Indiana University Athletics
Department of Athletics Presents Facility Enhancement Plan
9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Facilities Master Plan Situational Analysis
Student-Athlete and Coach Quotes
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Sept. 20, 2006
Coach Sampson Quotes | Coach Jack Quotes
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan presented an aggressive facility enhancement plan to the IU trustees today during their annual retreat. The plan would upgrade a number of high-profile facilities, helping to bring Indiana more in line with their Big Ten Conference peers.
"Indiana is an elite institution that competes with other top universities in every facet of its educational mission," Greenspan said. "In order for the athletic program at IU to continue to compete at that high level, we must invest in our success and that means providing comparable resources and facilities to that of our peers."
The facilities master plan is highlighted by four major projects; three entirely new structures and one significant retrofit and renovation.
The Memorial Stadium North End Zone Project will house a new, state-of-the-art strength development area used by over 600 Indiana student-athletes. In addition, coaches offices and meeting space for the football program, a Hall of Honor which will spotlight successful student-athletes and teams throughout the history of IU athletics and athletic administration offices will be a part of the plan. The project also calls for the removal of the north and south end zone bleachers.
"This is the type of facility the top programs in the Big Ten already have," Head Football Coach Terry Hoeppner said. "It's a wonderful commitment to the football program, and to Indiana University as a whole, that we are able to embark on this type of an aggressive campaign. This facility will allow us to compete on a truly elite level."
Architect's plans call for the Indiana basketball teams to have a new facility to call home. The Indiana Basketball Development Center will serve as the daily headquarters for the men's and women's programs, featuring practice courts, locker rooms, coach's offices and meeting rooms for each team, as well as a training room and strength development area. The addition of the center will alleviate serious overcrowding issues encountered in the current facility.
"Indiana Basketball's tradition is unrivaled anywhere throughout the college landscape," Head Men's Basketball Coach Kelvin Sampson said. "Today, we need to have the facilities and the resources necessary to compete at the highest level. The plans for the Indiana Basketball Development Center are very impressive."
"Our goals and expectations are to build a championship caliber women's basketball program at Indiana," Head Women's Basketball Coach Felisha Legette-Jack said. "A facility like this provides us with the opportunity to compete with the top programs in the Big Ten and across the country."
The Student Development and Compliance unit at Indiana University will relocate as a part of the facilities plan, moving from a modest 2,500 square foot space in Assembly Hall to a spacious and renovated 18,000 square foot area located on the east side of Memorial Stadium. Classrooms, private tutoring space, study areas, computer labs and staff offices will all be housed in the Academic Center for Excellence.
"The new academic center will be a tremendous benefit to our student-athletes as they pursue their educational endeavors," Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Dr. M. Grace Calhoun said. "The increased space, tutoring rooms and computer lab are just a few of the resources afforded to our program will help provide a significant competitive advantage in the classroom." The final component of the facilities upgrade involves the construction of the Hoosier Baseball and Softball Complex, just north of the Mellencamp Pavilion and Indiana Tennis Center. Both stadiums will feature a state-of-the-art playing surface, press box, indoor batting cages and bullpens. Likewise, the baseball and softball projects will include new locker rooms and offices adjacent to the stadiums. These upgrades will position IU to host future Big Ten and NCAA post season play, as well as elite amateur tournaments.
"This type of facility elevates Indiana Baseball to another level," Head Baseball Coach Tracy Smith said. "It will enable us to recruit a higher caliber student-athlete and ultimately enjoy greater success than ever before."
"We are excited about what the construction of the Hoosier Softball Complex will do for our program," Head Softball Coach Stacey Phillips said. "We took some significant steps toward success last season and this is another huge leap toward putting Indiana on the college softball map."
The estimated $55 million in planned construction will be paid for from two primary sources. Bonds will be issued guaranteed by revenue from department of athletics operating budget, including media rights income, distributed from the Big Ten. The remainder of the funds necessary to complete the projects will be generated through an aggressive fundraising campaign, allowing IU to achieve the margin of excellence that will enable them to compete with institutions at the conference and national level.
"We feel strongly that this is what we need to do to keep, and in some cases, restore Indiana programs to where they ought to be," Greenspan said. "Indiana University is a special place and has enjoyed fantastic success in the past. We're confident, however, that our greatest successes still lie ahead of us." Greenspan addressed the media following the meeting.
On his overall thoughts:
"I think the trustees were pleased with the presentation. Obviously, the official action won't take place until later on in their retreat. I was very pleased with all of the broad-based support that we received from our constituents, from the student body president (Betsy Henke) to the faculty chair of the athletics committee (James Wimbush). We sincerely appreciate President Herbert's support throughout, and we are hopeful of full support from the trustees."
Pending trustee approval, what is the next step in this process:
"From our side, it is an opportunity to move forward with God's speed in getting the final design plan in full review. We need support and consent from the coaches in terms of how we define very specific parts of the facilities, etc., with design to go to bid and the construction phase. It enables us to go through those processes that I have been fortunate to deal with on other campuses. It enables us to deeply and fully engage our alumni and friends on a project that they all know is going to happen. I think, as we ask for significant gift support, it is important for donors and contributors to know that this is not going to be another water color stuck in a closet. We are going to turn dirt and hang steel."
What is the first area to address in this facility plan?:
"The first shovel to go in the ground is the first project that is successfully awarded a bid. I think that they're on the same timeline, but perhaps the building in the end zone, with the square footage and change of grade, may take longer to design. Once they're deigned and bid, hopefully, we're ready to rock and roll."
Discuss the finances of the project:
"The ability for us to generate private funds that are supportive of what we estimate are $55 million in project costs is critical. As Trustee (Steve) Ferguson said, the more successful we are in raising private funds mitigates the bond requirement. That is important because the bond becomes fixed annual debt that I would like to reduce or elimiate in a perfect world."
How valuable is the academic services facility enhancement?:
"The ability to create more space for academic services is huge because a) it is obviously the right thing to do, and b) it allows us to capture a lot of square footage without drilling more holes or hanging more steel. That's a big part of this plan."
