I have dreamed about this day for over 15 years. 

When I came to Sweet Briar, I had big dreams of building the best women’s college tennis program in the country.  While on my campus interview, I was told about plans to build a new indoor tennis center.  I knew with the 14 outdoor tennis courts and the beautiful campus that this was the place I wanted to be.  I wasn’t on campus for more than a month when priorities changed.  The indoor tennis facility was not going to happen that year. 

It took a while, but sixteen years later we have our 3 indoor tennis courts.  But not just tennis courts - we have 2 basketball courts, volleyball courts, indoor field space for soccer, softball, lacrosse and field hockey.  As athletic director, this new facility is a dream come true. 

I have been in hundreds of gyms.  Some are the heart beat of the campus, and others are hidden in a corner of the campus.  At Sweet Briar, the dream was to be the center of campus life.  For this to happen we needed a few upgrades to our gym like a theatre and the new Houston Bistro.  Did I mention the racquetball and squash courts, the suspended running track, the spinning and aerobic room, classroom and the much needed storage rooms?  Oh, and what about the new administrative office?  When you come to visit with a coach just walk in the front door and all of us are only steps away.  The new gym is a showcase for all of our success stories past, the place where new achievements will occur, and lifetime friendships will be formed for all students.  Wait until you see the new hall of fame entry!  The cherry display cabinets, big screen TV’s and the hall of fame displays will bring together alumnae, students, and recruits – all to celebrate so much of what is special about this beautiful place. 

Jennifer Crispen and I would spend hours dreaming and planning the building.  Our first vision 15 years ago was to attach it to the back side of the building where the pool is located.  We actually went out and measured, but nope, not big enough.  A few years later we looked at the area where the grass tennis courts were located.  That area was actually surveyed as a possible site.  Again it would be a great site for an indoor tennis center, but not the fitness and athletic center we dreamed of.  Jennifer had an idea of going straight out the back on the tennis courts and moving the courts to a new location.  I was not big on that idea, and that is when we realized we would have to attach to the side of the building and head toward main campus.  Super!  We loved the idea of truly being the center of campus.  At one time, there was even talk of putting up the shell and housing the library books until the new library could be built.  We both love John Jaffe, but we kept telling him that was a bad idea.

A few months later we were reading e-mail announcements, and one came up to sign up for lunch with the Board.  We realize the time was right.  All of the coaches signed up and sat at different tables to get the conversation started about a new building.  We even assembled some of the athletes and gave them some talking points because they would be seeing some of the board members that evening. We kept the pressure on.  We talked about it constantly.  The athletic department hit the road and attended Sweet Briar days to keep the ball rolling.  I think it worked because not long after the meeting, Ginger Collier announced her goals for her term on the Board of Directors.  The new fitness and athletic center was one of them. 

I knew it was more than a dream when Board of Director Chair Ginger Collier wrote in the Alumnae magazine. For those of you that don’t know Ginger when she says she is going to get something done, it’s done.  That is when I finally started believing it was really going to happen. 

I will never forget sitting in the parking lot in front of the gym with Jennifer Crispen and looking at the steel beams going up.  So many people have asked me if Jennifer had a chance to see the building.  I have attached a picture of what the building looked like on that day.  I did not know sitting in the parking lot that day that would be the last time Jennifer would see the building.  Her words in the car that day were, “Wow, we did it!”  Just about everyday I walk in the new building and check on the progress, and I walk down to the end of the building and think, “Jennifer, we did it.” 

When the building opens tomorrow, a lot of history will be made.  We will dedicate the new building and inaugurate our new president.  And, a lot of history will be celebrated.  We will induct Jennifer to the Hall of Fame.   It’s only fitting to thank our friend for her dedication, hard work, and persistence on this day.  Thanks friend.  It is done!