Athletics a Point-of-Pride at Central
Charles (C.J.) Jones, Athletics Director, Central Connecticut State University

“If you build it, they will come.” At least that’s what Kevin Costner said in the movie, Field of Dreams. Well, we have built a quality Division I athletics program, and now we are ready to continue that process. To continue on the road we have traveled means a renewed commitment. We cannot rest on our past successes but must create new opportunities and explore new challenges in realizing future aspirations of even higher levels of achievement.

Many former student-athletes and coaches have helped us over the past 12 years of my tenure as Athletics Director. It gives great satisfaction to all involved to see our transformation— witnessing the Conference Championships, the NCAA Tournament appearances, and the individual accomplishments of our student-athletes on the playing field, in the classroom, and in their post-collegiate careers.



Opposite my desk is a “Wall of Champions”—a collection of photographs of CCSU teams and athletes—and it brings a smile to my face when I think of the four consecutive Women’s Soccer Northeast Conference Championships and the gold star next to the 2003 season. That star signifies Central’s first NCAA Conference Tournament win, a victory over Boston College, and the Northeast Conference’s only win in the NCAA Soccer Tournament. Knowing that every women’s soccer player since the team was formed in 1995 has won a conference championship brings great pride to my heart. Additionally, the three consecutive baseball tournament championships (and our competition against national powers Texas, Florida, and Arizona State), the back-to-back football championships, the men’s golf team winning three championships in the past five seasons and, of course, the men’s basketball team making the NCAA Tournament are each great accomplishments. The trips to the NCAA “Big Dance” were also firsts in our Division I history, making CCSU one of three Northeast Conference schools to take two trips to the “Big Dance” over the past six years. The NCAA berths have afforded me the opportunity to co-author a book A Method to March Madness: An Insider’s Look at the Final Four.

Other appearances on the Wall of Champions include back-to-back women’s cross country championships as well as women’s indoor track, women’s golf, and women’s volleyball conference crowns. We continue to be a force in the Northeast Conference, and we look to continue our run of championships. Our unofficial theme is “99 ½ Won’t Do.” The coaches and athletes embrace it, and it has served us well.

While we move forward, I will be calling out to our alumni and community to become more involved in helping to make New Britain and Central Connecticut State University the best that we can be. Support comes in many ways, and in unity there is strength. We have always tried to make Central a “home.” Our fans and friends are loyal and special, and I am fortunate to have spent my whole career at Central Connecticut.
 

 
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