UConn Avery Point Director of Athletics Travis Beausoleil has announced Duane Witter as the new head men’s basketball coach. Witter, who will be making his collegiate coaching debut with the Pointers, brings a wealth of experience from his 25-season tenure as the Varsity Boys Basketball coach at Farmington High School.
During his distinguished career at Farmington, Coach Witter accumulated 345 wins, securing the 1999 Northwest Conference Tournament Championship and the 2019 CIAC Division III State Championship. His teams also made three CIAC State Tournament Final Four appearances. Witter’s dedication to the sport and his athletes was recognized with the 2024 CIAC Merit Award, honoring his distinguished service in basketball.
Coach Witter has coached 15 CHSCA All-State student athletes and 12 CHSCA All-State All-Academic student athletes. He also served as a coach for the CHSCA All-Star game in 2007 and has been the owner and director of the CT Swish Basketball Camp for over 20 years.
Witter is excited to begin his new role and is keen to engage with the student-athletes at Avery Point. “The first order of business is to meet with the team to understand how I can best support their efforts,” Witter said. “I value loyalty and will work diligently to earn the team’s trust.”
“Coach Witter stood out in a very deep pool of candidates we had from across the country and I am excited to have an alumni come back to Avery Point to lead the basketball program,” said Athletic Director Travis Beausoleil. “He knows what goes into winning at a competitive level and will be a leader for the young men in his program both on and off the court.”
Coach Witter holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Eastern CT State University and a Master of Science in Physical Education from Central CT State University. He began his collegiate career at UConn Avery Point where he was a letterwinner on the 1985-86 basketball team. Witter began his teaching career in 1991 and retired from teaching in 2023.
Beyond his professional achievements, Coach Witter has been happily married to his wife Julie, an elementary teacher, for 33 years. Their son Trey, a former captain of the Men’s Basketball Team at Springfield College, is now an Assistant Basketball Coach at Saint Anselm College. Their other son, Ryan, is a West Point graduate currently serving as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
“Athletic Director Travis Beausoleil and the Leadership Team took the task of finding a coach very seriously. I am grateful for their belief in me and I am eager to begin this new chapter,” Witter added.
