Dear Furman Family,

The 2025-26 academic year will be remembered as one of the most successful and impactful years in the history of Furman Athletics. From outstanding academic achievement and graduation success to record setting philanthropy, transformational facility investments, a historic sweep of the Southern Conference Commissioners Cup and Germann Cup, and a first place Learfield Directors' Cup finish among Southern Conference institutions, our student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni, donors, parents, and supporters achieved extraordinary success—together.

Across our department, our student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom, in competition, and throughout the Furman community. Their commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and personal growth remains the foundation of everything we do and reflects the values that define Furman University. and their achievements reinforce our commitment to developing graduates who are prepared to lead and succeed long after their playing careers have ended.

In competition, Furman continued to be among the best of the nation's premier mid-major programs. Our teams earned conference championships, postseason appearances, national rankings, and individual honors while representing Furman with distinction. Highlighting the breadth and consistency of success across the department, for the first time in university history, Furman captured both the Southern Conference Commissioners Cup, recognizing overall excellence in men's sports, and the Southern Conference Germann Cup, recognizing overall excellence in women's sports. Furman also continued to rank among the nation's top athletic departments with a first-place finish among Southern Conference institutions in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings, a reflection of sustained success across all sports programs. These accomplishments are a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes and to the exceptional leadership of our coaches and support staff.

The momentum extended beyond competition. Through the extraordinary generosity of our alumni, donors, and friends, Furman Athletics achieved another record-setting year of philanthropic support. These investments are helping us strengthen scholarships, enhance the student-athlete experience, support competitive excellence, and position Furman Athletics for long-term success in a rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape. We also celebrated the continued impact of significant capital investments, highlighted by the reimagined Timmons Arena and other facility enhancements across campus. These projects represent much more than buildings; they are investments in people and provide current and future Paladins with resources that support excellence in every aspect of the student-athlete experience.

Perhaps most importantly, our success reflects the strength of our entire Furman community. Collectively, our accomplishments reflect what is possible when a university community is united by a shared commitment to excellence and to a common purpose. Athletics does not operate in isolation. Our achievements are made possible through strong partnerships across the university, including Enrollment, Advancement, Communications, Student Life, Academic Affairs, Finance, Facilities, and countless others who contribute to the success of our student-athletes and institution every day.

As we look ahead, intercollegiate athletics continues to experience unprecedented change. While challenges and opportunities remain, we are confident in our direction and are committed to ensuring that Furman continues to provide a transformational student-athlete experience while advancing the university's broader mission and strategic priorities.

On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, thank you for your unwavering support, belief, and investment in Furman Athletics. Together, we have built extraordinary momentum, and we are excited for what lies ahead.

The future of Furman Athletics is bright because of you.

Go Paladins!

Sincerely, 

Jason Donnelly
Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
Furman University