Determination and resolve are two of the traits that are helping MBA candidate and UConn football wide receiver Drew Kron sprint to the goal line in athletics and beyond. Kron, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 2025 with a major in finance and a minor in real estate, recently spoke to UConn Today about what has helped him prosper both on and off the field.

When did you decide to attend UConn?

I was raised in Hebron, which was only 20 minutes from the UConn campus in Storrs. As far back as I can remember we were going to campus for sports, to the Dairy Bar, and for other events.

I officially made the decision to attend UConn and play baseball there when I was still a sophomore in high school. That early commitment relieved the stress of having to worry about completing other college applications, which was the case for many of my peers. Also, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic; I couldn’t easily visit other schools that were interested in me. The early decision took a lot of pressure off so I could remain focused on sports and academics.

You played both baseball and football?

Growing up I played baseball, football, and basketball. I attended Xavier High School in Middletown, where I was quarterback for their football team for four seasons. I received a varsity letter for all three sports as a freshman, before I decided to just play baseball and football. It’s very challenging for college athletes to play two sports, so baseball was my choice back then; I played it at UConn for two and a half years before switching back to football. When I tried out, the coaches steered me toward becoming a wide receiver. All positions are intensely competitive, but we thought that would be a good path for me, whether to be on special teams or as a receiver.

Was your family worried about you switching back to football?

My mom and sisters were worried when I was considering that option, but my dad loved it. He’s a big football guy, so he was on board. Obviously, you train to be in peak physical and mental condition, and learn how to try to avoid injuries, though I broke my collarbone in practice before last season started. That’s healed, and I’m back 100 percent.

What role, if any, did your family play in choosing UConn and finance as a discipline?

As I mentioned, UConn always was on my radar. Also, my father is a CPA and a partner for a firm in Glastonbury – Mahoney Sabol and Company. I grew up exposed to finance, watching and learning about financial subjects and the profession through him. Finance was more appealing to me than accounting, and halfway through my undergraduate studies I knew I was going to continue on and earn my MBA.

I have two sisters. My oldest sister, Hanna, who did competitive cheer, graduated from Virginia Tech, and my sister Gretchen, who’s also older than me, played soccer at Quinnipiac University. They and my mom, who’s now retired – she was a software developer at iQor – were very supportive of my athletic career.

What’s an average day for Drew Kron?

We get started early, like between 6 and 6:30 a.m., and usually have something to eat at 7:00. Following breakfast, it could be lifting weights in the morning, or recovery sessions where we stretch, roll out our muscles, or do yoga. Next, we’ll have position and team meetings. We’ll practice from 9:30 to 11:30. After that, it’s time for classes, so I either jump online, or go home or to the library to review my assignments and study. We come back into the Burton building around 4:00 p.m. and have meetings until dinner, typically running until six or seven o’clock. It’s a long day.

How have you been able to successfully balance academics and athletics?

I made sure to always take academics seriously. I was already on pace to graduate early, and I knew I wanted to complete an MBA degree. I was drawn to the UConn School of Business’s Flex MBA program, which combines online and in-person classes. I did take some in-person classes, but this semester it’s all online. Each week I’m given assignments and can work around my football schedule, which allows me the best of both worlds.

When you’re playing college sports you have practice every day, and you train and play right through the summer, there’s no down time. You learn to adjust, how to schedule things effectively, and how to be disciplined enough to stay on top of different tasks. Eventually, you get used to these challenges and it becomes second nature.

Have you had mentors in your academic and athletic pursuits?

Both of my sisters have been very supportive and great mentors for me. Gretchen is in finance. She works for The Travelers in New York City, and was a Division I athlete as well, so I’ve been able to learn both sides of it from her. Hanna took a more traditional path, had opportunities to do internships, and also has been influential and a strong supporter.

Another person that has helped me enormously is Bryant Shirreffs. Bryant played quarterback at UConn from 2015 to 2017. He was my quarterback coach starting when I was in 7th or 8th grade. We stayed in touch when I was in high school and when I got to UConn, we reconnected. He’s shared stories and experiences, and we’ve worked some camps together. He works at Merrill Lynch, so he also knows the challenges of managing athletics and academics and continues to be a valuable source as I focus on the future.

I’ve had so many great professors throughout my time here. Since getting into the MBA program, one of my first in-person classes was with Professor Mike Bozzi, who also serves as director of the Office of Student Services for the MBA program. He’s a great guy and somebody who is always available to help students. I’ve learned a lot about how to balance things and what to expect with the program.

The Business School has a fantastic reputation and does a great job of creating opportunities. It’s important to get involved, join the finance club or other groups, and attend developmental programs, like when the school brings in companies to talk about careers. You can learn a lot from that stuff, and honestly, those experiences remain with you as much as regular classes.

What do you hope to be doing after graduation?

My goal is to go into financial advising, and I find the idea of working and living in New York City, like my sisters do, very appealing. I’m not sure if I’d prefer a small or a large firm, but will keep my options open. I’ve learned that companies like applicants who were student athletes, because they know we’re disciplined, hard-working, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

What general advice would you offer to students, whether athletes or not, that will help them succeed at school, after school, and in life?

Whether it’s athletics or academics, you should do the things you need to do to be successful. You really have to put your mind to something if you want to take it to the next level. From an athletic standpoint, we’ve had so many great motivational speakers come in, but that learning isn’t just limited to football, it’s life-related. It’s the same thoughts, it’s the same principles, on the field or off the field.

I’ve had ups, I’ve had downs … it’s not what I thought it was going to look like when I was a kid or just in high school. But it is a blessing to be able to experience all that, and to battle through the hardships.

One valuable lesson I’ve learned is how important it is to follow what you love and what you want to do. It might be appealing to chase the easier path, but you should listen to your heart, because if you’re not doing something you like, it’s going to be stressful, and there’s going to be a lot of things that are a grind. But by following your passion, learning from others and staying the course, ultimately, you get to see the bigger picture and where you want to go, and really put your head down and work to get there.

The UConn football team will play Syracuse at noon on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.