Renovations for D.L. Ligon Coliseum eight years ago left the football coaches without any offices. They were moved to the houses at 2508 and 2510 Hampstead.
“They were in prehistoric conditions over in these houses over on Hampstead,” said Athletic Director Charlie Carr.
“They were not very impressive. Almost disgraceful if you are having to recruit, much less show anybody,” said Associate Vice President of Facilities Services Kyle Owen.
Carr said they tried to put the offices in the now renovated D.L. Coliseum but had nowhere to put them.
“We tried everywhere in the world to cram them into the coliseum but they are our largest staffing group and it just didn’t work,” Carr said.
The back of the Christ Academy was transformed into offices for the football coaches. Owen said that the original project budget started at $650,000 but they lowered it to $350,000.
Valarie Maxwell, director of budget and management, said $250,000 were carry-forward budget balances. Money was saved from salary savings, travel funds, and maintenance budgets that weren’t spent by some general departments in the prior fiscal year. Higher Education Assistance Funds and budgeted carry-forward funds, instead of coming from state athletic funds, provided the money for infrastructure only.
“We were spending quite a bit of money on a monthly basis to have them over there,” Carr says about houses substituting for offices. The school has saved money because they are now able to use on campus funds.
“It’s not finished. We ran out of money.” Carr said. “There’s a room that we would like to finish equipping that would be a room that our coaches can use for film study for our kids.”
Owen said there are no plans for further expansion for the West Campus Annex.
Board of Regents approved the plans for the move and renovations in May 2014. In the Board of Regents plan it was expected to be completed in 2014. According to Trey Reed, assistant athletic director, the coaches moved in at the beginning of April 2015.
As of now there is no specific name for the offices. It is known as football administration and MSU Football Offices.
Carr said the offices are usable and that is the most important thing.
