Football offices to open new doors

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat Art Hernandez, a Facilities Management staff member, continues to work on the newly remodeled football offices located in the McKale Center. The football program traded spaces in the McKale Center with the Wildcat Club.

In the past, the UA football coaches have resided anywhere from temporary cubes to storage areas under McKale Center. But all this changed starting this season. The football coaches are finishing a move that will relocate them to the southeast area of McKale, formerly occupied by the Wildcat Club.

"This is a big step for our program. It really demonstrates a commitment to football to our young people," said Defensive coordinator Rich Ellerson. "We are really indebted to the people of the Wildcat Club who traded areas with us. Without their good will, the move would not have happened."

The athletic department had planned the move in the future, but wasted little time when the opportunity presented itself.

"We have been talking about a move for a long time, and this really made sense financially and aesthetically," said UA Athletics Director Jim Livengood. "The offices are located right across from the team's practice field and right above the weight room."

The relocation not only gives the staff some much-needed space, but also provides additional rooms for film-viewing and meetings.

"Before the move, we had our offensive coordinator (Homer Smith) in a former storage area beneath the stands in McKale Center. Now everyone has their own office and we even have separate rooms we can use to go over films with the players," UA associate head coach Duane Akina said. "We're also a little closer to each other and have more room to have players meet with us in our office. Basically, it makes our job a little easier."

Another hopeful impact of the improved offices should be in the area of recruiting. Arizona's new setup is comparable to the other teams in the Pacific 10 Conference, giving the coaching staff a better chance at showing off the program to potential players.

"It allows us to 'Keep up with the Jones' with regards to other facilities in the Pac-10," Ellerson said. "We want to show our recruits that we are serious about football at Arizona, and this facility allows us to give that impression."

The renovation has already made a positive impact on the current players.

"It really is a beautiful facility," said UA senior defensive tackle Joe Salave'a. "It should really help attract new freshmen and make them feel comfortable coming to this university. "Seeing this really shows players what playing Division I football is all about," he said. "I only wish I could be here to see this work in the future."

The project figures to be finished by mid-September, meaning the coaches will have to deal with a few distractions as the team's home season begins.

"The construction has been very successful and we have heard nothing negative so far," said Steve Kozachik, UA Director of Facility Management and Capital Projects. "We have some furniture still on order and a couple other odds and ends left, but we are confident it will be finished by the team's first home game (September 13)."

The next big project involving the football team begins next year when the athletic department renovates the old weight room. The goal for the new facility is to be comparable to those of the elite programs in the Pac-10.