Montana announces upgrades to women’s locker facility
5/4/2021 2:26:00 PM | General, Women's Basketball, Volleyball, GSA
All nine of the University of Montana's female sports programs are set to receive a new, state-of-the-art home with the fundraising stage of the third and final phase of the Grizzly Athletic Facilities Master Plan underway, director of athletics Kent Haslam announced Tuesday.
The Grizzly Women's Locker Room Improvement Project will provide new and expanded locker room, lounge, and meeting space for the Montana women's basketball and volleyball programs, while also providing new locker facilities for UM's female Olympic sports and staff.
The $2 million, six-and-a-half thousand square-foot facility completes the master plan developed and approved by the Montana Board of Regents in May 2019.
Funding for the project will come entirely from private support, and construction will begin when finances are in place and authority granted by the Board of Regents.
"This is the next step in our facility master plan, and I am really excited to continue the investment in our student-athletes. We want to make sure we are building facilities that impact the day-to-day experience of our student-athletes and coaches. This project accomplishes that goal and will impact recruiting, retention, and the athletic and academic success of the student-athletes," said Haslam.
"We know going into the planning of these improvements we will have to raise all the funds to get this done. This makes us unique at the University of Montana, and I am grateful for generous donors and a passionate fan base who make these dreams a reality."
The first phase of the Grizzly Athletic Facilities Master Plan took shape in October 2017 with the opening of the Washington-Grizzly Champions Center, a 51,000 square-foot athletic facility for all student-athletes that includes team meeting rooms, a football locker room, the Jared and Maile Losing Nutrition Center, and a 19,400 square-foot strength and conditioning center.
Phase II of the master plan was delayed one year by the pandemic, but is now currently under construction and features a new men's basketball locker, men's and women's basketball meeting room, and lounge facility. The $2 million project also includes a new home for the Hackney Athletic Equipment Center, re-purposing the vacated space from the previous football weight room and football locker room.
Phase III of the project will take advantage of the space vacated by the equipment center, giving Lady Griz basketball, volleyball, and all of Montana's women's programs some of the best facilities in the Western U.S.
"The Grizzly Women's Locker Room Improvement Project will truly transform our program. It will enhance our current student-athletes' daily preparedness and well-being by providing them the space needed to prepare for training and matches while also allowing them the freedom to relax in between classes and spend time with their teammates. Our athletes will be able to study, watch film, connect, unwind, build atmosphere before a game and reflect after a game, all together – the way that championship teams do," said long-time Montana volleyball coach Allison Lawrence.
"These improvements also communicate to our recruits that, as a student-athlete at the University of Montana, she will compete on the biggest stage while getting elite-level support in all areas of her experience. Our recruits will choose Montana knowing our athletic department and supporters invest in the details that will allow her and her teammates to compete for championships while earning a world-class degree."
Brian Holsinger hasn't conducted a practice or coached a game for the Lady Griz yet, but after helping lead Oregon State to deep runs in the NCAA Tournament also knows the impact a "first-class" facility like this can have on a program.
"It will be a huge deal in recruiting and a big deal when they're here. The more time the players spend around each other, the more they get to know each other, the better your team is going to be because the team chemistry will automatically be better," said Holsinger.
"That's a big deal. One way to develop chemistry and team culture is to have a place where the players can hang out. The meeting room will be advantageous as well because I use the classroom a lot for video and teaching."
Montana is in the final stages of financing Phase II of the facilities master plan and is well into the $2 million fundraising plan to begin construction on Phase III.
Those interested in learning more about donating to Montana's facilities improvement plans, including the opportunity to purchase a locker with your name on it, can contact Dan Ingram at (406) 243-6294 or via email.
Montana Women's Locker Room Improvement Project Facts
Basketball Locker Room 1,355 sf
Volleyball Locker Room 1,325 sf
Olympic Sport Locker Room 1,030 sf
Basketball Lounge 650 sf
Volleyball Lounge 615 sf
Meeting Room 465 sf
Staff Locker Room 765 sf
Storage 450 sf
Total 6,655 sf
The Grizzly Women's Locker Room Improvement Project will provide new and expanded locker room, lounge, and meeting space for the Montana women's basketball and volleyball programs, while also providing new locker facilities for UM's female Olympic sports and staff.
The $2 million, six-and-a-half thousand square-foot facility completes the master plan developed and approved by the Montana Board of Regents in May 2019.
Funding for the project will come entirely from private support, and construction will begin when finances are in place and authority granted by the Board of Regents.
"This is the next step in our facility master plan, and I am really excited to continue the investment in our student-athletes. We want to make sure we are building facilities that impact the day-to-day experience of our student-athletes and coaches. This project accomplishes that goal and will impact recruiting, retention, and the athletic and academic success of the student-athletes," said Haslam.
"We know going into the planning of these improvements we will have to raise all the funds to get this done. This makes us unique at the University of Montana, and I am grateful for generous donors and a passionate fan base who make these dreams a reality."
The first phase of the Grizzly Athletic Facilities Master Plan took shape in October 2017 with the opening of the Washington-Grizzly Champions Center, a 51,000 square-foot athletic facility for all student-athletes that includes team meeting rooms, a football locker room, the Jared and Maile Losing Nutrition Center, and a 19,400 square-foot strength and conditioning center.
Phase II of the master plan was delayed one year by the pandemic, but is now currently under construction and features a new men's basketball locker, men's and women's basketball meeting room, and lounge facility. The $2 million project also includes a new home for the Hackney Athletic Equipment Center, re-purposing the vacated space from the previous football weight room and football locker room.
Phase III of the project will take advantage of the space vacated by the equipment center, giving Lady Griz basketball, volleyball, and all of Montana's women's programs some of the best facilities in the Western U.S.
"The Grizzly Women's Locker Room Improvement Project will truly transform our program. It will enhance our current student-athletes' daily preparedness and well-being by providing them the space needed to prepare for training and matches while also allowing them the freedom to relax in between classes and spend time with their teammates. Our athletes will be able to study, watch film, connect, unwind, build atmosphere before a game and reflect after a game, all together – the way that championship teams do," said long-time Montana volleyball coach Allison Lawrence.
"These improvements also communicate to our recruits that, as a student-athlete at the University of Montana, she will compete on the biggest stage while getting elite-level support in all areas of her experience. Our recruits will choose Montana knowing our athletic department and supporters invest in the details that will allow her and her teammates to compete for championships while earning a world-class degree."
Brian Holsinger hasn't conducted a practice or coached a game for the Lady Griz yet, but after helping lead Oregon State to deep runs in the NCAA Tournament also knows the impact a "first-class" facility like this can have on a program.
"It will be a huge deal in recruiting and a big deal when they're here. The more time the players spend around each other, the more they get to know each other, the better your team is going to be because the team chemistry will automatically be better," said Holsinger.
"That's a big deal. One way to develop chemistry and team culture is to have a place where the players can hang out. The meeting room will be advantageous as well because I use the classroom a lot for video and teaching."
Montana is in the final stages of financing Phase II of the facilities master plan and is well into the $2 million fundraising plan to begin construction on Phase III.
Those interested in learning more about donating to Montana's facilities improvement plans, including the opportunity to purchase a locker with your name on it, can contact Dan Ingram at (406) 243-6294 or via email.
Montana Women's Locker Room Improvement Project Facts
Basketball Locker Room 1,355 sf
Volleyball Locker Room 1,325 sf
Olympic Sport Locker Room 1,030 sf
Basketball Lounge 650 sf
Volleyball Lounge 615 sf
Meeting Room 465 sf
Staff Locker Room 765 sf
Storage 450 sf
Total 6,655 sf
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