Hudy returning to UConn as director of sports performance
Andrea Hudy is returning to UConn as the director of sports performance for women’s basketball, the school announced Wednesday.
Hudy previously worked with the Huskies from 1995-2004, helping three different programs capture eight NCAA championships. She was the primary sport performance coach when the Huskies won the 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 titles in women’s basketball, and also spent time with the national championship men’s basketball (1999, 2004) and men’s soccer teams (2000).
Hudy spent the past two seasons as head coach of basketball strength and conditioning at Texas. In that role, she oversaw the strength and conditioning program for both the men’s and women’s teams and was the primary sport performance coach for the men.
She replaces Amanda Kimball, who took a new position within the UConn athletic department as director of holistic and reintegration sports performance.
“We’re beyond excited to bring in someone like Andrea Hudy,” UConn coach
Geno Auriemma said in a statement. “She’s been here before and knows what the expectation level is. She had a lot of success here, and at Kansas, and at Texas. To get one of the premier strength and conditioning coaches, in men’s or women’s basketball, was a great opportunity for us. We’ve had great success here with our strength and conditioning. I think Hudy being here, especially with such a young team this year, gives us an opportunity to add to what we’ve been doing here all this time.”
In 27 seasons as a collegiate strength and conditioning coach, Hudy has trained 51 student-athletes who have gone on to play in the NBA and 21 who have gone on to play in the WNBA.
“Returning to the University of Connecticut is a full circle moment,” said Hudy, a Maryland graduate who earned her master’s in sport biomechanics from UConn in 1999. “Having started my career here over 26 years ago created a solid foundation for me in sports performance, and to be a part of UConn again is a great opportunity. It will be a great experience to see such a familiar place with new perspectives. I am grateful to Coach Auriemma and his staff, David Benedict, and the University of Connecticut for this opportunity to continue cultivating the championship culture that has become a rich tradition. It is an honor and a privilege.”
Prior to Texas, Hudy spent 15 years as the strength and conditioning coach for Kansas men’s basketball. The Jayhawks produced 35 NBA Draft picks and won the 2008 NCAA title during that time.
In 2017, the National Strength and Conditioning Association honored Hudy with the Impact Award, given to an individual whose career has greatly contributed to the advancement of the national or international strength and conditioning or fitness industries.