Rockets Officially Open Fetterman Training Center in Ceremony on Saturday
2/6/2010 11:00:00 PM | Athletics
TOLEDO, OH - The Fetterman Training Center, the University of Toledo's new indoor multi-use athletics facility, was officially dedicated on Saturday before a gathering of Rocket fans, coaches and student-athletes at mid-field of the indoor practice field.
"This is a celebration of our gratitude," said UT president Lloyd Jacobs. "We are here to say thank you to Hal and Susan Fetterman, and to many others whose efforts made this complex possible."
Jacobs added that the Fetterman Training Center is consistent with the mission of the University. "It is ultimately the mission of the University of Toledo to equip lives for more prosperity, for longevity, for engagement in their community, and to equip them for fuller, better, longer lives. That's what this is about. And while these student-athletes will have a lot of fun here, there are important life lessons that get developed in this kind of facility."
Jacobs also pointed out that the Fetterman Training Center is a "green" building, with all of the heating and cooling for the indoor practice field coming from 42 geothermal wells. "To the best of our knowledge this is the only indoor training facility that is heated by geothermal wells," said Jacobs.
UT Athletic Director Mike O'Brien said the completion of the Fetterman Training Center marks the culmination of a building campaign that also included the renovation of Savage Arena and construction of the Sullivan Athletic Complex last year.
"This the exclamation point on our Building Champions campaign," said O'Brien. "It's going to have a huge impact on our program. We have so many people to thank for this great facility and right at the top of the list are Hal and Susan Fetterman. We wouldn't be here without their generosity."
Head football coach Tim Beckman, speaking on behalf of the coaches, said the new facility will have a tremendous impact on all the athletic programs at UT.
"When you walk in here the first thing you have to say is, 'Wow.' I've seen a lot of indoor facilities in my life, but this is one of the best," said Beckman, whose team will have their first work-out in the facility on Monday. "When we bring in our recruits into this building, it tells them that this University is committed to our athletic programs, and has a vision for excellence."
Senior football player Kevin Kowalski capped the ceremony. "On behalf of all the student-athletes, I would like to thank the Fettermans for changing the entire course of this program," said Kowalski. "I would also like to thank President Jacobs and Athletic Director Mike O'Brien for pushing to get this done. We are all very excited to come in here on Monday and start our winter workouts. It's going to be huge for us to work on our skills year-round."
Construction of the Fetterman Training Center began last May. The 90,400 square-foot facility features a 100-yard Field Turf playing surface, a regulation basketball/volleyball court, sprinting lanes and a long jump pit for track, a golf practice area and new golf locker rooms. As part of the project, improvements were also made to the adjacent UT Outdoor Track, including new permanent bleacher seating, a press box and elevated viewing platforms.
The Fetterman Training Center will be used by all of UT's 16 varsity sports, as well as by UT intramural and club sports.
Fetterman Training Center Facts
• Building Dedication: February 6, 2010
• Total Square Feet: 90,400
• Size of practice field: 71,400 sq. ft. (100 yards long by 220 feet wide. 65 feet high at its highest point.)
• Size of basketball/volleyball practice court: 7,470 sq. ft.
• Size of golf training area: 3,545 sq. ft.
• Estimated Cost: $9 million
• Funding: The project was funded through a combination of University and community commitments.
• Named For: Hal and Susan Fetterman, long-time supporters of the University of Toledo. The Fettermans donated $1 million toward the cost of the facility.
• Architects: SSOE
• Contractor: Rudolph/Libbe
Fetterman Training Center Features
• A 100-yard practice field that can be used by football, soccer, baseball, softball and other sports. The playing surface will be Field Turf, the same surface found in the Glass Bowl. At its peak, the practice field will be 65 feet high, and will include fixed goal posts and a game scoreboard.
• A regulation-sized basketball/volleyball practice court in a separate enclosed area that will be located between Savage Arena and the 100-yard practice field, and be connected to both. The court will have two portable baskets, four side-wall baskets and a game scoreboard. The court will be used principally for basketball and volleyball practices, but will also have other uses.
• A 3,500 square-foot golf practice area that will include a chipping and putting area, driving cages and a swing analysis center. This would be located on the lower level below the basketball practice court.
• Six sprinting lanes with a long jump pit alongside the 100-yard practice field.
• A 90-foot sand sprinting track for sprint training.
