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Facilities

The University of Dayton's Division of Athletics has experienced a remarkable transformation over the previous 10 years driven by the execution of a strategic plan that has built an authentic broad-based sports program.

Since UD joined the Atlantic 10 in 1995-96, the Flyers have won 27 conference championships and appeared in the post-season on 17 occasions. Prior to that, UD competed in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference for five years and the Great Midwest Conference for two. During those seven years, the Flyers won two conference championships and appeared in post-season on only one occasion.

And competitive success has not come at the expense of academic performance: Flyer student-athletes carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.059 through the 2005-06 school year.

However, the emergence of more competitive broad-based sports programs has created stress on the athletics facility infrastructure. Although the competition facilities and fields have undergone dramatic improvements, UD has lacked indoor practice space and facilities. Teams practice as early as 6 a.m. and as late as midnight...hardly optimum for athletic or academic performance.

The renovation of the vacated Physical Activities Center is the answer. The 60,000-square-foot PAC served as a recreation facility for all students before the RecPlex opened in January 2006.

The renovation will provide quality indoor practice space for basketball, football, track & field, tennis, soccer, baseball and softball. It enables the Flyers to simultaneously enhance the student-athlete experience and competitive performance.

  • PART ONE: PHOTO GALLERY
  • PART TWO: PHOTO GALLERY
  • PART THREE: PHOTO GALLERY
  • PART FOUR: PHOTO GALLERY

    Highlights of the first phase of the renovation

  • The expansive swimming area at the PAC will be transformed into a practice basketball gym for the men's and women's teams. The court from UD Arena will be moved to campus after the 2006-07 season, and a new court is on order for the 2007-08 season for the Arena.

  • Collins Gym, which currently has an indoor track and four basketball courts, will receive a new multipurpose surface in January 2007 that will be suitable for indoor practices for track, volleyball, baseball, tennis, softball and football as well as conditioning sessions for all sports.

  • UD will install a 150-meter track, pole vault, triple, long and high jump stations and the capability for two tennis courts on the multipurpose surface. Dayton's track will be constructed from the same material used in the previous eight Olympic Games.

    150-Meter Track Dimensions
    Lane 1 = 128 meters or 12.6 laps to the mile (1600m)
    Lane 2 = 134 meters or 11.9 laps to the mile
    Lane 3 = 141 meters or 11.3 laps to the mile

  • The 30-year old facade will be spruced up in 2008 to meet the architectural standards developed through the University of Dayton Campus Master Plan.

  • In addition to the PAC renovation, the Frericks Center will receive a new hardwood floor for volleyball. This new surface will enable the Flyers to train better while reducing injury.

    Athletic Practice Facility News

  • 5/2/2007 - Phase Two Underway at Renovated Athletic Practice Facility
  • 1/12/2007 - Flyers Move Into New & Improved Practice Facility

    Facility Benefits
    The refurbished facility will open in January 2007, benefiting more than 350 Flyers student-athletes.

    By adding the additional practice space, UD teams gain flexibility to train and practice. The improved facilities will, decrease the injuries, lessen travel time for the student-athletes and serve as a great recruiting tool for the Flyers.

    On the basketball side, the renovated PAC decreases disruption when the men's and women's teams have to practice in the Frericks Center due to conflicting events at the UD Arena. And the proximity of the facility to core campus also sends a strong message to prospective student-athletes about UD's commitment to developing their talents both on-and-off the court.

    Master Plan
    As the Flyers celebrate more than 100 years of athletics, the remodeling of the former Physical Activities Center is not only an important step in future success of UD Athletics, but a component to the University of Dayton's Campus Master Plan.

    The goal of the Master Plan is the creation of a unified, efficient environment that is both inviting to students and enhances UD's mission of teaching, research and public service. The UD community will continue to use the Collins Gym for administrative luncheons, Christmas on Campus, the Stander Symposium, the Science Fair and other campus events.

    Fundraising
    Interested donors may contact Dave Harper, UD Director of Athletic Development, via e-mail at harperdl@notes.udayton.edu or by phone at (937) 229-2174.