TCU to Have Indoor Practice Facility
6/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
June 29, 2006
TCU athletics has announced commitments of a $3 million lead gift from the Jane and John Justin Foundation and a $4 million gift from an anonymous donor to build an indoor practice facility.
The 70,000 square-foot indoor practice facility, which will cover the already existing artificial turf that sits southwest of Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, will provide a climate-controlled practice area for TCU athletics, allowing coaches to prepare teams regardless of weather. All sports will utilize the facility for conditioning workouts and TCU students can use the venue for selected intramural competitions.
The Justin Foundation gift is the second major donation the organization has given to the university over the past seven years. Previously, the foundation gave $3.5 million for the John Justin Athletic Center. Additionally, Jane and John funded the boardroom in the Dee J. Kelly Alumni & Visitors Center. John Justin, who also was a TCU trustee from 1979 to 2001, received the 1977 Ike Harrison Award and the 1978 Distinguished Alumnus Award. He and Jane were selected for the Royal Purple Award in 1987. Both attended TCU in the 1940s.
"The Justins have been strong supporters of TCU over the years," said TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. "We are pleased that the foundation and our anonymous donor's support will help us reach the strategic goals we have set for TCU's athletic program."
"We appreciate the investment the Justin Foundation and others have made to TCU," said TCU athletics director Dr. Danny Morrison. "By giving the lead gift, the Justin Foundation accelerated our vision for the facility into reality and sparked the interest of other donors. The commitment of both the foundation and others to student-athletes and the campus community is a wonderful illustration of our program's momentum."
"An indoor football practice facility has become essential in attracting the top prospective student-athletes to one's campus," said TCU head football coach Gary Patterson. "The generosity of the Justin Foundation and others will enable us to aggressively recruit against the nation's best programs."
TCU's athletics program has excelled in recent years. The indoor practice facility will further increase the Horned Frogs' ability to effectively recruit and train student-athletes. In the 2005-06 athletic season, TCU saw 15 of its 19 sports represented in NCAA postseason play by either teams or individuals.
