Alumni Athletics

January 10, 2019 | Athletic Communications

UConn Football Receives $1 Million Gift

The gift from alumnus Chris Fraser '80 will fund new lockers in the Burton Family Football Complex and other enhancements to the program.

Interior view of the Burton Family Football Complex. (Stephen Slade '89 (SFA) for UConn)

The gift from alumnus Chris Fraser '80 will fund new lockers in the Burton Family Football Complex and other enhancements to the program. (Stephen Slade '89 (SFA) for UConn)

The UConn football program has received a $1 million commitment from UConn alumnus Chris Fraser, as announced on Thursday. Fraser graduated from the University of Connecticut with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and business administration in 1980.

My experience and education at UConn provided the foundation for my success, and I am delighted to be able to give back. — Chris Fraser '80 (CLAS, BUS)

The gift will be used to install new lockers in the locker room of the Burton Family Football Complex, and will help fund other significant initiatives and enhancements of the UConn football program.

“It is with great pride and pleasure that my wife Karen and I are making this gift to UConn and the football program,” says Fraser. “My experience and education at UConn provided the foundation for my success, and I am delighted to be able to give back to the University.

“The direction and the future of UConn football under Coach Edsall’s leadership is exciting. Randy is an outstanding coach and a great friend who does things the right way. His passion for excellence, his commitment, and his dedication to the student-athletes and their development to be winners on the field, in the classroom, and in life is admirable. I am proud to be associated with the football program and pleased to support their success.”

Fraser recently retired as president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board of KMG Chemicals, a position he has held since 2013. He is a longtime supporter of the UConn football program.

UConn Football Head Coach Randy Edsall leads practice on campus on July 31, 2017. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)
‘The direction and the future of UConn football under Coach Edsall’s leadership is exciting,’ says alumnus and donor Chris Fraser. (Peter Morenus/UConn File Photo)

Head coach Randy Edsall became acquainted with Fraser in 1999 when he served on the committee formed to raise money for what would become the Burton Family Football Complex and the Mark R. Shenkman Training Center. The two became close friends and have remained so ever since.

“Chris has been a great friend and sounding board to me since 1999,” says Edsall, “and I’ve been very appreciative of our friendship and his insight into many different issues that go with being a head coach/CEO of an FBS Football program.

“He has been there every step of the way with our program, from 1AA to the Big East Conference and now to the American Athletic Conference. His support and commitment to our program and student-athletes is greatly appreciated as we build our program back to a championship-level caliber. We can’t do it alone, and having a man of Chris’s character and generosity on our team will only help us get to our goals sooner, rather than later.”