I’m With the Band

David L. Mills

David L. Mills, director of the UConn Marching Band — known across the region as The Pride of Connecticut — retired at the conclusion of the 2022 season after 33 years at the helm. More than 600 alumni band members came out to the Homecoming football game at The Rent in celebration of Mills’ impressive career as a music educator.

Homecoming weekend itself felt like a tribute to Mills, with scores of former band members filling alumni events to reminisce and celebrate his legacy.

Mills grew the UCMB from a program with 120 members when he arrived in 1990 to one of the Northeast’s premier college marching bands and the largest student organization on campus — 300-plus musicians strong. In 2019 and 2021, UCMB was one of the three finalists for the Sudler Trophy, awarded every two years to the nation’s top college marching band.

AMB03103_Austin Bigoney_UConn Athletics

By Jason reider ’15 (SFA), proud UCMB alum

Photos By Top: Peter Morenus, Bottom: Austin Bigoney

Discuss

  1. I was in the band in the 1960’s when it first adapted the big 10 style. It was great fun and a wonderful experience!
    Will remember my participation forever marching down the field spelling UCONN.
    Charlie Lipson
    Class of 1967

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