Football coaches to tackle new space

Charles C. Labenz Arizona Daily Wildcat The Wildcat Club and Development Office, located on the southeast side of McKale Center,will be the new home of the UA football coaches and staff. The football staff hopes to move into their new offices by Aug. 1.

Jim Livengood, director of intercollegiate athletics, said the football offices are inadequate and a plan to improve the facilities has been in the works for several years.

"When deciding what to do, we looked internally and decided the switch would be more immediate and more cost efficient than a brand new facility," Livengood said.

Livengood said the football staff hopes to move into the Wildcat Club offices by Aug. 1. The marketing and development staff will move into temporary facilities until their offices are remodeled. He said the whole project should be completed by the end of October.

"In the long run it will provide a much better atmosphere for us in terms of Wildcat football, and at the same time, it won't hurt us at all in marketing and development," Livengood said.

Coach Dick Tomey and other football staff members could not be reached to comment on the move because they were preparing for recruiting. Yesterday was the first day that high school seniors could sign national letters of intent to play for the University of Arizona.

Khashi Tabrizi, football administrative assistant, said the entire staff feels good about the switch .

"You absolutely need good facilities for recruiting.," he said.

Tabrizi said recruiting is the football team's number one concern, and though facilities are not the only thing a recruit considers, they certainly have an impact.

"We want student athletes to feel comfortable here," he said. "Comfort with us is the most important thing in a kid's choice."

Livengood said, "When discussing this project, our first priority was: Will it allow our student athletes to have a better experience here? And the answer is definitely yes."

All coaches will get separate offices as a result of the swap but graduate assistants will continue to share an office, Tabrizi said.

Tom Sanders, associate director of athletics for development, said the move gives the football staff the room they need. He said the marketing and development staff would like to move as quickly as possible and approve the switch.

Livengood said the change will cost between $100,000 to $200,000, but the cost of a new facility would be five times that amount. The switch will involve about 30 people from both staffs.