The start of every school year brings some changes to the Milligan campus, and one of most noticeable this year is the makeover at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse. The main court, the downstairs facilities and the graphics on the outside all saw big changes over the summer.
The new basketball and volleyball floor features a new dark gray and black design. The old Milligan shield logo at center court has been replaced with a new buffalo head logo.
The lower level of the fieldhouse has been updated with a black and gray paint job for all of the walls and coaches’ offices. In addition, the men’s and women’s locker rooms were expanded and given new flooring. The graphics on the outside of the fieldhouse include new images of current student-athletes.
Athletic Director Christian Pope told The Stampede that the changes weren’t just for looks: the renovations were necessary.
“Last year specifically, we were having a lot of issues with the floorboards starting to crack where they joined together,” he said. “It got to the point where if you were to dribble a ball, the ball wouldn’t come up like a marble. The floor had too many dead spots.”
‘I understand that the new court floor will not help some sports. … Gradually we are doing stuff that will help everybody.’ — Athletic Director Christian Pope
As a result, Pope and President Bill Greer decided this needed to be fixed as soon as possible. Pope also mentioned that some athletes were complaining that the hardwood floor was very unforgiving for their knees and joints while practicing and playing. The new gym floor aims to be not just visually appealing but also a safer space for the students. The fieldhouse renovations were paid by donors’ specifically designated gifts. Pope declined to name the total cost.
Pope, Greer and other administrators discussed the potential new designs for about two months before they decided on the final one. Pope’s thought process was inspired by the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets’ court and he wanted “a unique design that you won’t see anywhere else.” The dark gray and black design, for instance, lets the Milligan orange highlights pop out more.
While the improvements to the fieldhouse are a boost to Milligan’s athletic department, Pope understands that they don’t benefit all sports and that other facilities need to be improved. One of the most obvious is the lack of an on-campus track and field facility and an inadequate weight training room. Pope said he understands these concerns. Pope said he raised about $150,000 for the overall athletics budget last year, but was able to raise $110,000 just last month. That’s in addition to the fundraising that coaches do for their own programs.
The main basketball and volleyball court design was inspired by an NBA arena. (Milligan University file photo) 
The locker rooms in Steve Lacy Fieldhouse received an upgrade. (Milligan University file photo)
“Gradually we are doing stuff that will help everybody,” he said. “I understand that the new court floor will not help some sports. But, this month I will be purchasing starting blocks for the men and women’s swimming programs. We are always working with different sponsors and boosters who are sport specific.”
Pope recognizes the areas of improvement needed in the school’s athletic department and understands the athletes’ grievances. The softball and baseball fields are currently being fitted with turf, for example.
“I told a few of the coaches I kinda feel sheepish” at the recent annual all-sports meeting. “This summer we spent all this money and all this effort on basketball and volleyball, and I’m going to be standing in a group of about 600 athletes talking to them about all of the wonderful things we’ve got and we are going to have some of the kids in the audience sitting like, ‘That’s great, but what about my sport?’”
Pope said his next big endeavors include bringing a track and a multipurpose facility to Milligan in the next few years. All he asks for is patience from student-athletes and coaches.
Information and updates about Milligan sports can be found at milliganbuffs.com.
Featured photo: The Steve Lacy Fieldhouse exterior got a facelift as part of the summer’s major renovations. Photo: Evan Hayes.