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Smith Center Renderingse
January 11th, 2007 - Click here to view album

Press Conference Video
January 11th, 2007 - Click here to watch

Press Conference Photos
January 11th, 2007 - Click here to view album

On Jan. 11, 2007, Oklahoma State University announced that alumnus Sherman Smith was donating $20 million toward Oklahoma State University’s athletic indoor practice facility.

The gift made Sherman Smith the second largest private donor in the history of OSU.

“This gift is a reflection of how much Oklahoma State University means to Dad,” said Will Smith, son of Sherman Smith and family spokesman. “He very often shares stories, tales and anecdotes of his time as a student at Oklahoma State. He enjoys watching his Cowboys and Cowgirls and their pursuit of conference and national titles.

“It is a privilege to have the resources to financially assist in the vision of OSU Athletics,” he added. “The energy business has been very good to us, and we feel blessed to make this contribution.”

The new indoor facility will bear Sherman Smith’s name.

LEFT: Smith Training Center, facing new practice fields | RIGHT: Smith Training Center, main entrance

“This is a special gift serving Oklahoma State athletics,” said athletic director Mike Holder. “An important part of dramatically improving our athletic facilities, this gift continues the momentum that has been established at OSU. Sherman has been a tremendous difference maker in supporting OSU Athletics for many years. We are extremely grateful to Sherman and his family for this important contribution.”

The new facility will be strategically located across the street from Boone Pickens Stadium in the Athletic Village. Student-athletes, coaches and athletic trainers will have convenient access to Boone Pickens Stadium, Gallagher-Iba Arena, weight training facilities, sports medicine amenities, administrative offices, and future additions to the Athletic Village.

The new facility will be located adjacent to OSU’s new football practice fields.

The future of Oklahoma State University Athletics will not be defined by a single facility or venue but by an assortment of new facilities that will form a state-of-the-art complex on the OSU campus.

The Athletic Village, to be located just north of Boone Pickens Stadium, will benefi t every program in the Oklahoma State athletic department while providing OSU with cutting edge venues located in a convenient and comprehensive setting. And unlike most campuses in which facilities are added individually, Oklahoma State is in the enviable position of being able to put together a long-range facility blueprint that will allow the venues to complement each other in an integrated fashion.

While planning for the Athletic Village is still in the early stages and all artists’ renderings are subject to change, the completed projects will include new venues for track, baseball, tennis and soccer.

The village will also house the Sherman Smith Training Center, the new indoor practice facility that will benefit every student-athlete on the OSU campus.