Fred Roll can’t say quantitatively how many potential Kansas University student-athletes have been influenced negatively by KU’s tiny Shaffer-Holland Strength Center.
But Roll knows one recruit scratched the Jayhawks off his list after a bad episode at KU’s antiquated workout facility.
“We were showing him the weightroom, and a ceiling tile fell on his head,” Roll said.
Roll, KU’s director of strength and conditioning, is certain the Jayhawks’ new weightroom will leave a markedly different impression on future recruits.
Longtime KU supporters Dana and Sue Anderson and their family on Friday announced a $4 million pledge toward the $8 million Anderson Family Strength and Conditioning Center.
The 25,000-square-foot facility will replace an outdated 6,000-square-foot weightroom that opened in 1983. The Anderson Family Strength and Conditioning Center, to be built on the northwest corner of the Anschutz Sports Pavilion, is expected to open next fall.
“It was clearly the worst in the conference,” Dana Anderson said of the Shaffer-Holland facility, the smallest weightroom in the Big 12. “It wasn’t even close. It was awfully hard to recruit to.”
A new strength center long has been on KU officials’ wish list.
Anderson timed his gift to coincide with the transition between former KU athletics director Bob Frederick and Frederick’s replacement, Allen Bohl, and to jump-start the major “KU First” fund-raising campaign, which officially will be announced next month.
“I wanted this to be a parting gift to Bob Frederick and a welcoming give to Dr. Bohl,” said Dana Anderson, a native of Salina who now lives in Los Angeles. “That was the spirit of it. And I was told it might help get people thinking about giving. Hopefully, it will do some good.”
KU’s coaches and student-athletes were quick to assure it would.
Anderson announced his gift at Hadl Auditorium, which was filled close to capacity with KU supporters, coaches and administrators.
“This is kind of special, you know it?” Kansas football coach Terry Allen said. ” This will have a tremendous effect on our recruitment of student-athletes, but this isn’t just a football-specific area.”
“This is a facility that will benefit all student-athletes at the University of Kansas,” echoed KU softball coach Tracy Bungee.
Bohl was even more effusive.
“KU will own the next decade,” he said, “and the Andersons have laid the foundation. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
The Anderson Family Strength and Conditioning Center will have two stories. It will feature weight-training equipment, a cardiovascular workout area and lockers. A 1/16-mile track on the second floor will overlook the main workout area.
“It’s really going to be state-of-the-art,” Roll said. “It will be top 10, top 20 in the country.”
Anderson said the gift was meant to honor his and Sue’s four children, Jerry, Dana Jr., Jenee and Justin; Dana Anderson’s sister, Sally Martell; their late father, Everett Anderson; and Everett Anderson’s brother, Clifford.
“My son, Justin, eagerly joined in this gift,” Dana Anderson joked. “He surrendered an awful lot of his inheritance.”
Anderson hoped to make his gift quietly, but was convinced to take part in a public ceremony to grease the skids for the upcoming fund-raising campaign.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Anderson, who was introduced to a standing ovation. “It’s not something we sought out.”
Two current KU student-athletes softball player Amy Hulse and football defensive lineman Nate Dwyer also took a turn at the podium to express their gratitude.
“Wow is all I have to say,” Hulse said. “Amazing. Amazing. This gift is so significant.”
“The only way we can truly thank you,” Dwyer added, “is through hard work and dedication on the playing field.”
Anderson said the KU Endowment Association had agreed to front the balance of funds for the new strength center so that ground could be broken quickly.