WSU announces $2 million gift to indoor practice facility

The Washington State Cougars’ quest to build an indoor practice facility got a major boost recently when Scott and Lisa Taylor committed to a $2 million cash donation for the project. It is the largest cash donation in the athletics department’s history, according to the Cougar Athletic Fund.

“Washington State University is a very special part of our lives,” Scott Taylor said. “Our family has many fond memories at WSU, and Cougar Athletics helps keep our family connected to our life-long friends and to the place we cherish.

“There is significant meaning to being a Coug, and with this gift, we want to give back to the school we love. We also hope to inspire others to contribute to this important facility for Cougar Athletics, and help WSU continue to create more wonderful memories for all of us in the years to come.”

The IPF has long been one of the major capital project goals for WSU athletics; currently, indoor practices for various teams take place either in the Air Supported Structure that is adjacent to Bailey-Brayton Field and has been in use since the days of Mike Price, or in the Hollingbery Fieldhouse. The current indoor facility isn’t really up to Pac-12 standards, with poor lighting and substandard artificial turf.

It’s unclear how close WSU is to completing the fundraising for the IPF, however, WSU president Kirk Schulz indicated in an interview earlier this year that he hoped to have the $25 million for the project raised by the end of this year.

According to the CAF, “This 100,000 square-foot facility will include a 100-yard football field, feature a new Field Turf surface along with and vastly improved lighting. Additional improvements include on-site locker rooms, athletic training space and equipment storage. The facility will benefit the majority of WSU’s athletic programs which include soccer, men and women’s golf, baseball, track and field and football.”