University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond Announces $7.5 Million Lead Gift For New Basketball Training and Performance Facility
02/28/2018 | Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball, Spider Athletic Fund
A $7.5 million lead gift from Paul and Anne-Marie Queally will allow the university to commence its efforts to construct a new men's and women's basketball training and performance facility, the University of Richmond announced Wednesday. The gift from the Queallys, 1986 graduates of Richmond, puts the university halfway to its funding goal for the project. Construction is expected to begin in late spring 2019 following the completion of a successful fundraising effort for the new building and should be completed by fall of 2020.
"The impact of Paul and Anne-Marie Queally is evident across our campus, from our business school, to our enrollment management and career services efforts, to our athletics program," said University of Richmond President Ronald A. Crutcher. "The constant across all of Paul and Anne-Marie's philanthropy is a profound dedication to our students, who with this most recent gift, will continue to benefit from the remarkable generosity of these two dedicated alumni."
The Queally Athletics Center, which will be located near the Robins Center and provide ADA accessibility to the historic Milhiser Gymnasium, plans to include the following program elements for the men's and women's basketball programs: a full-sized practice gym; a dedicated academic support area, the basketball coaches' offices; team locker rooms with lounge and nutrition/hydration areas; sports medicine and athletic training room with hydrotherapy; a strength and conditioning center; recruiting areas; and a Spider Heritage Hall atrium space.
"Anne-Marie and I have been committed to supporting university excellence across the campus and are pleased to be associated with this new facility, which will benefit the student-athletes who represent us so proudly on the court, in the classroom and out in the world," said Queally, a university trustee and retired co-president of the investment firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe.
The Queallys, both Phi Beta Kappa graduates of the university, are generous supporters of their alma mater. They provided the lead gift for the construction of the Queally Center for Admission and Career Services. They also made the lead gift to launch the construction of Queally Hall, a 33,000-square-foot addition to the Robins School of Business.
"Thanks to the incredible leadership and support of Paul and Anne-Marie Queally, men's and women's Spider basketball student-athletes and coaches will now enjoy the benefits of one of the absolute best training and performance facilities in the country," said John P. Hardt, vice president and director of Athletics.
"We wholeheartedly thank Paul and Anne-Marie for this transformative gift to our basketball programs," said Chris Mooney, head men's basketball coach. "The facility will house all of the day-to-day operations of our teams, coaches and staff. It will greatly enhance the experience of our student-athletes and will assure potential recruits of our school's commitment to excellence on and off the court."
"This facility will have an immediate, positive impact on our recruiting of future Spiders," added Michael Shafer, head women's basketball coach. "A commitment of this magnitude is truly special, and it is a strong statement that the University of Richmond is committed to the success of its basketball programs and its student athletes."
This generous lead gift commitment was announced during the last men's home basketball game of the season on Feb. 28.
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Renderings of the facility can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/obtm13atkkcg72m/AABR9JcyCKHhbyhH4iYjopyJa?dl=0
