On Friday, Texas Southern University broke ground on its new 6,000-square-foot strength and conditioning facility for the athletics department.
Vice President of Athletics at Texas Southern, Dr. Kevin Granger described the new facility as a “game changer” to FOX26.
According to Sports Illustrated, the Texas Southern upgrade will attract modern-day recruits for the school’s football, basketball, volleyball, track, and other sports programs.
HBCUGameDay reports that the facility will be built on the former basketball court directly behind the current Texas Southern Football Field House which is located near Alexander Durley Stadium.
The facility will include new weights, offices for strength and conditioning staff, space for physical therapy, an area for students to receive counseling services, and more.
“In today’s society, most of the student-athletes, the first thing they look at is the facilities. We wanted to make sure we upgraded our facilities be able to provide the student-athletes of today and tomorrow with first-class facilities when they attend Texas Southern University,” Granger said.
“We’re a Division I program, and we need to start TO look and feel like a Division I program.”
Texas Southern president Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton credited head football coach Clarence McKinney for his role in advocating the need for a new training facility. “The coaches decided to lead in tough times, did the best with what they had, and spoke up for the student-athletes’ needs,” she said.
According to Sports Illustrated, administrators project the new building will be erected by the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024.
