cumulative GPA (2012-15). Six of the Hawks’ programs were recognized for having an Academic Progress Rate in the top 10 percent of all programs in the NCAA in 2016, and Hartford has been recognized in this way 54 times in the 13 years that the NCAA has run the APR.

Student-athletes receive academic advising, health services, career guidance and many other services that help create well-rounded graduates of the University of Hartford. The sports medicine staff provides a comprehensive list of services, including injury care and rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, drug and alcohol education, and general personal health advisement.

Our sport programs at the University of Hartford have a very rich history, which includes many professional athletes like former NBA All-Star Vin Baker, Baseball Hall of Fame nominee Jeff Bagwell, PGA Tour professional Jerry Kelly and many more.

Hartford Athletics received a new brand identity in the summer of 2015, introducing rejuvenated logo marks to better encompass the energy within Hawk Nation. The program also introduced a new mantra - “Hawk Nation Domination” - with the hiring of Anton Goff as the Director of Athletics in 2014.

The Department of Athletics does not just serve student-athletes, as members of the general student body also play a vital role in the day-to-day operations of the Hawks. Students provide the department support through work-study positions, as team managers, in athletic training roles, with game-day production and much more. Additionally, the spirit programs - cheer, dance and pep band - all play a major role in the home-court success of the Hawks as well as playing a key part in the department’s community relations efforts.

For more information on Hartford Athletics, visit HartfordHawks.com or follow the Hawks on social media via Twitter (@HartfordHawks), Instagram (@HartfordHawks), Snapchat (@Hartford_Hawks) and Facebook (/HartfordAthletics).

Intramural Sports

The intramural program offers a variety of sports-related activities to students, faculty, and staff, designed to meet the recreational needs of the participants. The intramural objective is to provide a well-rounded program based on participation and enjoyment, rather than athletic skill or achievement. About 2,000 individuals participate annually. The activities offered through the intramural program for men and women, depending on interest level, are flag football, basketball, three-on-three basketball, softball, team handball, indoor soccer, outdoor soccer, volleyball, tennis, racquetball, ultimate Frisbee, badminton, squash, swimming, dodge ball, and wallyball. 

For more information about intramural sports, http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/intramura/home.html

Recreational Activity

Recreational activity in the Sports Center is geared toward the students’ enjoyment in a free-play setting. It serves as a change of pace from a student’s daily academic routine. All full-time students may use the Sports Center.

The Sports Center features a 3,508-seat main arena; an NCAA competition-size swimming pool; courts for volleyball, badminton, squash, and racquetball; and a fitness and weight room. Six lighted tennis courts and an outdoor swimming pool are located behind the Sports Center, adjacent to the soccer fields.