New UConn president says he’s committed to football

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut’s incoming president says he’s committed to having a major college football program and has no plans to move the school out of the American Athletic Conference.

Thomas Katsouleas, the provost and executive vice-president of the University of Virginia, was appointed Tuesday as the next president of the University of Connecticut. He will take over the job in August.

Katsouleas says football is part of UConn’s identity. He says cutting it would not have the savings some people think and it has ancillary value for other sports and fundraising.

He noted winning would help, after UConn football finished 1-11 last season.

The school recently reported that athletic expenses outpaced revenues last year by more than $40 million.