Built to win
How Big Red supporters fuel Denison athletics
At Denison, athletics are woven into the fabric of student life. Nearly 30% of students compete in varsity sports, developing leadership, resilience, teamwork, and confidence alongside their academic pursuits. The lessons learned through competition become habits that serve graduates long after they leave The Hill.
Sometimes, those lessons lead all the way to the top.
This past year, three Big Red teams brought home NCAA Division III titles: baseball and women’s basketball captured the first national championships in program history, while men’s swimming and diving earned its second consecutive national title and seventh overall.
It’s been called a golden era for Denison athletics. But the trophies only tell part of the story.
Behind every practice, recruiting visit, team meeting, and celebration stands a community of alums, families, fans, and donors who believe in what athletics can do for students. Their cheers, generosity, and even cookies help create an environment where student-athletes can learn, grow, compete, and excel.
“Our teams’ collective success is a byproduct of the amazing support from alumni, family, and friends committed to Big Red student-athletes and everything they’re capable of achieving,” said Matt Tanney, Denison’s director of athletics. “We could not perform at the highest levels of Division III without such consistent support.”
Championship programs are built on more than talent and determination. They require exceptional coaching, facilities that support team building, and resources that help attract talented student-athletes.
Across Denison athletics, donor support helps provide those advantages.
“Support for Big Red athletics extends far beyond the field, court, track, and pool,” Tanney said. “It elevates opportunities for students’ personal development and mentorship from accomplished coaches and dedicated staff.”
The ongoing connection between philanthropy and athletic success can be seen across Big Red programs, including No. 1-ranked women’s basketball.
In 2020, during Denison’s Unlocking Potential campaign, longtime super fans Jim ʼ69 and Mary ʼ74 Larimer established the Larimer Family Fund to provide unrestricted support for the women’s basketball program. Their investment reflected confidence in the coaching staff and Denison’s ability to direct resources where they would have the greatest impact.
Six years later, the Big Red were national champions, celebrating after their title-clinching win in Virginia beneath a miniature disco ball the Larimers sent to the team.
The Larimers’ fund helped provide the flexibility and resources necessary for sustained excellence. Their support is one example of how athletics-focused philanthropy creates the conditions that allow students to achieve the extraordinary.
The same principle applies in the facilities where Big Red student-athletes run, dive, tackle, kick, and hurdle their way to victory.
When Kienzle-Hylbert Stadium opened in 2024 — thanks to the generosity of Rick Kienzle ’85 and his wife, Cindy, and Paul Hylbert ’66 and his wife, Katharine — it immediately transformed team life for Denison’s soccer and lacrosse programs. Players now compete in a venue that reflects the excellence they pursue every day, while prospective students see firsthand the university’s commitment to athletics.
Plans are now underway for a dedicated team center adjacent to the stadium that would provide meeting rooms, team gathering spaces, training areas, and other resources for men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse while helping meet the growing needs of Denison athletics programs. It’s another investment in an aspect of campus life that is a central complement to students’ academic pursuits.
This year’s championships are a testament to the talent and dedication of the teams wearing those red and white uniforms. They are also a reflection of a community whose generosity helps make achievements like these possible across all Big Red sports.
“Thank you on behalf of the entire athletics program,” Tanney said. “Your support makes a difference in the lives of our student-athletes every day.”
“Thank you on behalf of the entire athletics program. Your support makes a difference in the lives of our student-athletes every day.”
Matt Tanney
Associate Vice President & Director of Athletics
A standing O for WO
Denison Singers establish scholarship honoring Professor Emeritus William Osborne
This past summer, generations of Denison Singers returned to campus to celebrate a remarkable milestone: the ensemble’s 65th anniversary and 600th public performance. But more importantly, they gathered to honor the life and legacy of Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts William “WO” Osborne, whose influence shaped generations of students, musicians, and alums.
For many, WO was far more than a conductor. He was a mentor, champion, and community builder who created lifelong bonds through a shared love of music.
Now, alums are ensuring that his impact will continue for generations to come.
Denison Singers alums Amy MacDonell ʼ79 Pʼ18 and James Gentner ʼ70 have established the Dr. William Osborne Fine Arts Scholarship in WO’s memory. The scholarship will help attract and support talented students whose passion for the arts reflects Osborne’s lifelong commitment to artistic excellence and student growth.
“My connection with WO started the day after I walked onto campus,” MacDonell said. “It set the standard for the rest of my Denison experience.”
Osborne served on the Denison faculty from 1961 to 2003, founding and leading the Denison Singers while inspiring students both inside and outside the classroom. Though the ensemble formally concluded after his retirement, the community he created has remained deeply connected across generations.
“WO stitched together this family of very diverse people,” MacDonell said. “WO was our glue.”
The new scholarship reflects the profound gratitude of alums whose lives were shaped by Osborne’s mentorship and vision. It creates opportunities for future students to pursue their artistic passions and enrich the Denison community through music and the arts.
