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2020-2021 A YEAR FOR CAMPAIGN COMPLETIONS
Creating a place built on WARRIOR PRIDE
Football locker room campaign surpasses expectations
An image of the guest team locker room prior to construction. The space was larger than the existing home team locker room, prompting planners to use that space instead.
You WIN in the Locker Room First, a $750,000 fundraising campaign launched by the ESU Foundation and the Department of Athletics to build a new football locker room in Koehler Fieldhouse, was completed, surpassing its goal and raising over $860,000. The campaign kicked off on Oct. 8, 2020, with a virtual event that invited more than 100 alumni and friends of the program to learn more about the project. A 17-member fundraising committee was tasked with reaching out to alumni and friends, led by co-chairs Pat Flaherty ’78 and Mike Terwilliger ’78.
Construction of the new locker room is near completion. It is located in the old space previously used by visiting teams in Koehler Fieldhouse and is larger than the team’s current facility. The upgraded facilities include 26-inch wide, open cherry-wood lockers with LED lighting, replacing the existing grey metal lockers, a cell phone charging station, an equipment drying system on top of each locker, and a speaker system to pump music throughout the space. There is also an academic center where players can work on assignments.
The new facility reflects ESU’s dedication to the players, team, and program, said Dr. Gary R. Gray, ESU’s director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "We're providing the student-athletes with a comfortable new environment. It’s not just a locker room—it’s a team room. The players spend a lot of time in there. The new space tells them we’re committed to the program and committed to their success,” Gray said. The space includes seven named areas, including the academic center and coaches’ space. All the lockers have been sold and will contain a plaque bearing the name of a campaign donor.
Rich Santoro, executive director of the ESU Foundation, said the swiftness of the fundraising shows the dedication and loyalty of ESU alumni.
“To hit our goal at the six-month mark is pretty much unheard of. The [football] program is one that has stayed in touch with their alumni over the years. We had donations from every generation—basically the 1960’s through recent graduates in 2020. It was everything you want in a campaign. We had more than 200 former players step forward and make this a reality. When we do the ribbon cutting/dedication, a lot of people will be very pleased. We’re excited to bring all of our donors back to celebrate.”
Warriors Head Coach Jimmy Terwilliger ’07, left, with TJ Burger of FastSigns of Easton, Pa., during a visit to assess the space in the new football locker room. Near completion, the locker room will include multiple named spaces donated by alumni and friends of the program.
All parties were committed to creating a space that reflects pride of place and pride of people who occupy that place. People care about East Stroudsburg. The alumni base is extremely proud. The football alumni would do what they had to do to make the team a championship contender.
– Warriors Head Coach Jimmy Terwilliger ’07