CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has received an anonymous donation of $1 million toward the Fighting Illini Football Performance Center project.
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, provided insight on their decision to support the project. They have a strong commitment to the vision for the future of the Fighting Illini football program that has been established by Director of Athletics Josh Whitman and Head Coach Lovie Smith. In addition, the family is excited by the ability to provide improvements to the sports medicine capabilities available to Illinois student-athletes.
In the new Football Performance Center, the sports medicine and training area will grow to 11,075 square feet, which is a nearly 8,000 square foot increase over the existing area. The new facilities will be state of the art and will include extensive improvements to sports medicine’s day-to-day needs, a complete hydrotherapy complex, and a large area for training, recovery, and rehabilitation.
It will feature additional physicians’ offices as well as large spaces for X-ray, body composition analysis, and cast fabrication facilities. The hydrotherapy area will include a three-lane hydro pool for minimal weight bearing rehabilitation and training, and separate hot and cold tubs for treatment. A large tub with running treadmills and water resistance will be incorporated as well. The training area includes training offices and a work room as well as large turf and plyometric floor surfaces for rehabilitation.
“We are incredibly grateful for this generous gift, coming from a very loyal University of Illinois family,” Whitman said. “Above all, they have a strong desire to impact the experience and the opportunity of our student-athletes. The pledge was far beyond anything we expected and reaffirms the great commitment the Illini Nation is making in the growth and advancement of our athletic program. Every day I am impressed by the loyalty and dedication of the University of Illinois family.”
The pledge is the second seven-figure donation announced for Illinois football in as many months. In February, the DIA announced a $5 million donation from Stu and Nancy Levenick. The philanthropic goal for the Illinois Football Performance Center is $30 million.
The Illinois Football Performance Center will be a 107,650-square foot football facility adjoining the south end of the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility. The facility will feature new and expanded strength and conditioning and sports medicine space, coaches’ offices, position meeting rooms, player development areas, locker rooms, and other areas for recruiting and prospect hosting.
Both gifts are part of the DIA’s $300 million fundraising goal for "With Illinois," the recently announced $2.25 billion University-wide fundraising campaign.
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, provided insight on their decision to support the project. They have a strong commitment to the vision for the future of the Fighting Illini football program that has been established by Director of Athletics Josh Whitman and Head Coach Lovie Smith. In addition, the family is excited by the ability to provide improvements to the sports medicine capabilities available to Illinois student-athletes.
In the new Football Performance Center, the sports medicine and training area will grow to 11,075 square feet, which is a nearly 8,000 square foot increase over the existing area. The new facilities will be state of the art and will include extensive improvements to sports medicine’s day-to-day needs, a complete hydrotherapy complex, and a large area for training, recovery, and rehabilitation.
It will feature additional physicians’ offices as well as large spaces for X-ray, body composition analysis, and cast fabrication facilities. The hydrotherapy area will include a three-lane hydro pool for minimal weight bearing rehabilitation and training, and separate hot and cold tubs for treatment. A large tub with running treadmills and water resistance will be incorporated as well. The training area includes training offices and a work room as well as large turf and plyometric floor surfaces for rehabilitation.
“We are incredibly grateful for this generous gift, coming from a very loyal University of Illinois family,” Whitman said. “Above all, they have a strong desire to impact the experience and the opportunity of our student-athletes. The pledge was far beyond anything we expected and reaffirms the great commitment the Illini Nation is making in the growth and advancement of our athletic program. Every day I am impressed by the loyalty and dedication of the University of Illinois family.”
The pledge is the second seven-figure donation announced for Illinois football in as many months. In February, the DIA announced a $5 million donation from Stu and Nancy Levenick. The philanthropic goal for the Illinois Football Performance Center is $30 million.
The Illinois Football Performance Center will be a 107,650-square foot football facility adjoining the south end of the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility. The facility will feature new and expanded strength and conditioning and sports medicine space, coaches’ offices, position meeting rooms, player development areas, locker rooms, and other areas for recruiting and prospect hosting.
Both gifts are part of the DIA’s $300 million fundraising goal for "With Illinois," the recently announced $2.25 billion University-wide fundraising campaign.
