MONROE, La. — ULM Athletics and FMOL Health | St. Francis has announced an expanded partnership that will bring a new name to the university's football stadium, FMOL Health | St. Francis Stadium.
 
"The expansion of our partnership with St. Francis, who has been such a trusted part of our community, is very exciting for all of us at ULM Athletics," said Director of Athletics SJ Tuohy. "In the modern landscape of college athletics, these revenue pathways are pivotal for student athlete success, lowering our operating deficit, and maintaining and improving facilities for our fans."
 
"We are delighted to welcome FMOL Health | St. Francis as our naming partner, deepening the collaboration we've already enjoyed with them," said ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille. "Their investment in our athletics program exemplifies the commitment they've had to this community for decades. At ULM, many of our health sciences students gain valuable real-world experiences in St. Francis facilities as part of their curriculum. This is a partnership that just makes sense for both of our institutions, and we look forward to how it will benefit our campus."
 
The partnership builds on the two organizations' shared, long-standing commitment to Northeast Louisiana and the people who call the region home. As cornerstones of the community, this collaboration allows ULM and FMOL Health | St. Francis to build on their ongoing efforts to strengthen the region's talent pipeline and ensure a vibrant future for the region.
 
"ULM and St. Francis have worked together for many years to support students and strengthen Northeast Louisiana," said Thomas Gullatt, MD, Northeast Louisiana market president. "Through nursing scholarships, hands-on learning opportunities and the many ULM graduates, including myself, who have built their careers here, our partnership is already making a difference. This expanded sponsorship builds on our longstanding support of ULM Athletics and allows us to invest even more deeply in its student-athletes, the university and the future of our community."
 
St. Francis will continue to serve as the "Official Medical Partner" of ULM Athletics, supporting the university, its student-athletes and the broader Monroe community. The agreement was secured in collaboration with Van Wagner, ULM Athletics' multimedia rights partner. Additionally, the FMOL Health | St. Francis logo will be represented in jersey patches across all ULM women's sports as part of the expanded partnership.
 
While the stadium will carry a new name, ULM will continue to honor the legacy of Coach James Malone, widely revered as the father of ULM Athletics. An installation commemorating Malone will be placed at the stadium's home entrance. Malone was Northeast Louisiana's second head football coach, leading the Indians from 1934 to 1953, boasting a 94-64-12 record. With one of the top records of any football coach at ULM, he coached two unbeaten football teams and three bowl teams, leading the 1935 team to the junior college national championship. Malone also led the team from junior college into senior college competition in 1951. Malone also coached basketball, boxing, baseball, track and served as the athletics director in his time at then-NLU.
 
ULM Athletics and FMOL Health | St. Francis will host a joint press conference and reception at 5 p.m. on September 3 at the stadium to celebrate the expanded partnership. Additional event and media details will be shared ahead of the event.
 
The Warhawks will take the field of the newly-named stadium on September 19 at 3:30 p.m. to take on Southeastern Louisiana. FMOL Health | St. Francis will also sponsor the October 17 game against Louisiana Tech. Season tickets for Warhawk Football are on sale now.
 
About FMOL Health | St. Francis  
St. Francis is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry based in Monroe, Louisiana, with more than 1,800 team members committed to caring for those we serve. With a 328-bed, acute-care hospital, freestanding outpatient center, over 40 outpatient clinics, and nearly 350 physician partners, for more than 110 years, St. Francis has provided comprehensive healthcare services for a variety of medical and surgical specialties. St. Francis offers Northeast Louisiana's only Level III NICU, Level III OB, OB-ED, and Level II PICU services. St. Francis Medical Center leads the region in heart and vascular services, critical care, and complex and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The hospital offers a designated Level III Trauma Center, a Graduate Medical Education Program, Accredited Chest Pain Center, Accredited Advanced Primary Stroke Center and Centers of Excellence in the areas of bariatric surgery, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, minimally invasive gynecology, breast health and specialized anesthesia. St. Francis is part of FMOL Health and is driven by its mission to serve all God's people, especially those most in need. For more information, visit stfran.com.
 
About Van Wagner
Van Wagner is a leading sports advertising and entertainment agency, with global expertise in live events, sponsorship sales, multimedia rights and aerial advertising. Van Wagner creates, advises and sells on behalf of world-class teams, leagues, brands and properties. An innovator in the sports and media business, Van Wagner is a global leader in high-impact broadcast visible signage throughout the NCAA, MLB, NBA, and international soccer, as well as collegiate multimedia rights and in-venue content production at the world's biggest sporting events. For more information, visit www.vanwagner.com.