When University of Connecticut student Susan Hackett filed her first public records request, she didn’t expect to discover just how much money a single campus coach could earn.
In spring 2026, Hackett enrolled in a media law course with Professor Amanda J. Crawford. The course covered key First Amendment principles and encouraged students to request public records through Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
UConn was in the midst of March Madness at the time and sports dominated conversations around campus. Inspired, Hackett submitted a public records request through UConn’s Public Records Administration, but focused on the men’s hockey team: “I was like, let me do a different sport because basketball’s had enough attention.” Hackett sought head coach Michael Cavanaugh’s employment contract. “I wanted to know not just the contract,” she said, but also “his bonuses, like how much he gets per game and incentives.”
When she received the documents, she combed through them extensively. “I can’t believe hockey coaches get paid that much,” she recalled thinking. “It was insane.”
Unearthing this contract earned Hackett honors from the New England First Amendment Coalition, MuckRock, and the Society of Professional Journalists New England. These organizations hold a monthly public records contest for student journalists.
Her request revealed two documents: the fully executed agreement between Cavanaugh and UConn, and an amendment, which converted $12,000 from automobile allowance into his salary. With the amended pay, Cavanaugh’s annual salary for the 2024-2025 contract year was $563,250. Because his salary increases by roughly $28,000 each year, he will earn $619,752 for the 2026-2027 contract year. That base pay, however, is just the minimum.
Hackett was most surprised by the size of his performance bonuses. Among them, the contract awards more than $42,000 if the team qualifies for the NCAA Tournament, increasing to more than $125,000 if the team advances to the Frozen Four. Another contract provision declares that if he remains employed through April 1 of 2028, Cavanaugh receives a $180,000 retention bonus.
Hackett and her friends were struck by how much Cavanaugh could earn, especially compared with the salaries of other campus employees. “That doesn’t seem fair,” Hackett remarked.
As surprised by Cavanaugh’s salary as they were, Hackett’s friends were equally fascinated to learn about Connecticut’s FOIA. Many were unaware of how much government information is publicly available. “I think it’s just something everyone should know about,” Hacket said.
While reviewing official documents is necessary for journalists to “prevent gossip” and pursue the truth, requesting records is not just for newsrooms, Hackett said, adding that if more people knew how much information they could access, “the public would be a lot more informed and curious.”
Hackett recently graduated with degrees in journalism and marketing. She wants to combine those fields by bringing marketing strategies and social media analytics to journalism and “get viewers more engaged on the online content.” Hackett is confident that FOIA requests will continue to strengthen her writing and investigative work. She said the skill is ingrained in her now: “You never leave it. Once you learn it, it’s always a part of you.”
Lane Daniels is NEFAC’s 2026 First Amendment intern. She is a rising junior at Wesleyan University where she is majoring in the College of Letters (philosophy, literature and history) and theater. She plans to attend law school after graduation.