Bio

Central Connecticut State University Director of Athletics Tom Pincince announced the appointment of Kathleen Bantley as the Blue Devils new faculty athletics representative. Bantley assumed the role on June 1, 2022.

“We hold our student-athletes to a high academic standard, and we are so proud of the many, many scholar-athlete awards they earn every year,” says CCSU President Zulma R. Toro. “As a former student-athlete, Dr. Bantley is very familiar with the demands of collegiate competition, and as an educator she is a passionate proponent for higher education and student success. She is an ideal choice for the role of faculty athletic representative, and I am confident she will be an excellent advocate for our student-athletes.”

The FAR serves as the liaison between the university and the athletic department on issues regarding compliance and developments at the NCAA. The position promotes academic integrity and enhancements of the student-athlete experience at CCSU. Bantley will also represent the Blue Devils within the NCAA and Northeast Conference.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Kathy as our faculty athletic representative,” said Pincince. “Her experiences as a student-athlete and collegiate coach, coupled with her knowledge of the Central community, make her uniquely qualified to serve in this role. I look forward to her making a positive impact on our department and the experience of our student-athletes.”

Bantley is in her 21^st year as a member of the faculty at CCSU and is a professor in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department. She served as the chair of that department for five years and was also the interim chair of the Department of Communications for two years. Bantley is heavily involved in university service. She currently serves on the Task Force for the new College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Sexual Assault Resource Team, the Student Conduct Appeals Hearing Board, and the AAPI minor Committee, to name a few.

“Athletics is critical to the fabric of a university, providing a signature and community by bringing people together,” said Bantley. “The FAR role is a great opportunity for me based on my past experiences and is a perfect fit for both my academic and athletic interests.”

No stranger to athletics, Bantley was a member of the women’s basketball team at UConn, where she earned her undergraduate degree in 1990. She went onto earn her law degree from Western New England University and remains a practicing attorney in Massachusetts to this day. Bantley returned to campus in 1997 with a stint as a volunteer in the UConn compliance office, before moving to Nichols College to take on the role of women’s basketball coach. All told, she spent 16 years coaching basketball and softball at the Division III level.

Bantley has been active within the athletic community during her tenure at Central. She has been a part of the Blue Devil National Girls and Women in Sports Days, served as interim FAR, as well as serving on a variety of search committees for the department.