The official grand opening of the Coach Kenneth A. Shipp women’s basketball coaches’ office complex will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday prior to the exhibition game between Middle Tennessee and Alabama-Huntsville at 7 p.m.
“Our sincere thanks are extended to Coach Shipp for his generosity to Middle Tennessee and his gift that provided this facility,” director of athletics Chris Massaro said. “We strive to do everything first-class here and this is a great part of accomplishing that.”
The $500,000 project, which came courtesy of a donation to the MTSU Foundation from Shipp in February, was recently completed and has allowed the Blue Raider coaching staff to move into its new facility in the last couple weeks.
Shipp, a 1950 MTSU graduate, provided an overall gift of $1 million towards the University’s Foundation with a portion earmarked for the office complex, which was built on the lower level of the Murphy Center across from the Blue Raider Athletic Association offices.
Each member of the Middle Tennessee women’s basketball coaching staff has an individual, self-contained office, while other amenities include a conference room, HDTVs in each office and a large reception area through the double-glass door entrance.
Chip Walters will emcee the ribbon-cutting event with comments expected from President Sidney McPhee, Mike Terry, Coach Shipp and head women’s basketball coach Rick Insell.
“Every day that I walk into these new offices, the emotion that I get coming through the glass doors, are unlike any I have ever had,” Insell said. “I think of and thank Coach Shipp every morning, especially how gracious he was towards Middle Tennessee and the women’s basketball program.
“I am very thankful to be the first coach and have the first coaching staff to enjoy these offices. I know there will be many more coaches to go through here after I am gone. We feel like now we can bring in parents and recruits and stand toe-to-toe with any of the top programs in the country.”
MT supporters are encouraged to attend the open house with cake, cookies and punch provided in the BRAA offices afterwards.
The Blue Raiders then will face UAH in their first exhibition game of the season at 7 p.m.