• Four locker rooms, including locker rooms for men's and women's golf, as well as visiting team locker rooms for Savage Arena events.
• Improvements to the UT Outdoor Track, including permanent bleacher seating for 500 spectators, a press box and elevated viewing areas for filming and coaching.
• The use of "green" technologies, including 42 geothermal wells 300 feet under the practice field to heat and cool the facility (geothermal systems typically consume 50-70% less energy than traditional systems); low-flow plumbing fixtures; and "cool roof" that complies with LEED requirements.
What they are saying about the Fetterman Training Center
"We are deeply grateful for the generosity of Hal and Susan Fetterman. The Fetterman Training Center is not only a natural extension of our newly renovated Savage Arena, it is also symbolic of our desire to provide the best for our student-athletes and our students as they mature into tomorrow's leaders. The Fetterman family has set an excellent example for our students on what it means to serve and give back to one's community."
- Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, UT President
"The Fetterman Training Center will be a fantastic training environment for our student-athletes. The completion of this facility, along with the addition of Savage Arena and the Sullivan Athletic Complex last year, will give the University of Toledo an athletics complex that is second to none, and one in which our students, staff, alumni and fans can be justifiably proud. We are deeply grateful to Hal and Susan Fetterman, whose generous donation helped make the construction of this wonderful new facility possible."
- UT Athletic Director Mike O'Brien
"I didn't go to college, but I have a daughter, two sons-in-law and a grandson who are UT graduates, and another grandson who is a senior at UT. I like the integrity I see at the University of Toledo. God has been good to me, and I'm happy to be able to give back something to the community."
- UT Donor Hal Fetterman, whose $1 million gift helped launch the project
"The Fetterman Training Center is going to be huge for us, both in recruiting and in the development of our current student-athletes. It will provide a year-round workplace where our players can fine-tune their skills. It will be one of the finest, if not the finest, indoor practice facilities in our conference."
- UT Head Football Coach Tim Beckman
"Our new indoor facility displays the university's support of the development and growth for our student-athletes. It gives us every opportunity from a facility standpoint to be successful and win MAC Championships. It impacts every aspect of athletics. I'm thankful to President Jacobs and Mike O'Brien for their continued backing in our quest to build a championship-caliber athletic program at UT."
- UT Head Men's Basketball Coach Gene Cross
"I was impressed with the facilities when I arrived here, and the training center gives me another jewel to be so proud of. I am blown away by the committment of the University and the community to make the student-athletes' experience here second-to-none. This is another example of UT's great vision and support for the Athletic Department as a whole. The women's basketball team is very excited to be included in the plans with the practice court. It will serve as a place for our players to receive addtional individual instruction and extra shooting time when the main floor in Savage Arena is in use."
- UT Head Women's Basketball Coach Tricia Cullop
"Having the Fetterman Training Center as facility to train in is a tremendous asset tour our program. Having another facility to practice in will allow us to be more flexible with our practice schedule, which in turn will benefit student-athletes and their class schedules. The Fetterman Training Center will allow us to be very creative in our development of our team."
- Women's Volleyball Coach Greg Smith
"Having an indoor chipping and putting facility, as well as a video room and locker rooms is a huge benefit for our program. I think the golf training area will end up being one Top 10 facilities of its kind in the country. It will improve our recruiting, and improve our student-athletes' skills in the winter months. Best of all, it will give our golf teams a place we can call home."
- Men's Golf Coach Jamie Mauntler
"An indoor practice facility will help the women's golf program immensely. I have always felt like we came out of the winter hitting the ball well, but our short game took time to develop in the spring. Having an area we could practice in every day will help take the Toledo women's golf program to the next level both in terms of getting ready for our spring season and in signing top recruits."
- Women's Golf Coach Nicole Hollingsworth
"This facility is going to be priceless for the track and field program. For the first time in school history we have a place to practice during the winter that fits our needs. In addition, the improvements to the outdoor track are incredible and give us one of the top track-only facilities in the country."
- Women's Track & Field Coach Kevin Hadsell
"All of us would like to sincerely thank the Fettermans and the entire athletic administration staff for making this a priority. Having an indoor facility will provide every member of the soccer team an opportunity to better develop their individual skills, while at the same time giving coaches and players time to engage in more large-group tactical learning situations, something we have not been able to do as effectively in the past. This development time is essential if we want to continue to challenge our program to become even stronger than it is today."
- Women's Soccer Coach Brad Evans
