The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Athletics Announces Plans for Baseball/Softball Clubhouse Project
10/23/2019 5:19:00 PM | Baseball, Softball, Blazer Boosters
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The growth and progress of UAB Athletics continues as the UAB Department of Athletics has announced plans to construct a baseball and softball clubhouse facility located right next to their home fields. The clubhouse, when completed, will be the new and permanent home for UAB Baseball and UAB Softball.
A $4.5 million project in all, Phase III was approved by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees in September. Blazer Boosters has already secured over $2 million in gifts and pledges to the facility. Plans to submit Phase IV of the project — when a construction contract is ultimately awarded — will occur when additional funding is secured.
The new clubhouse project will include locker rooms and office suites for both programs, as well as a weight room and equipment area.
A lead gift of $1 million by Gerald and Nicki Kennedy has made the project possible. Gerald played baseball at UAB from 1992-93.
"We believe in a great student-athlete experience for young men and women," Gerald Kennedy said. "UAB and the game of baseball have meant a great deal to us throughout our lives, and we hope our gift will play a small part in making an impact on current and future Blazer student-athletes."
Since UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram began his tenure in Birmingham five years ago, the Blazers have completed more than 20 athletic facility projects. Ingram believes having great facilities enhances the student-athlete experience and gives coaches the opportunity to succeed in their recruiting efforts.
"It is our goal to give the student-athletes a world-class athletic experience that accompanies a world-class academic experience at UAB," Ingram said. "Building state-of-the-art facilities is a major part of recruiting. This clubhouse project will give our baseball and softball programs the ability to attract the best talent in the country."
Head Baseball Coach Brian Shoop is excited about what the future holds for the Blazer program. "This clubhouse is a game-changer for both of our teams," Shoop said. "A beautiful clubhouse to call home located right next our field is something we will take great pride in. With this new addition, I am confident we will give our student-athletes the ability to have success in competition, in the classroom and in the community. I am so grateful that a former UAB Baseball player (Mr. Kennedy) would want to invest in the current-day student-athlete at UAB as I am hopeful this is a project every former player will take great pride in."
"We are excited for the addition of the clubhouse right next to Mary Bowers Field," said head Softball Coach Jimmy Kolaitis. "This facility will allow our student-athletes to have an enhanced Division I experience. Our program continues to grow, and we are eager to see what the future holds."
For more information on the baseball and softball clubhouse project, click here. To make a gift now, click here. Contact Blazer Boosters at (205) 996-9969 or blazerboosters@uab.edu with any questions.
A $4.5 million project in all, Phase III was approved by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees in September. Blazer Boosters has already secured over $2 million in gifts and pledges to the facility. Plans to submit Phase IV of the project — when a construction contract is ultimately awarded — will occur when additional funding is secured.
The new clubhouse project will include locker rooms and office suites for both programs, as well as a weight room and equipment area.
A lead gift of $1 million by Gerald and Nicki Kennedy has made the project possible. Gerald played baseball at UAB from 1992-93.
"We believe in a great student-athlete experience for young men and women," Gerald Kennedy said. "UAB and the game of baseball have meant a great deal to us throughout our lives, and we hope our gift will play a small part in making an impact on current and future Blazer student-athletes."
Since UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram began his tenure in Birmingham five years ago, the Blazers have completed more than 20 athletic facility projects. Ingram believes having great facilities enhances the student-athlete experience and gives coaches the opportunity to succeed in their recruiting efforts.
"It is our goal to give the student-athletes a world-class athletic experience that accompanies a world-class academic experience at UAB," Ingram said. "Building state-of-the-art facilities is a major part of recruiting. This clubhouse project will give our baseball and softball programs the ability to attract the best talent in the country."
Head Baseball Coach Brian Shoop is excited about what the future holds for the Blazer program. "This clubhouse is a game-changer for both of our teams," Shoop said. "A beautiful clubhouse to call home located right next our field is something we will take great pride in. With this new addition, I am confident we will give our student-athletes the ability to have success in competition, in the classroom and in the community. I am so grateful that a former UAB Baseball player (Mr. Kennedy) would want to invest in the current-day student-athlete at UAB as I am hopeful this is a project every former player will take great pride in."
"We are excited for the addition of the clubhouse right next to Mary Bowers Field," said head Softball Coach Jimmy Kolaitis. "This facility will allow our student-athletes to have an enhanced Division I experience. Our program continues to grow, and we are eager to see what the future holds."
For more information on the baseball and softball clubhouse project, click here. To make a gift now, click here. Contact Blazer Boosters at (205) 996-9969 or blazerboosters@uab.edu with any questions.
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