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By the numbers: Celebrating AANHPI college athletes and leaders

Media Center Corbin McGuire

By the numbers: Celebrating AANHPI college athletes and leaders

A decade of growth highlights the rising impact of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander student-athletes

May marks Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the rich diversity and impact of AANHPI individuals across college sports.

From record growth in student-athlete participation to increased leadership representation, here's a look at the influence of AANHPI communities in NCAA sports — by the numbers.

A growing presence in college sports

  • 13,844 — Total AANHPI student-athletes competing across all NCAA divisions in 2024-25.
  • 48% — Growth over the past decade (+4,509 student-athletes).

Top sports for AANHPI student-athletes

The top five sports, by total number of AANHPI student-athletes in 2024-25, are the following:

Men's sports

  1. Football — 1,344.
  2. Outdoor track and field — 770.
  3. Soccer — 748.
  4. Indoor track and field — 707.
  5. Tennis — 645.

Women's sports

  1. Soccer — 650.
  2. Swimming and diving — 645.
  3. Tennis — 623.
  4. Outdoor track and field — 609.
  5. Golf — 588.

While football and women's soccer account for the highest number of AANHPI student-athletes, respectively, other sports stand out by the percentage of AANHPI student-athletes. Below are the top five sports for men and women by that metric.

Men

  1. Fencing — 25%.
  2. Gymnastics — 10%.
  3. Tennis — 9%.
  4. Rifle — 8%.
  5. Volleyball — 6%.

Women

  1. Fencing — 28%.
  2. Golf — 10%.
  3. Rugby — 8%.
  4. Tennis — 8%.
  5. Gymnastics — 8%.

Sport growth in the AANPHI community 

Recent data show that AANHPI representation is expanding across a wide range of sports, with significant gains in both total participants and percentage growth.

The top five sports recording the largest increase in the past 10 years in the total number of AANHPI student-athletes in 2024-25 are the following:

Men's sports

  1. Soccer — 340.
  2. Football — 334.
  3. Indoor track and field — 333.
  4. Outdoor track and field — 317.
  5. Baseball — 242.

Women's sports

  1. Golf — 218.
  2. Swimming and diving — 187.
  3. Outdoor track and field — 147.
  4. Indoor track and field — 145.
  5. Soccer — 135.

Highest percentage growth in the past 10 years (minimum 100 student-athletes):

Men:

  1. Volleyball — 116% (89 to 192).
  2. Fencing — 99% (87 to 173).
  3. Wrestling — 89% (104 to 197).
  4. Indoor track and field — 89% (374 to 707).
  5. Lacrosse — 84% (119 to 219).

Women:

  1. Lacrosse — 94% (140 to 272).
  2. Fencing — 82% (117 to 213).
  3. Gymnastics — 62% (84 to 136).
  4. Golf — 59% (370 to 588).
  5. Basketball — 58% (196 to 310).

Leadership trends

AANHPI representation is growing in leadership roles, too.

  • 41% — Increase in AANHPI head coaches across all NCAA divisions compared with a decade ago, going from 204 in 2015 to 287 in 2025.
  • 10% — Year-over-year increase in AANHPI assistant coaches, from 838 to 918.
  • 52% — Increase in AANHPI assistant coaches over the past decade (314 additional coaches).

(This summary includes the latest data on Asian American and Pacific Islander student-athletes and leadership in the NCAA for the 2024-25 academic year. The figures reflect individuals categorized as "Asian" and "Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander" in the NCAA Demographics Database.)

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