DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman University hopes to make big upgrades to its gymnasium. With limited university funding, current and former basketball players are stepping up to raise $100,000, starting with their games this weekend.
The athletic director at Bethune-Cookman, Reggie Theus, told News 6 major updates are needed.
“If you feel how cold it is in here, it’s because it doesn’t have a thermostat. It’s either on or off. That’s one thing. The building is so historical. It’s old,” Theus said.
Moore Gymnasium, built in 1937, is in dire need of improvements, with plans to replace the score table and scoreboard among other upgrades.
This weekend marks the school’s first homecoming celebration for the basketball teams, giving the team a prime opportunity to encourage alumni and supporters to contribute financially.
“The universities are all underfunded, not just Bethune, all HBCUs are all underfunded. Then, us being a private HBCU, we don’t get a lot of state funding,” Theus explained.
The fundraising goal is set at $100,000, with $25,000 raised so far.
Reginald Cunningham, chair of the Basketball Alumni Association and a former player from the late ’80s and early ’90s, said good facilities give them a leg up in recruitment.
“The facilities in itself help with recruitment and everything else because one that’s the caveat other universities use against us,” Cunningham said.
Theus said he’s working towards gradual improvements being made to all sports facilities.
Two years ago, the university broke ground on its first on-campus football field, and now the focus is on basketball, with hopes to secure funding for track facilities next.
“When you start to think about championship culture and what we’re talking about in terms of building, it’s hard to do when your facilities are poor, and our facilities are poor. But we have the best atmosphere in all of the SWAC. It’s not even close,” Theus added.
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