MONROE, La. – The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System and the Board of Regents for the State of Louisiana have approved the ULM End Zone Facility as announced by athletic director Brian Wickstrom on Tuesday.
“Exciting times and happy the Board of Regents and Board of Supervisors granted approval to move forward,” said ULM president, Dr. Nick J. Bruno. “We are excited for our program and it has been a long time coming as construction is set to begin soon.”
“I am excited for our student-athletes and coaches,” said Wickstrom. “When Coach Berry first visited with me about this project, there was not much optimism in finding the dollars for it. A lot of supporters stepped up to make this facility a reality and I am very grateful for their support. This project wouldn't be possible without Dr. Bruno's support and giving us the go-ahead to start fundraising.
The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Mar. 2 at 1:00 p.m. on the site of the end zone facility.
This is the first new athletic facility to be built on the campus of ULM since 1983.
“This project has been a long time coming for the program as it has been talked about for many years,” said donor to the project and former ULM football player Bobby Craighead. “Brian Wickstrom did an amazing job getting everyone on board and transforming the talk into reality. His vision and being able to explain the big picture is what has brought so many people to be a part of the project. It feels good to give back and be a part of getting this project moving. This is not only good for the football program and university, but the entire community. This project will aid in recruiting and generate new excitement around the program as it will draw interest from alumni and people throughout northeast Louisiana.”
The new facility, which will be located in the north end zone, will total 11,675 square feet and will feature a new locker room, a Hall of Fame area and new coaches' offices that will have patios overlooking JPS Field at Malone Stadium. Players will have access to the current equipment room through the new locker room.
“Probably anything I say is going to be understated in terms of what it's going to mean for the program,” said head football coach Todd Berry. “This has obviously been a vision, a dream of ours, for a long period of time and to see it come to fruition is gratifying beyond means because I think, as a staff, we recognize the impact that it's going to have. It's going to obviously impact our current players. It's going to impact recruiting dramatically. We've already seen the impact that the weight room has had on our recruiting class this last year, and this will have an even more dramatic impact I think moving forward than anything that we ever do or say. These are things that are significant. Facilities are the number one reason why recruits go to a place and this is something that again, we've desperately needed. We're excited.”
With approximately $4.1 million dollars raised, including surpassing JPS Aviation/JPS Equipment Rental's contribution as the single largest gift in ULM Athletics history, the new project is 100 percent funded by private dollars. Ronnie Ward, Lance and Tammy Stanfill and Harold and Helen Turner are among 18 commitments that totaled $100,000 or greater towards the facility. In all, there were 58 major gift donors for the facility.
One of the unique features of the new facility will be the naming rights of the lockers and bricks in the center of the front plaza that will further recognize supporters of the project. There are still bricks and lockers available for donor participation. These additional commitments will increase the “wow factor” of the facility. Contributions for these naming rights are currently available through the ULM Athletic Foundation (ULMAF).
"The ULM Athletic Foundation is excited to be a part of this vital project to continue the advancement of ULM Athletics and our football program,” said executive director of the ULM Athletic Foundation Brendan Hoffer. “The ULMAF is committed to giving our student-athletes the best possible opportunity to be successful while at ULM, and we believe that this facility will have a direct impact on that. We would like to thank ULM athletic director Dr. Brian Wickstrom, ULM president Dr. Nick J. Bruno and all donors who were involved in helping make this project a reality.”
Land 3 Architect designed the new facility and Hand Construction, owned by Cayce Hand, a ULM alum from the construction management program, will be the general contractor on the project.
This will be the second recent upgrade to JPS Field at Malone Stadium. During the 2014 season, the Warhawk football team played on newly installed FieldTurf, thanks to a $450,000 donation from JPS Aviation/JPS Equipment Rental.
Follow the groundbreaking ceremony on twitter @ULMWarhawks or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/warhawks.
What they are saying about the facility:
Scott McDonald, ULM Facility Corp. President
“This is an exciting time for the Warhawk Nation. Brian and President Bruno have done a tremendous job of getting this project moving and we are all looking forward to seeing it completed. Brian has gone out and found new supporters and further engaged current donors to make this facility fully funded by their generous donations. This is a major step forward that enhances an already great university.”
Kevin Woods, President of ULM Athletic Foundation
“I am proud and honored to be affiliated in helping with the construction of this new state-of-the-art training facility. Existing donors and new supporters have stepped up to make it happen, and the impact it will have on the university and community as a whole is significant. Brian and his staff have done an outstanding job of pulling everything together, especially in such a short amount of time. I am truly excited for what the future holds for Warhawk football and athletics. ”
Mark Neal, ULM alum and former ULM Athletic Foundation President
“Top notch facilities are vital to successful college athletics programs, and this facility will help with the recruitment of future student-athletes. This is a tremendous step forward for the program and the greater ULM community.”
