ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ has been named a 2024 Front Office Sports Best College Athletic Department. The award recognizes the best college athletics departments – those addressing the specific challenges of scholastic sports in the modern age. Selected institutions are leaders in the collegiate sports sector, executing unique, holistic, and empowering programs to help college athletes navigate an era of accelerating change so these up-and-comers can enjoy lasting success — physically, mentally, and monetarily. Along with Fairfield, this year’s winners include Clemson University, the University of Oregon, the University of South Florida, the University of Oklahoma, Old Dominion University, and Wake Forest University.
"It is an honor for ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ to be recognized by Front Office Sports as one of the best college athletics departments in the country," said Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. "Our coaches, staff, and University administration are aligned and relentless in the pursuit of comprehensive excellence and a shared vision to achieve national prominence. We do so with a steadfast reliance upon our core values while offering an exceptional holistic educational experience for student-athletes that results in competitive success. As the college athletics landscape continues to evolve, we remain focused on our objective to position Fairfield as a modern, innovative leader in NCAA Division I."
To recognize these departments, Front Office Sports and Sports Innovation Lab teamed up to identify this year's best athletics programs, those modeling to the rest of the collegiate athletics sector how to innovate on behalf of the college athletes of today and tomorrow. Collegiate athletics departments across the U.S. of all sizes and members of any division were eligible to participate. Applicants submitted responses to a 28-question online form between May 27 and Sept. 4, 2024. Questions covered the following categories:
- Sports-related facilities and resources
- Mental health and other wellness services
- NIL (name, image, and likeness) deregulation support and education
- Career transition services
Notable components of the Fairfield Stags submission included:
- The establishment of the $52 million Leo D. Mahoney Arena
- $2.5 million raised in 2023 in support of Stags student-athletes
- NIL initiatives such as the establishment of the Red Sea Rising collective and partnerships with Athletes Thread and INFLCR
- The creation and execution of the Built for Life student-athlete development program focused on the holistic development and care of all 500 Stags student-athletes
Responses were carefully evaluated and scored, and the final selections represent those departments that have demonstrated exceptional innovation in, and commitment to, a brighter future for college athletes.
