Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Finalizes Plans for New Weight Rooms
June 21, 1999 | General
March 31, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech Athletic Department plans to complete a new 5,500 square foot weight room by mid-July in the Athletic Training Center adjacent to Jones Stadium, school officials announced today.
The project, estimated to cost approximately $250,000, will also include renovating the present weight area in the ATC. Coupled with the 3,000 square foot weight room in The United Spirit Arena, the total strength and conditioning area used by Texas Tech athletes will be increased by 8,500 square feet.
Texas Tech Strength and Conditioning Coach Kelvin Clark says that the new facilities will allow for all Tech athletes to be able to work out in a less crowded envrionment at convenient hours. Starting in the Fall, the football team will work out in the new facility, while the volleyball and men's and women's basketball teams will move their workouts to the United Spirit Arena. The existing weight room will then be used by the baseball, softball, soccer and men's and women's track, tennis and golf teams.
Head Football Coach Spike Dykes sees the new facilities as an advantage for his team as well as the entire athletic department.
"This is simply upgrading the quality facility that already exists," Dykes said. "The great thing about it is that the weight room is overcrowded and now everybody is going to have more room. So it is a win-win deal for everybody. A school's strength and conditiong program has become a tremendous recruiting tool. With Kelvin Clark in charge of an outstanding facility, I would compare our program favorably with any in the nation."
Part of the construction of the weight rooms in the ATC will be to install glass fronts on both the existing and new weight rooms for what Athletic Director Gerald Myers calls a "lighter, brighter, more pleasant environment."
Clark was even more enthusiastic about the changing face in the facilities that he oversees.
"It won't be quite like a dungeon in here anymore," Clark said. "We're going to renovate the surfaces in both weight rooms (in the ATC) and add all new equipment in the football area. With three excellent places for our athletes to workout, this will be a tremendous boost for recruiting and performance of all of our programs here at Texas Tech."
