Hartford sponsors teams in eight men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports.

[3] On May 6, 2021, the University of Hartford Board of Regents voted to drop its athletic department to Division III.

Starting in 2022–23, Hartford would no longer award athletic scholarships to incoming students, and begin playing as a Division I independent.

"[8] "The University of Hartford clinched its second-straight America East Academic Cup in 2012–13 after posting the highest grade-point average of any school in the 18-year history of the award.

It is believed that the nickname stemmed from spectators having to climb four flights of stairs in the old Chauncey Harris School on Hudson Street in Hartford to the "Hawk's Nest" to watch basketball and wrestling events.