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Led by a record-setting STAGiving Day, ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ University Athletics Development reports a banner year in 2019-20 with support for ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ's 480 student-athletes reaching an all-time high. Throughout the fiscal year, the Stags garnered the support of 2,813 donors which included 1,224 alumni, 695 parents and 510 friends to raise more than $15.1 million in gifts, in which $1.65 million in gifts for operational support for all 20 varsity teams and $13.5 in capital, planned, and endowed gifts to help repair, renovate, and construct facilities to improve players' experiences, and to provide merit-and need-based scholarships for student-athletes.
 
These figures all mark single-year bests for the department and also indicate a 78% increase in operational support over a two-year period of time.
 
"The unprecedented level of support for our student-athletes is overwhelming and truly inspiring," said Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann. "This upcoming semester will be a unique time to be a ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ University student and student-athlete, and the unwavering support of our alumni and fans reminds us that even in difficult and uncharted circumstances, our student-athletes can continue to grow as fierce competitors, dedicated life-long learners, and compassionate leaders in the campus community."
 
On STAGiving Day, a one-day record of 1,013 donors contributed to ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ University Athletics in a movement for STAGS 4 STAGS. The annual event — held on June 23, 2020 — also generated a record-high of more than $572,000 in gifts.

"These are uncertain times for ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ Athletics, but by the evidence of our alumni, parents and friends, they will continue to support our student-athletes as we try to stay healthy and safe," said Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Executive Director of Athletics Development Nick Wormley. 

The majority of contributions from 2019-20 will be directed towards the operational needs of each varsity program, providing the requisite resources to compete for championships, supplement scholarships, and facilitate critical services in an ever-changing environment for Stags student-athletes.

Contributions from Friends of ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ Athletics give our student-athletes access to resources that enable them to thrive in and out of competition. Support from this community contributed to the following achievements in 2019-20:

• ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ volleyball won its fourth MAAC Championship in the past five seasons, and Women's swimming & diving won its third consecutive MAAC Championship, leading the effort as the Stags won the MAAC Commissioner's Cup for Women's Sports.
• The nationally ranked field hockey program won the Northeast Conference Championship and earned the right to host an NCAA postseason game for the first time in program history. The Stags went on to defeat #23 American on University Field, and then took #2 UConn into overtime in the following round. ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ finished with the second-best record in the nation (19-3) trailing only unbeaten national champion North Carolina.
• For the first time in documented athletics department history, all 20 athletics programs earned a team GPA above 3.0 in both semesters. This includes 136 MAAC All-Academic Team honorees and 83 student-athletes to earn a 4.0 GPA in one or both semesters.