What an exciting year for UMass Athletics—and the Alumni Association was there to support the teams and fans along the way. The Alumni Association is a major financial sponsor of the UMass Amherst Intercollegiate Athletics program. With our support, UMass Athletics can provide student athletes the opportunity to compete and achieve on the field of play. In addition, the Alumni Association coordinated 52 events around the country that brought more than 5,500 UMass fans out to cheer for the Minutemen and Minutewomen.

The Alumni Tailgate Tent, just outside of McGuirk Stadium, was the location for good food, fun, and friends before each home football game, as well as Homecoming Weekend. If you ever want to enjoy some great cookout food meet Sam the Minuteman, and rally with the UMass Cheerleaders before the game—the Alumni Tailgate Tent is the place to be. Alumni also came out in busloads— literally—to travel to the NIT Championship Game at Madison Square Garden. Fourteen buses took more than 700 fans to cheer for the men’s basketball team. Following the team’s strong performance came the announcement of a new Head Coach, Derek Kellogg ’95, and the Alumni Association led the charge to welcome him back to his alma mater with meet-and-greet receptions throughout New England.

For those not able to attend in person, our Alumni Clubs coordinated game watches to bring UMass action to all parts of the country. If you love wearing maroon and white amid a sea of adoring UMass Amherst fans, then your Alumni Association will be there to cheer you on.