Chairman of the Campbellsville University Board of Trustees Henry Lee, President Dr. Michael V. Carter, Vice President for Athletics Rusty Hollingsworth and Director of Athletics Jim Hardy have worked diligently with locally owned and operated Blevins Construction to make this new reality come to life.
“This is a historic day for Campbellsville University athletics,” said Hollingsworth. “Not since the 1960s when J.K. Powell Athletic Center was built has the athletic department at Campbellsville had such a project that we broke ground on today. Not only is it the largest facility, but it will be the largest athletic campaign we will be working on in the history of the program.
“The previous fieldhouse was around 4,000 square feet, and this new facility will be just under 24,000 square feet. This is a big undertaking we are pursuing for our student-athletes.”
The new two-story fieldhouse will be located on the corner of Tiger Way and Chandler Street across from the Hawkins Athletic Center. The fieldhouse will be the new home for men’s and women’s soccer and Fighting Tiger football. It will feature locker rooms for all three sports, coaches’ offices, administration offices, new and improved Hall of Fame room, the Big Maroon Club, conference rooms and a new spirit shop with official athletics apparel.
The cost of the fieldhouse, which is the first addition since the wrestling facility was opened in fall 2016, is estimated around $3.5 million. The project is expected to take 10-12 months, meaning the fieldhouse will open in spring 2019.
“Campbellsville University is making the largest investment of the history of our athletics department,” said Carter. “I’m a firm believer in one of the most powerful ways to learn is through experiential learning. When you experience something, it registers and stays with you. When we start thinking about the great lessons that are taught in athletics, it’s one of the most powerful forms of experiential learning.
“Campbellsville University is committed to making sure powerful experiential learning takes place, so lives are changed. It’s not about the brick and mortar, it’s about the changed lives that will come about. This isn’t just happening in the sports that will be housed in our new fieldhouse, but it’s occurring in all sports across campus. CU is committed to a very strong intercollegiate athletic program because we believe it not only teaches you the rules and regs of that particular sport, but it teaches us about life.”
The west end of campus has become the permanent home for Campbellsville University student-athletes. The fieldhouse will join Hawkins Athletic Center, Powell Athletic Center, Finley Stadium, HIG Field, the Ronnie and Laura Hord Indoor Facility, the Kelly Hall Tennis Complex, Gosser Gymnasium and the wrestling facility.
The former H&W Fieldhouse, which was around 4,000 square feet, was dedicated to former Tiger and longtime supporter Ronnie Hord, former owner of H&W Sport Shop in Campbellsville, Ky. Hord started a partnership with CU in 1969 and H&W Sport Shop has been a corporate sponsor for many years. His son, Shaun, is the new owner of the business and is a supporter of CU athletics. Both were in attendance today for the groundbreaking.
Jordan Alves
Sports Information Director
Campbellsville University
