Dear Assumption Community,
I am pleased to share that through the generosity of a challenge grant issued by Brian ’83, HD’12, and Paqui Kelly and donations from many other benefactors, the University has begun construction on a new, turfed softball and soccer complex, an ambitious project that will benefit current and future student-athletes. Furthermore, this project will also create an influential recruitment tool for future Greyhounds. Brian, a former softball coach at Assumption, and his wife Paqui, issued the challenge grant to raise funds to improve the University’s athletic facilities. As you may know, Brian, the former head football coach for the University of Notre Dame, was just appointed to the same position at Louisiana State University.
Funded by the Kellys and generous donors who are enthusiastic supporters of Assumption Athletics and whose support exceeded the challenge funding, this $2.6 million athletic facility – projected to be completed in summer 2022 - will provide our student-athletes with a new turf field replacing the existing field that has presented a series of challenges, chief among them inadequate drainage. The drainage challenge has forced nearly half of the softball team’s home games to be played off-campus over the past four seasons. Other improvements include a new scoreboard, sound system, backstop, bullpen, batting cage, cameras, and the addition of lights to expand the number of hours student-athletes may use the field. The men’s and women’s soccer programs will also benefit from this project as a new soccer field will be built as part of the new facility. The facility will also allow for the expansion of club and Blue and White sports.
I am grateful to Brian and Paqui Kelly and the donors who responded so generously to this challenge. These investments are being made to impact current and future generations of Assumption Greyhounds and enhance the Assumption experience for all students.
