A VISION FOR SEWANEE ATHLETICS

A VISION FOR SEWANEE ATHLETICS

While some colleges and universities may view their athletic programming as separate from academic pursuits, the mission of Sewanee Athletics echoes and enriches the goals of the University as a whole—Sewanee Athletics aims to provide students with opportunities for leadership and personal growth, cultivate a community-wide sense of belonging, and capitalize on the uniqueness of the University’s 13,000-acre Domain.

Our programs enable student-athletes to discover their identities through hard work, sacrifice, dedication, collaboration with teammates, and navigation of the pressure that comes through competitive experience.

The vision of Sewanee Athletics draws from the objectives outlined in the University’s recent strategic planning process. Formally approved on Aug. 9, 2024, the plan lays a clear road map for strengthening and shaping the University through 2030. Key priorities include:

• promoting student formation and relationship-building;
• creating new pathways for students to develop and hone lifelong skills;
• providing the Sewanee community with comfortable, safe, high-caliber facilities; and
• increasing the University’s endowment while developing new sources of net-positive revenue.

Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Shackelford, P’24, Sewanee Athletics is working to advance these priorities while maintaining a top-quality roster of 26 intercollegiate varsity teams and seven club sports. Currently, more than one-third of Sewanee’s undergraduates participate in varsity athletics, while an even larger number utilize the University’s athletic facilities for exercise and recreation.

With a campuswide long-term plan in place—Sewanee’s first strategic plan in 12 years—Sewanee Athletics is now ideally positioned to transform its vision into reality. Support from the Sewanee family will be critical at every step, and the University is actively seeking philanthropic partners.

CHAMPIONSHIP ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

The quality of the University’s athletic facilities directly impacts our ability to recruit and train student-athletes and factors significantly in game-time performance.

In 2022, Sewanee launched a major campaign to comprehensively upgrade the Fowler Center, in service not only to our student-athletes and coaches, but also to the many Sewanee families, faculty and staff members, community residents, and Tiger fans who pass through its doors each year. The total budget for this ambitious project is approximately $9 million, which includes a $1 million maintenance endowment to sustain the building in perpetuity. To date, about $4.7 million has been raised in gifts and pledges.

Projected costs are detailed below.

Each part of this multiphase renovation plan will bring the Fowler Center closer to Sewanee Athletics’ goal of creating a first-class athletics hub that elevates our campus’s sense of community, fosters skill-building, and serves as an exceptional resource for summer camps and other revenue- generating initiatives.

Fowler’s transformation has moved quickly since completion of the comprehensive renovation plan. As of summer 2025, we have finalized more than $2 million in projects, including:

• renovation of Juhan Gymnasium with new flooring for basketball and volleyball courts, freshly painted walls, and installation of stadium seating;
• relocation of volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball coaches’ offices to a central space behind the gymnasium;
• conversion of a dance studio into six new offices for coaches and staff;
• addition of a student-athlete fueling station to provide post-practice snacks and meals;
• creation of comfortably furnished, well-lit areas for recruiting and studying;
• construction of a state-of-the-art film room where teams can review game and practice footage; and
• major enhancement of Sewanee branding elements throughout the facility.

In 2025, we also kicked off a $2.5 million renovation of Fowler’s varsity weight room, athletic training room, and lacrosse locker rooms. This new round of construction is in its final stages and includes:

• replacement of racquetball courts with a spacious weight room, enabling multiple teams to train at once;
• installation of a cardio mezzanine area above the weight room, outfitted with treadmills, rowers, and other top-tier equipment;
• construction of a new athletic training room, housed in the current weight room, featuring new floors, treatment tables, equipment, and office space; and
• creation of an additional locker room including new lockers, showers, a recovery room, and restroom.

Fowler upgrades have already substantially increased the competitiveness of our athletics program, boosted team morale, and created a more enjoyable game-watching experience for Tiger fans—and our donor community has been instrumental in propelling them forward.

Next Steps

A number of landmark Fowler updates are still in progress, complemented by initiatives to enhance other Sewanee Athletics facilities across campus. Gifts to Sewanee Athletics—either in the form of general contributions to Fowler or gifts designated for specific projects—will be vital in covering these improvements.

Named endowments can also have a significant impact in advancing Sewanee Athletics priorities. A major goal is creating a $1 million maintenance endowment to ensure a steady source of funding for Fowler’s repair needs.

FOWLER CENTER PROJECTS

Indoor Track Resurfacing/Partition Replacement
First installed in 1994, Sewanee’s indoor track has now reached its three-decade lifespan. Track resurfacing is a priority to ensure the safety of our men’s and women’s track and field teams, as well as students and community members who exercise on the track. Replacements are also needed for partitions that separate the track from indoor basketball courts.

Natatorium Improvements
Sewanee’s swimming and diving program relies on a safe, up-to-date pool environment. The University aims to update equipment that regulates pool temperature and humidity and to move and replace diving boards and platforms. Funding is also needed to replace the natatorium roofing. Additionally, we need to replace the starting blocks to ensure our swimmers can dive safely.

Miscellaneous Upgrades
The ceiling in Sewanee’s Charlotte Guerry Tennis Center requires repairs to ensure appropriate insulation. A new basketball and volleyball court is also planned to meet practice and recreational needs.

ADDITIONAL SEWANEE ATHLETICS PROJECTS

Upgrades to the Fowler Center have generated momentum for a range of exciting athletics projects. In the past year, Sewanee has accomplished $2.25 million in additional athletics improvements, including:

• replacement of turf at McGee and Puett Fields;
• renovation of the press box at McGee Field;
• resurfacing of Coughlan Track; and
• installation of new scoreboards at Bruton-Guerry Tennis Center, Montgomery Field, and Juhan Gymnasium.

We are now working to finalize two important initiatives:

Montgomery Field Lights
Sewanee’s Montgomery Field, where our baseball team plays, is in need of additional lighting. Installing new lights will not only help ensure player safety, but it will also allow for greater flexibility in practice and game scheduling.

Softball Stadium Renovations
The University is making progress with multiple renovations to Tiger Field, where our softball team plays. Planned upgrades include updated stadium seating, dugout expansion, renovation of our press box, and installation of additional lights. This project honors Jon Parker, P’26, a Sewanee parent and enthusiastic Tiger fan who passed away in 2024.

SEWANEE ATHLETICS FUNDING PRIORITIES

Below please find a summary of the funding priorities described on this page.

Donors who provide gifts of $25,000 or more will be recognized on a large plaque in the Fowler Center’s lobby. Individual plaques will be placed to honor donors who cover the full cost of any need.

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