STORRS, Conn. – The UConn Division of Athletics announced that Chris Grosse has been named Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Strategy as announced by Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer Jason Butikofer on Friday. Grosse will oversee the creative content, marketing and fan engagement, strategic communications and video services departments in his new role.
Grosse (Gros-see), a 2005 UConn graduate, returns to his alma mater after serving as the assistant athletic director for marketing and fan experience at Penn State University since September of 2018.
"I would like to thank Jason Butikofer, David Benedict and the search committee for this amazing opportunity," commented Grosse. "My family and I are so excited to come home to the University of Connecticut to join the Husky family.
"UConn is a special place, and the growth and success of the athletics department over the last several years is something I can't wait to be a part of," Grosse said. "I am excited to work with our external units to continue the global growth of the UConn Huskies brand, to engage with our passionate fanbase, and tell the amazing stories of our student-athletes."
"I could not be more excited to welcome Chris to the UConn family," stated Butikofer. "In a world where the opportunities with social media, revenue generation, and fan engagement continue to expand, there is no doubt Chris' proven track record and broad-based experience will have an incredible and immediate impact on our external efforts."
In his role at Penn State, Grosse oversaw the marketing department and its initiatives for the Nittany Lions' 31 varsity programs. Grosse and his staff focused on fan experience, game attendance, revenue generation, consumer insights and digital marketing initiatives.
In charge of marketing and fan experience for the Penn State football program, Grosse and his staff were charged with creating and evolving the gameday fan experience in Beaver Stadium, which averaged 107,379 fans per game in 2022.
He was a member of the Athletics Senior Staff and in his role at Penn State, Grosse collaborated with creative services, strategic communications, video production, development, ticket office and Penn State Sports Properties. He also led the Nittany Lion Fan Council to engage the community and assist the athletic department in overall fan experience at Penn State.
Grosse served as the administrator for the Penn State Spirit Teams and Blue Band and as the secondary administrator for the track and field and cross-country programs.
Prior to Penn State, Grosse served as the assistant athletics director of marketing and director of marketing at Georgetown for four years. He spent five years at the United States Naval Academy as an associate director of marketing, promotions and corporate sales.
Grosse began his career as a marketing assistant at Florida State University while working on his master's degree before serving as assistant director of marketing and promotions at New Mexico State University.
A native of Bedford, New Hampshire, Grosse earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from UConn and a master's degree in sports administration from FSU.
Grosse and his wife, Natalie, have two children, a daughter, Annabelle, and a son, Benjamin.