“I am very keen to support prospective students to Denison, without them having to fear a lot of debt when they leave,” Gentner said. “Denison’s enthusiasm for educating students who are interested in the arts — not necessarily professionally, but as part of a larger liberal arts education — is incredibly important.”
As alums gathered to sing in WO’s memory, they celebrated not only a beloved professor and friend, but a living legacy — one that will continue on through the students who benefit from his scholarship for years to come.
“Denison’s enthusiasm for educating students who are interested in the arts — not necessarily professionally, but as part of a larger liberal arts education — is incredibly important.”
James Gentner ’70
Head Tennis Coach David Schilling ’89 with Dave Jonas ’78
“Dave’s dedication to Denison men’s tennis has been extraordinary, and our program simply would not be where it is today without his support.”
David Schilling ’89
Head Tennis Coach
Staying in the game
Alum serves up support for men’s tennis
Every winter, Dave Jonas ’78 returns to Denison for a familiar ritual: hitting with the men’s tennis team, cheering from the sidelines, and reconnecting with a program that has remained central to his life for more than 50 years.
A former team captain, NCAA qualifier, and lifelong tennis enthusiast, Jonas has stayed deeply engaged with Denison tennis long after graduation. Today, he is one of the program’s most dedicated supporters, investing his time, mentorship, and philanthropy to help current and future student-athletes thrive.
“There are a number of organizations that are special to me, and yet Denison tennis is No. 1 among all of them,” Jonas said. “In terms of how much I give, how often I give — Denison tennis is in my will.”
His generosity has helped strengthen every aspect of the student-athlete experience, from recruiting and travel opportunities to innovative resources that allow the program to compete at the highest level. Head coach David Schilling credits supporters like Jonas with helping elevate Denison into a national powerhouse.
“Dave’s dedication to Denison men’s tennis has been extraordinary, and our program simply would not be where it is today without his support,” Schilling said.
The team’s ascent reached a historic milestone in 2025 when Denison captured its first NCAA Division III men’s tennis championship. Jonas and his former teammates watched together from afar, celebrating a moment years in the making.
“I was just elated,” he said. “I could see it all coming together.” Since then, the Denison doubles pair of Ethan Green ʼ26 and Kael Shah ʼ26 captured an NCAA title in May 2026.
For Jonas, philanthropy is about investing in something that has given so much back to him. His gifts help ensure that today’s players have access to the same sense of belonging, opportunity, and lifelong connection that shaped his own Denison experience.
More than five decades after first stepping onto the courts, Jonas remains a devoted fan, mentor, and champion for the program. Through his generosity, future generations of Big Red student-athletes will continue to benefit from the opportunities that made such a lasting impact on his life.
The moments they’ll remember
Fostering joy on campus, one event at a time
For generations of Denison students, some of the greatest memories of college life have happened outside the classroom. These are the occasions that bring the campus together, spark new friendships, and become the stories alums tell for years afterward. Denison Day is one such occasion.
Known affectionately as D-Day, the annual concert has been a signature part of the fall semester for decades. Over the years, performances have included artists ranging from Diana Ross and the Supremes to The Who, Dave Matthews, Ben Folds, and Mos Def. Today, Denison Day continues to create opportunities for students to connect with one another and strengthen the bonds that define Denison’s residential experience.
The Bob ’77 and Mary ’76 Foster Student Events Endowed Fund helps make those cherished highlights possible.
“Some of the moments we remember most from Denison are the ones when the campus would come together and have fun, away from the pressures of academic life,” said Bob Foster ʼ77. “Mary and I wanted to support experiences that create that same sense of energy, community, and connection for today’s students.”
Inspired by their own campus journey — the Fosters met on The Hill and later married — the fund supports a range of student events, with Denison Day and other concert-based programming at its heart. Their gift reflects a belief that shared experiences help build a vibrant campus community.
This intentional fostering of joy was on display during last year’s D-Day, when students gathered on Reese~Shackelford Common for a festival atmosphere filled with music, food, and school pride. Student performers shared the stage before welcoming Grammy Award-winning pop artist Daya, whose hit songs had the crowd singing, dancing, and capturing it all with their phones held overhead.
In a residential community where relationships are central to the campus experience, events like Denison Day are a powerful example of the college’s commitment to enhancing student life. They create unifying traditions, and provide opportunities for students to recharge amid busy schedules and academic responsibilities.
Through their support, the Fosters are helping ensure future generations of students can partake in the same fun and camaraderie that shaped their own Denison years. Their investment is not simply funding a party — it is helping create the memories and friendships that last long after the music ends.
“Some of the moments we remember most from Denison are the ones when the campus would come together and have fun... Mary and I wanted to support experiences that create that same sense of energy, community, and connection for today’s students.”
Bob Foster ’77