Seton Hall Unveils Ambitious Intercollegiate Project, Marking New Heights for Pirate Nation
Seton Hall is pleased to formally announce plans to build a new state-of-the-art Basketball Practice Facility for student-athletes, as part of a comprehensive renovation to improve the student experience for a new generation of Pirates.
The Basketball Practice Facility, which will be housed in the Richie Regan Recreation & Athletic Center on the South Orange campus, will include a new basketball court, locker rooms, lounges, offices, a sports medicine room, a strength and conditioning room, a video room, and other amenities. The basketball facility’s construction also includes improvements to women’s basketball facilities.
Seton Hall intends to devote significant resources to this endeavor, including private philanthropy and a part of bonds secured at historically low interest rates. Several major donations have already been made to the University, including those from Pat Murray and Mary Ann Pfaff Murray, Jim O’Brien and Family, Al Frungillo and Family, Joseph Torcivia and Family, and Bruce Tomason. In the coming months, Seton Hall will continue to prioritize contributions to the building fund.
Seton Hall University has been working on a 10-year master plan to develop athletic and recreational facilities for the entire community. Athletics and Recreation has changed its facilities so that student-athletes can compete for championships while still enjoying their college experience. This includes the historic Walsh Gymnasium reconstruction, which will be finished in 2021 and will create a better experience for women’s basketball and women’s volleyball student-athletes and supporters. Seton Hall seeks to ensure that their intercollegiate athletics and leisure programs reflect the University’s vision and goals by providing exceptional opportunities and programs that allow all student-athletes to reach their full potential.”The Pirates are a unifying force on our campuses, bringing together our community to share our collective pride.
” “The new training facility will help them climb the rankings, attract talented recruits, and give fans around the world new reasons to cheer,” stated Seton Hall President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D.
Men’s basketball has had significant success over the last decade, earning a reputation as one of the finest programs in one of the best basketball conferences in the country. This includes five NCAA Tournament appearances, two BIG EAST titles, and a national ranking of No. 8. Building a specialized basketball practice facility will help the program maintain its national brand recognition. The facility’s construction will also free up space within the Recreation Center to begin improving women’s basketball facilities. Seven of the last ten years, the women’s basketball team has competed in either the NCAA Tournament or the WNIT, and in 2015, they won the BIG EAST championship.
“Our practice facility project heralds the beginning of a new era for Seton Hall basketball, one that will build on the tremendous success our basketball programs have had over the last decade,” said Bryan Felt, Director of Athletics & Recreation. “We strive to equip our student-athletes with the resources they need to flourish at the highest level of college basketball and compete for conference and national championships with the new practice facility and enhanced women’s basketball facilities within Walsh Gymnasium.”
The University has hired Cannon Design, the architect behind recent projects such as Virginia Tech’s baseball stadium, Maryland’s football practice facility, and Southern Indiana’s basketball arena, and hopes to begin construction in Summer 2023.
“A strong athletic program contributes significantly to the development of pirate pride and an affinity for Seton Hall.” Monica Burnette, Ph.D., Vice President of Student Services, stated, “It really promotes school spirit and unity.”
Shaheen Holloway, Head Coach of Men’s Basketball, agrees, noting that his first season was the best in program history among Seton Hall’s rookie head coaches, winning the most overall, BIG EAST games and earning a national postseason participation in the NIT. Holloway, a McDonald’s All-American and standout Pirates point guard, returned to The Hall after a spectacular time as Saint Peter’s head coach, leading the Peacocks to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2022. He is now advocating for resources to assist his student-athletes in becoming champions in the classroom, champions on the court, and champion leaders in the community.
“We’re in a new era of Seton Hall basketball, and with that comes the need to bring out the best in our players,” Holloway said. “The new basketball practice facility is critical for us to continue recruiting and developing players capable of helping our program win at the national level.” I can’t wait for the Pirates family to rally behind us, to support this endeavor, and to help us win in this new era.”
Under head coach Anthony Bozzella, who has the highest winning percentage (.599) of any Seton Hall women’s basketball coach, women’s basketball has also been winning at the national level, with repeated national postseason bids and top-six finishes in the BIG EAST Conference. When the practice building is completed, his program’s Walsh Gymnasium facilities will experience considerable renovations.
“The new basketball practice facility will open significant space for our program and provide us with a tremendous opportunity to modernize and expand our current footprint around Walsh Gymnasium,” Bozzella said. “It is a significant investment that will undoubtedly improve the student-athlete experience for both programs.”
“We appreciate the enthusiastic response from benefactors who share Seton Hall’s vision and value its forward-thinking strategy,” said Jon Paparsenos, Vice President for University Advancement. “We’re not there yet.” Additional contributions from alumni and friends will be critical in bringing a high-quality Practice Facility to our school community.”
Interested in learning more about the project or making a lead gift to the Basketball Practice Facility fund? Please contact Josh Azer, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development at joshua.azer@shu.edu
Seton Hall University.
Have something to say about this story? Let us know in the comments below.
