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UConn to leave AAC in 2020, pay $17M exit fee

Mike Anthony: As divorce proceedings continue, UConn and AAC looking to move on with new respective lives

UConn director of athletics David Benedict, left, speaks with American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco at AAC media day at Gurney’s Newport Resort and Marina Tuesday. (Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant/TNS via Getty Images)

TNS via Getty Images

UConn announced on Friday that they have officially reached an agreement with the American Athletic Conference on an exit fee as the school looks to re-join the Big East Conference.

The Huskies will leave on July 1, 2020, and will pay an exit fee of $17 million. They will be joining the Big East in all sports except football, ice hockey and rowing. The football program will become an independent team.

“I want to thank David Benedict for his leadership and cooperation in reaching a swift and amicable resolution regarding UConn’s departure, and also UConn president Susan Herbst for her support of the conference,” AAC commissioner Mike Aresco said. “We appreciate UConn’s accomplishments in The American, we wish them the best, and we thank them for their contributions over the past six years.”

“Some of the finest moments in UConn athletics history came during our time as a member of the American Athletic Conference and I am grateful to The American for providing a home to many of our teams over the last six years,” said Benedict, UConn’s athletic director. “I would like to thank Mike Aresco and his staff for their professionalism during this process and we look forward to writing a memorable final chapter in 2019-20.”