UConn To Pay $17 Million AAC Departure Fee In Big East Move

STORRS, CT — The University of Connecticut will pay a $17 million exit fee to the American Athletic Conference and "move forward" with its plans to join the Big East Conference in all sports, except football, men’s and women’s ice hockey and rowing.

In an announcement Friday, UConn and the AAC said the exit fee must be paid in full by the end of fiscal year 2026. UConn will leave the AAC after the next go-round of seasons.

UConn officials said that FBS Independent status is "the best course of action for the football program" and will proceed with "plans to construct a football schedule for the 2020 season and beyond."

"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," UConn athletic director David Benedict said. "I would like to thank (AAC commissioner) Mike Aresco and his staff for their professionalism during this process and we look forward to writing a memorable final chapter in 2019-20."

As far as legalities are concerned, the American’s member institutions voted, in accordance with conference bylaws, to terminate UConn’s membership, effective July 1, 2020.

"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," 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."

Late last month, the UConn Board of Trustees officially endorsed a move back to the Big East Conference for the school's athletic teams after the next school year. The vote was unanimous.

UConn was a charter member of the Big East when it was formed by eastern basketball powers in 1979. It joined the AAC in 2013 when several members with big-time football programs departed for other leagues like the Big 10 and Atlantic Coast Conference.

Schools that empahsized basketball as their biggest sport remained in a new Big East Conference with some additions. UConn stayed in the Big East for some sports like field hockey and women's lacrosse.

Basketball-wise, the UConn women have never lost in the AAC and with six conference tournament titles. The Huskies have 11 national titles.

In men's hoop, the Huskies have won four national championships in basketball since 1999 with three coming through the Big East and one in 2014 during their first year as an AAC member.

The AAC bylaws stipulate that UConn would pay a $10 million withdrawal fee with a notice of 27 months and that spurred negotiations for a 2020 departure.