UConn Announces National “C” Club Intiative

The UConn division of athletics announced a new program called the National “C” Club, led by former women’s basketball player and assistant Jamelle Elliot. The goal of the club is to provide current and former Husky student-athletes with better networking and mentorship opportunities.

“As we continue to pursue excellence it is important to provide a platform for former student-athletes to connect and assist each other and current Huskies with mentoring, internships and job opportunities,” athletic director David Benedict said in a press release. “As a former UConn student-athlete and coach, Jamelle is a perfect fit to develop and direct this special program.”

The foundation of the program came about from a donation by former UConn football player John Fodor and his wife, Sally.

One of the first goals of the “C” Club is to create a working database of former UConn athletes and help them network to help secure internships, find mentors and maintain the connection to UConn and the athletic department. It is also tasked with helping to build a sense of family and community among former UConn student-athletes with reunions and special events.

Elliott returns to UConn as the associate athletic director in charge of the program. She played for the Huskies from 1992-96 before becoming an assistant on Geno Auriemma’s staff in 1997. In 2009, she left the program to become the head coach at Cincinnati before she was let go after this past season.

In 2017-18, the Bearcats experienced their most successful season in recent memory, winning 19 games en route to a WNIT bid. On top of it, her team was forced to play at high school gym due to renovations at Cincinnati’s Fifth-Thirds Arena. Auriemma called her firing “positively disgraceful” on Twitter while former teammate Rebecca Lobo also voiced her displeasure.

However, Elliott is happy to be back in Storrs.

“It feels good to be home,” Elliott said. “I am extremely grateful to David Benedict for the opportunity to come back to a place that brings back so many fond memories. I look forward to working alongside the rest of the Athletics staff to have a positive impact on our current student-athletes and I am eager to engage with our alumni and rejuvenate pride in being a ‘Husky for Life.’”