BASKETBALL PRACTICE FACILITY at The Ohio State University
T ime and change will surely show, how firm thy friendship O-HI-O. This is a remarkably exciting time at The Ohio State University. Students and faculty are making great strides and great headlines: best freshman class, national academic awards for students and faculty, research and outreach programs that improve lives in our neighborhoods and around the world. President E. Gordon Gee has said, This is Ohio State s time. President Gee has articulated a powerful vision for Ohio State to move from excellence to eminence and take its rightful place as the premier public university in the world. Private investment will provide the fuel to achieve President s Gee vision. Investment across the enterprise raises the bar for the entire institution and nowhere is that more visible than in Ohio State s world-class intercollegiate athletics program.
The Mission of Ohio State Athletics The People. The Tradition. The Excellence The Department of Athletics at Ohio State is acknowledged as the nation s leader in collegiate sports. With more than 1,000 student-athletes competing in 36 sports, Ohio State Athletics sets a standard for academic and athletic excellence. The Department of Athletics seeks to provide studentathletes with exceptional educational and athletic opportunities by committing to national leadership, excellence and the highest ethical standards in intercollegiate athletics, and sustaining a strong financial and community base of support by presenting outstanding intercollegiate teams. All of these activities have instilled a pride in the community and put forth a positive University identity.
The education goals include National leaders in the graduate success rate (GSR) and team academic progress rate (APR) Leaders among Ohio State varsity teams for improved and sustained team grade-point average Encouraging former student-athletes to participate in degree completion programs Supporting current student-athletes who may be candidates for post-graduate awards The recruiting goals include Targeting academically motivated and socially responsible student-athletes who value personal growth in all areas Creating positive experiences for all visiting prospective student-athletes and their families The Basketball Practice Facility will allow the Ohio State men s and women s basketball teams to excel in three main areas: education, recruiting and training The training goals include Practice and facility access that ensure optimal academic and training conditions Providing optimal health care to student-athletes through injury prevention, identification, treatment and rehabilitation Utilizing video technology to enable teams to better prepare for competition through online viewing and video archiving systems
Points of Pride Men s Basketball Eight former Ohio State players or coaches are current members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. They are: Harold Olson (inducted in 1959- contributor/coach), Lynn St. John (1962-contributor), Jerry Lucas (1979-player), John Havlicek (1983- player), Fred Taylor (1986-coach), Neil Johnson (1990-player), Bob Knight (1991-coach) and Arnie Risen (1998-player). Ohio State teams have made 21 appearances in the NCAA tournament, have made nine Final Four appearances, have played in four national title games and won the 1960 NCAA Championship. No other Big Ten team has made the Final Four as many times as the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes own 17 Big Ten titles. Ohio State has been outright league champions 12 times. A total of 45 former Ohio State players have been drafted by NBA teams with 20 of those being first round choices. Nearly three million fans have watched Ohio State games in Value City Arena over the last 10 years. Ohio State has ranked among the Top 20 schools nationally in fan attendance every year since Value City Arena opened in 1998. Women s Basketball Ohio State won its record-tying fifth-consecutive Big Ten regular season championship in 2008-09. Ohio State recorded 29 wins which tied for the third-most in Division I. Ohio State owns the most Big Ten championships with 12. The Buckeyes have made 18 trips to the NCAA tournament and a record-tying seven straight under Jim Foster. In 2009 Ohio State advanced to the Sweet 16. Ohio State owns the seventh-best winning percentage (.836) and has the ninth-most wins (138) in all of women s basketball over the last five seasons. Ohio State has had five WNBA Draft picks in the Jim Foster era. Ohio State has had a Big Ten Player of the Year recipient in each of the last five seasons: Jessica Davenport from 2005-07 and Jantel Lavender in 2008 and 2009. The Buckeyes also have won the last two Big Ten freshman of the year (Lavender, Samantha Prahalis) and defensive player of the year (Shavelle Little in 08 and 09) awards.
Winning Programs The recent achievements by each program, the men s team under the leadership of Thad Matta and the women s team under the leadership of Jim Foster, have been extraordinary. In five years under the helm, Matta has guided his program to a Final Four appearance, two Big Ten Championships and a National Invitational Tournament Championship. In seven years as head coach, Foster has claimed five consecutive Big Ten Championships and has guided his program to the NCAA tournament every season.
The Basketball Practice Facility The Need for a New Basketball Practice Facility The competition among top-tier universities for talented student-athletes is fierce. To attract the nation s finest student-athletes, cutting-edge facilities are essential. Practice and competitive facilities are evidence of an institution s commitment to excellence. To remain competitive at the national level, a dedicated basketball practice complex is needed for the Ohio State men s and women s basketball programs. The greatest current challenge for men s and women s basketball coaches at Ohio State is the availability of practice space. Men s and women s basketball seasons are shared, and for much of the season, there is only one auxiliary gym available for practice. This space limitation creates daily scheduling conflicts for student-athletes, and negatively impacts their academic endeavors. Separate auxiliary gyms will allow both teams greater flexibility in scheduling, allowing student-athletes to balance their academic and athletic commitments. Additional space will result in meeting the most important programmatic goal: increased success in student graduation and academic accomplishment. Since their offices were originally designed and built, the basketball staffs have grown. So too has the use of technology in coaching and teaching. Currently, coaches do not have easy access to the up-to-date video equipment and technology that is used by their competitors. New, secure space and state-of-the-art equipment will greatly enhance both recruiting and scouting two essential functions of winning programs. With the growing excellence of Ohio State basketball, more former players both men and women are competing professionally. A modern training facility will welcome them back to campus, much in the tradition of Buckeye football. Current players will have the privilege to workout alongside former Buckeye greats, building the tradition of the Buckeye basketball family. Entry Level plan
Features of the New Basketball Practice Facility The Basketball Practice Facility will be the home of the women s and men s basketball programs. Currently, the complex is projected to be 40,000 square feet and will house 22 employees. It will include a separate, dedicated practice gym for each team and will be one of the few to have four full length college basketball practice floors. This new facility will transform the opportunities for collaboration, team development, and communication among coaches and student-athletes. Elements of the New Facility Four practice courts with spectator seating, two for men s basketball and two for women s basketball Space celebrating the history and accomplishments of Ohio State basketball Training/Rehabilitation rooms for both teams Teaching theaters for both teams Private corridors to locker rooms, and strength and conditioning areas Two team office suites, including the head coaches and assistant coach offices, large reception area, conference rooms, work areas, and break rooms Balcony area overlooking each practice court Video editing space Upper Level plan
Invitation for Support The Ohio State University respectfully requests your consideration of a gift for the new basketball practice facility. Gifts are payable over a period of up to five years. There are a variety of ways to contribute including cash and securities. Private support is vital to the Department of Athletics continued success and that of its basketball programs. The department is a selfsustaining operation and receives no state or university funds. As required by University guidelines, facility naming is subject to formal approval by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees. Thank you for consideration of this very special opportunity.