April 18, 2017
Over 200 Gamecocks have celebrated the historic seasons of Gamecock Men’s & Women’s Basketball with gifts to the first-ever Tournament Giving Challenge. As both programs advanced through the tournament, more and more Gamecocks stepped up to the challenge exceeding each goal. While the initial goal was $3,200, almost $25,000 has been raised to help fund the construction of the Gamecock Basketball Practice Facility at the Carolina Coliseum.
Additional funding is critical to the success of the project and to ensure that the facility is the finest basketball facility in the SEC. While our challenge goal has been reached, we still need your help as construction continues. New and future gifts to this project through the month of April will have double the impact, as devoted Gamecocks Ken and Cyndi Long have pledged to match every gift to this project up to $100,000. With their match, almost $50,000 has been raised for the new facility through this campaign.
“The incredible effort, passion, and success of both basketball programs has made us very proud Gamecocks. We wanted to celebrate their success and encourage other Gamecocks to join in and support them as well!”
– Ken & Cyndi Long, Garnet Society Members
The renovation of the Carolina Coliseum will allow for both the men and women’s teams to practice and train in an elite facility, an integral component in helping student-athletes reach their full potential. The facility will also be a huge factor in attracting top recruits to the University of South Carolina. The new practice complex will include coaches’ offices, meeting rooms, recruiting lounges, training facilities, and a state-of-the-art weight room. Both Coach Frank Martin and Coach Dawn Staley have spoken about the need for the facility and the impact it will have on their programs and future success.
“Our team will benefit from the new facility by competing with the rest of the SEC. When we go around to different campuses, what we see is a lot different than what we have on campus. This is state of the art. It has a `wow’ factor. It will definitely attract recruits, their parents, and when we have visitors and other coaches here. They want to know what a Final Four program looks like behind the scenes. So we’ll create an environment where people will want to strive to be like South Carolina. We don’t have that right now. We are in a position now where our winning should be both on and off the court.”
– Dawn Staley, Head Women’s Basketball Coach
“We, just like all of our brothers in the SEC, continue to work to upgrade the facilities that are needed to provide our student-athletes in their respective sports with a first-class experience during their college period.”
– Frank Martin, Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Gamecock fans, Club members, and alumni are making a difference for South Carolina Athletics. Celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our Final Four men’s program and National Champion women’s program and support their new practice facility today. All gifts of $16 or more include a tour of the completed facility and additional perks. It’s a special time to be a Gamecock!
To join the challenge or learn more about the new facility, click here.
