Creating Champions On and Off the Field: UT’s Sport Clubs Shine on the National Stage

Many UT fans and friends are familiar with the athletic success enjoyed across the university, but a lesser-known aspect of UT’s championship culture lives in the department of RecSports through the sport clubs program. The program is producing incredible results, combining national athletic success with intentional mentorship offered by department staff and personal growth available to students.

During the 2024–2025 academic year, 14 sport clubs out of a total of 45 competed on the national level in championship events for their sport with one team, clay target, bringing home the national title. And as of printing time for this story, men’s rugby has also won a national championship for 2025–2026, along with women’s soccer reaching the Final Four level of play in their national tournament and field hockey participating in a national tournament as well.

“I get calls and emails from the parents of prospective students who are asking about these sport clubs because they want their student to be able to continue to pursue their passions in college,” says Michael Corder, sport clubs coordinator for RecSports. “It’s definitely a draw for students with these interests, when I can tell them we have a bass fishing club or field hockey or men’s rugby, clubs that aren’t as common nationally. And for students who aren’t interested in pursuing a Division I athlete role, having these opportunities as part of the Volunteer experience is incredible.”

Across 45 sport club teams in the 2024–2025 academic year, the average club was around 34 members with a total of around 1,500 students participating. Operational responsibilities for each club lie with student officers who manage rosters, organize practices, sign up for tournaments, and lead their club with excellence. Many club officers are also able to develop interpersonal skills ranging from leadership and conflict resolution to logistics and fundraising.

“When it comes to mentoring the club officers, I really try to focus on what particular issues they face in their club,” says Corder. “For some clubs, that’s fundraising. For others, that’s managing their peers or learning how to make executive decisions.” As the coordinator of the program, Corder is responsible for creating training, opportunities, and conversations that deepen skill development for the student leaders in these clubs. 

Corder says that he starts with a basic conversation with officer teams to determine what they want to achieve for the year and how they want to get there. For some clubs, they might have a focus on recruiting more members or increasing their fundraising efforts. For others, the focus might be on expanding to include both a competition team that travels to weekend-long tournaments and a practice team of students that play and participate locally during the week. And for clubs that already have both a travel team and a practice team, the challenge for those students is keeping every club member involved and invested.

Some sport clubs also host their own tournaments and events in Knoxville as a way to raise funds and also raise the profile of their club. In these instances, UT sport clubs compete against sport club teams from other SEC schools or smaller regional schools. Corder notes that the experience officers have is similar to that of running a small business, where budgets, logistics, and management all intersect with the world of collegiate sports. 

Both regional and national tournaments are generally held over weekends, with sport club officers working with RecSports staff and UT Fleet Management to secure transportation if personal vehicles aren’t available. These tournaments usually come with entry fees to participate on top of travel costs, so sport clubs work with UT Advancement through initiatives like VOLstarter or Big Orange Give to recruit donors and lead their club’s finances. 

During Big Orange Give, 386 donors gave a total of $14,775 to sport club funds in 2024, and 574 donors gave a total of $34,518 to sport club funds in 2025. This represents a 49% increase in the number of donors and a 134% increase in the total funds donated from 2024 to 2025, illustrating the Volunteer community’s commitment to supporting sport club athletes. 

For many students, these sport clubs represent a holistic opportunity that helps them be involved on campus, pursue physical and social wellness, travel, expand personal skills, engage in leadership development, and create a sense of belonging with peers who share a passion for the same sport. Sport Clubs at UT not only enhance the Volunteer community but help more Volunteers participate in the university’s winning traditions and championship spirit.