University of Central Florida Director of Athletics Danny White met with media Monday afternoon to outline the vision for the future of Knights Athletics.
Alumnus Ken Dixon, 1975, boosted the development of a $25 million initiative started by White and other school officials with the largest donation ever gifted to UCF – $5 million.
Over a few months, plans for a nationally competitive – aimed at best in the nation out of all the Division I universities – began to solidify. These plans were announced to the UCF community Monday morning with promises to change the face of the university’s athletics across every sport.
Student-athletes of these sports will benefit from brand new facilities dedicated to health and wellness. Sports that utilize on-campus playing fields will benefit from new scoreboards, rehabilitation facilities, and other amenities outlined by the White.
The Facilities Project full list of improvements includes:
- $5 million in enhancements to the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village
- $2 million in Football Operations Expansion/Athletics HQ
- $2 million to the John Euliano Park Baseball Expansion/Renovation
- $1 million to the Garvey Center for student-athlete nutrition
- UCF Basketball Excellence Center
- UCF Athletics Plaza and Promenade
- UCF Student-Athlete Recovery Cove
- Nicholson Fieldhouse Enhancements
- Video Boards at UCF Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Track Complexes
- UCF Track and Field/Soccer Complex Enhancements
In a press conference interview, White noted that the resources needed to complete the beginning phases of the project have been met. Ground will be broken on the John Euliano Park expansion and renovation immediately following the conclusion of the 2017 baseball season, with completion set at before the 2018 season begins.
“The facilities vision is something we’ve worked on for the last several months. We’re excited with how it positions us regionally and nationally in college athletics,” White said on Monday.
“We think our niche is phenomenal weather – we’ve got a beautiful campus and this awesome recruiting base here in Central Florida. We’re really trying to accentuate all those things and create what we feel will be an athletics village that’s as good as anyone’s is in the country.”
With the dedicated donations brought in will come, firstly, the Garvey Nutrition Center on the South side of the stadium – an effective and quick first step in transforming the health-centered aspect of the We Rise and Conquer Campaign.
The UCF Student-Athlete Recovery Cove will hold a spot adjacent to the football practice fields and the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership. This recovery pool/resort style area will directly benefit student-athletes and has the potential to benefit fans on game days at Bright House Networks Stadium, according to White.
Watch the video below:
Photos courtesy of UCF Athletics Communications
