The Board of Regents approved a historic naming for the athletic department at its monthly meeting Friday on the UM-Flint campus.
The regents formally approved the naming of the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus following last month’s $100 million gift to the athletic department from real estate developer and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.
“Steve is a generous donor that supports our mission to be leaders and best in every way,” said Dave Brandon, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. “He shares our vision for an athletic campus that provides every student athlete with the best resources to compete at the highest level in the classroom, in competition, and in their lives after athletics.”
Ross provided Michigan Athletics with the lead gift — $100 million — toward the department’s goal of $350 million for the upcoming Victors for Michigan fundraising campaign. Ross’s gift will help build state-of-the-art facilities that will impact all 31 teams and the 900-plus student-athletes that represent Michigan on a daily basis.
In recognition of his generous gift, the athletic campus from this point forward will be known as the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus.
One of the facilities currently under construction on the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus is the new $5.3 million home of Michigan softball. The regents also approved the naming of the Donald R. Shepherd Softball Center.
The three-story, 10,200-square-foot complex includes locker rooms, coaching and support staff offices, a team meeting room, athletic medicine and fitness spaces, hydrotherapy pools and support space. Construction is scheduled to be completed by January 2014.
“Don has been a major contributor to our women’s athletics programs through the years,” said Brandon. “We appreciate his philanthropy in support of these teams from both a capital and scholarship standpoint.
“Steve and Don are both significant contributors to our team and we greatly appreciate their continued support of Michigan Athletics,” added Brandon.
Michigan Athletics has three facilities that are currently under construction on the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus — Schembechler Hall, field hockey and the Donald R. Shepherd Softball Center — with many others planned over the next few years.
