To contribute to the A.D.'s Fund for Basketball Excellence click Here
As the 2006-07 basketball regular season nears its conclusion, I would like to begin this column by expressing my gratitude to all of our Cougar alumni, fans, and supporters for their tremendous support of the men's basketball team. Thanks to our remarkable fan turnout this season, Beasley Coliseum has become one of the Pacific-10 Conference's toughest venues to play at for visiting teams.
This is because, with a seating capacity of 11,618, Beasley ranks in the top five of Pac-10 basketball venues in this category; in addition to our wonderful fan turnout, we moved the students down closer to the floor to develop more of a "home court" advantage for the Cougars.
To date, it has already been an historic season for the program. Under the guidance of Tony Bennett, the team eclipsed the 20-win mark for the first time in over a decade and registered numerous other achievements, including some that have not occurred in over a half century.
While we are extremely excited about this year's success of our program, we are determined to carry it forward into the future. To do this, we must provide our coaches and student-athletes every resource possible, allowing them every opportunity to maintain this success.
Our alumni, fans and supporters are paramount in helping our student-athletes succeed. You, as a Cougar alumni, fan or supporter, can play a significant role in the continued development of the basketball program. Your donations can be directed toward an "A. D. Excellence" fund, which will be devoted to the department's ongoing effort to enhance the basketball program and its facilities.
As with all of our athletic programs, the WSU Athletic Department's commitment is to provide the men's basketball program with the highest-quality facilities in order to give our coaches and student-athletes the opportunity to maintain a position as a top-tier program in the Pacific-10 Conference and the nation. In addition, the continuing effort to develop our basketball facilities will significantly bolster recruiting efforts and attract the best student-athletes to WSU.
While there is still much to do, we have accomplished a great deal in regards to the development of our basketball facilities. We have been able to undertake these renovations with our current budget over the past few years.
Prior to the 2004-05 season, a practice facility exclusively for the Cougar men's and women's basketball teams opened. The court provides student-athletes and coaches with a state-of-the art facility that is synonymous with WSU. Located in the Physical Education Building, the facility is available year round for workouts and practices and is near the coaches' offices and other athletic staff. The floor markings at the facility were painted to match Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum.
Additionally, a recent remodeling of the locker rooms at Beasley Coliseum took place making this facility one of the best in the nation. Among the features in the locker rooms are pro-style lockers and a big-screen television.
This is what we have done, but there still is much to accomplish in regards to our basketball facilities. We are committed to renovate the areas adjacent to the practice facility. This includes the remodeling of locker rooms, as well as offices next to the facility, where the coaching staff will eventually move once the restoration is complete. Another goal of ours is the installation of a HydroWorx system (underwater treadmill and resistance jets for joint-friendly training or conditioning) to assist all of our student-athletes with rehabilitation from injuries and overall training.
In addition to the development of our facilities, I am committed to continue to bring the salary structure for the men's basketball coaching staff to a more competitive level with our Pac-10 counterparts. Led by Tony, our coaching staff has done a superb job in developing our program. They deserve nothing less than the total commitment and support from the department.
In order to fulfill the aforementioned goals, WSU Athletics will need additional financial support. This is where you can help.
An example of how Cougars are stepping up to lend a hand is Mikal and Lynn Thomsen. The couple has committed $25,000 over the next five years to the excellence fund, and I thank them both for their generous donation. The Thomsen's dedication to the men's basketball program demonstrates how Cougar supporters can play a pivotal role in the continued development of the program.
I could not be happier with how the basketball program has progressed since Dick and Tony arrived four years ago. I said at the press conference announcing Tony as our head coach that he has "great integrity, character and a huge drive for success. I am very, very excited about the future of Cougar basketball under Tony Bennett." The success the program has experienced thus far has only enhanced my excitement.
And I know you are just as excited. Please join me in our commitment to maintain and build off the success of the basketball team this season. If you would like to make a donation, please call the Athletic Foundation office at 1-877-IMA-COUG or 509-335-0220.
Go Cougs!
To contribute to the A.D.'s Fund for Basketball Excellence click Here
