Good ideas and inspiration often come from looking at the best or most successful in their pursuit which is true in university athletics. As a player, as a coach, as a fan, and, most of all, as a team you want to win and you want as many people to support you as possible. When you think of the team, the coaches, past team members, dedicated alumni, and a broader fan base, you have a lot of people and they form a significant community, your Athletics Community.
How can you grow your athletics community? Perhaps you can learn from the success of others. Here we would like to share some information about the largest university alumni communities based on different measures. As you look at some of these organizations, there will be hints on how they build their community and how they engage their community on a regular basis. They can help you have a winning community even if they beat you on the field of sport.
The term “biggest” can be interpreted in various ways—based on the number of athletes, sports programs, facilities, fan base, or overall success in athletics. Here are a few universities known for their prominent athletics communities:
- University of Alabama (UA): The University of Alabama has a highly successful athletics program, particularly in football. The Crimson Tide has won numerous national championships that cultivates a passionate fan base.
- University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin): UT Austin is renowned for its athletics programs, especially in football and basketball. The Texas Longhorns have a massive following and a rich history of success in various sports. Having the Hook ‘em, horns! hand signal creates a special bond all over the world.
- University of Florida (UF): The Florida Gators have excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and track and field. UF’s athletic program enjoys substantial support from its fans.
- University of Michigan: Known for its “Big House” football stadium, the University of Michigan boasts a storied football tradition with the largest stadium and almost as many TV fans as the Buckeyes. The Wolverines have also achieved success in basketball and ice hockey, among other sports.
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): UCLA has a strong athletics community, particularly in basketball. The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team has won numerous NCAA championships.
- Ohio State University: Ohio State has a rich history in collegiate athletics, with its football program being particularly renowned with the most TV viewers at over 70 million.
- University of Oregon: The University of Oregon is known for its track and field program and has produced several Olympic champions. The Ducks’ football team has also gained national attention in recent years.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC): UNC’s men’s basketball program is one of the most successful in NCAA history, with multiple national championships. The Tar Heels also have a strong tradition in other sports.
- Stanford University: Stanford has a well-rounded athletics program with success in various sports, including swimming, tennis, and golf. The Cardinal have excelled in cultivating the reputation for attracting strong scholar-athletes.
- University of Kentucky: The University of Kentucky is renowned for its basketball program, with multiple NCAA championships. UK’s fan base is passionate and widespread.
If you want to look into more strong university athletic communities, you can find them at:
Based on budget: https://www.sportsmanagementdegreehub.com/the-universities-that-spend-the-most-on-athletics/
Based on fanbase: https://www.crimsoneducation.org/us/blog/crazy-sports-fans/
Based on Olympic Medals: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_universities_with_Olympic_medalist_students_and_alumni
Based on the number of sports teams: https://sportsbrief.com/other-sports/35102-which-college-sports-teams-united-states-america/
It’s important to note that the prominence of university athletics communities can change over time due to various factors, such as the performance of their teams, coaching changes, and shifts in fan support. Additionally, universities in different countries may have their own dominant sports and strong athletics communities.
Read more articles in the Athletics Community Transformations Series at AlmaShines or the Impactrics Resources area.
