Jan. 26, 2011

Corvallis, Ore. - Oregon State University Athletics invites you to be a part of history by investing in the future of the basketball programs, by supporting the drive to construct a $15 million practice facility.

Facility investments have sparked success for many of OSU's athletic teams. The Valley Football Center, Truax Indoor Center and enhancements to Reser Stadium are the foundations for a program that has been to nine recent bowl games and reached the upper echelon of the Pac-10 Conference. A commitment to Goss Stadium at Coleman Field led to a pair of national championships. The time has come to re-energize the basketball programs, historically among the most successful in the nation.

OSU Athletics and the OSU Foundation are proud to unveil the public funding stage for the second phase of the Sports Performance Center - a four-story basketball facility.

"There is great potential for our basketball programs; and this facility will certainly play a huge part toward the success of Coach (Craig) Robinson's and Coach (Scott) Rueck's future teams," Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis said. "This building isn't just about basketball, it's also about enabling our student-athletes to better manage academic, athletic and community service schedules to achieve further success."

The planned 40,000-square-foot four-story structure will include a basketball regulation court on the first and third floors, in addition to locker rooms, and training and medical facilities. The second and fourth floors will consist of 2,000-square-foot floors containing coaches and staff offices. These floors will offer panoramic views of the courts below.

"OSU has a winning basketball history, which means you're not creating a culture, you're reinvigorating it," Robinson said. "This is a one-time investment with exponential returns for reviving OSU as a basketball powerhouse and creating a national reputation for the university."

Oregon State is among a dwindling number of schools in major conferences without a dedicated basketball practice facility.

"A new first rate practice facility will support our student-athletes and will add to the exceptional athletic environment on OSU's campus," Rueck said. "The facilities will provide OSU's basketball programs with the greatest opportunity to grow, succeed, and attract superior athletes to build on the distinguished tradition of Beaver athletics."

To learn more or to make a gift, please contact Dan Peterson at the OSU Foundation at 503-553-3414 or dan.peterson@oregonstate.edu