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 James 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.”
