University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Softball Opens 2016 Season With New Indoor Facility
Jan 21, 2016 | Softball
Team moved in to new facility over the semester break.
MEMPHIS – With rain and snow projected in the weather forecast later this week, University of Memphis softball head coach Natalie Poole does not need to worry about ways for her student-athletes to get in hitting and pitching reps in preparation for the team's Feb. 12 season opener. That's because over the semester break, the Tigers softball program moved to its new indoor facility on the University's Park Avenue Campus.
"As many times as we can, we want to get outside on the field," Poole said. "But, we now have a great new indoor facility to utilize. It means a lot to our program and gives us the opportunity to be there around the clock and set up for our student-athletes whenever they want to practice."
The facility is the completion of a nearly one million dollar project that provides over 5,000-square-feet in an indoor training center. The center houses the coaching staff's offices, a team lounge and indoor space for two hitting/pitching cages. The building allowed the coaching staff to move out of the Athletic Office Building (AOB) on Normal Street on the main campus and be closer to where the team practices and plays every day.
"I just can't say enough about how excited we are to be in our new space. To have our offices here next to our field, it just helps our efficiency in setting up and preparing for practices. Any time our players want to, they can come and work out. They don't have to haul equipment out and put it back up. It's always there for them," Poole said.
In addition to the indoor facility, the infield dirt was dug out last summer. The new infield dirt from Hilltopper was laser-leveled and installed prior to opening of preseason camp last Friday.
The softball facility is the final project in Director of Athletics Tom Bowen's initial Strategic Plan for the University of Memphis Athletics Department.
In November of 2012, Bowen secured a $2.6 million gift from the Helen and Jabie Hardin Charitable Trust to support women's athletics. That gift was used to design and construct a new track and field complex and complete renovations at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse that included a state-of-the-art weight room, a four-lane training track, an elevated cardio platform, new locker rooms for volleyball and women's basketball and players' lounges, a new athletic training area and new equipment and laundry spaces. Now, softball indoor facility is another project completed.
"All of these projects were critical for us as we continue to build a strong athletics program here at the University of Memphis," Bowen said. "We're thrilled with the softball program's new facility and again thank the Helen and Jabie Hardin Charitable Trust for its help in moving our women's athletics teams forward."
The Helen and Jabie Hardin Charitable Trust has been a major benefactor of the University of Memphis for many years. Shortly before her passing in 2008, Helen Hardin gave $2 million to the University for the benefit of honors students. Jabie and Helen Hardin were the founders of the wholesale food distributor Hardin-Sysco. In 1995, the University of Memphis bestowed its highest honor, the Distinguished Alumni Award, upon the Hardins, and in 1997, they were inducted into the Society of Entrepreneurs.
The Tigers softball program opens its 2016 season at Florida Gulf Coast's Kickoff Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla., Feb. 12-14. In the three-day, round-robin tournament, the Tigers face Kent State, UIC, Middle Tennessee, Michigan State and Florida Gulf Coast.
"As many times as we can, we want to get outside on the field," Poole said. "But, we now have a great new indoor facility to utilize. It means a lot to our program and gives us the opportunity to be there around the clock and set up for our student-athletes whenever they want to practice."
The facility is the completion of a nearly one million dollar project that provides over 5,000-square-feet in an indoor training center. The center houses the coaching staff's offices, a team lounge and indoor space for two hitting/pitching cages. The building allowed the coaching staff to move out of the Athletic Office Building (AOB) on Normal Street on the main campus and be closer to where the team practices and plays every day.
"I just can't say enough about how excited we are to be in our new space. To have our offices here next to our field, it just helps our efficiency in setting up and preparing for practices. Any time our players want to, they can come and work out. They don't have to haul equipment out and put it back up. It's always there for them," Poole said.
In addition to the indoor facility, the infield dirt was dug out last summer. The new infield dirt from Hilltopper was laser-leveled and installed prior to opening of preseason camp last Friday.
The softball facility is the final project in Director of Athletics Tom Bowen's initial Strategic Plan for the University of Memphis Athletics Department.
In November of 2012, Bowen secured a $2.6 million gift from the Helen and Jabie Hardin Charitable Trust to support women's athletics. That gift was used to design and construct a new track and field complex and complete renovations at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse that included a state-of-the-art weight room, a four-lane training track, an elevated cardio platform, new locker rooms for volleyball and women's basketball and players' lounges, a new athletic training area and new equipment and laundry spaces. Now, softball indoor facility is another project completed.
"All of these projects were critical for us as we continue to build a strong athletics program here at the University of Memphis," Bowen said. "We're thrilled with the softball program's new facility and again thank the Helen and Jabie Hardin Charitable Trust for its help in moving our women's athletics teams forward."
The Helen and Jabie Hardin Charitable Trust has been a major benefactor of the University of Memphis for many years. Shortly before her passing in 2008, Helen Hardin gave $2 million to the University for the benefit of honors students. Jabie and Helen Hardin were the founders of the wholesale food distributor Hardin-Sysco. In 1995, the University of Memphis bestowed its highest honor, the Distinguished Alumni Award, upon the Hardins, and in 1997, they were inducted into the Society of Entrepreneurs.
The Tigers softball program opens its 2016 season at Florida Gulf Coast's Kickoff Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla., Feb. 12-14. In the three-day, round-robin tournament, the Tigers face Kent State, UIC, Middle Tennessee, Michigan State and Florida Gulf Coast.
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