Murfreesboro, TN - The Middle Tennessee State University Board of Trustees has voted to name its soon-to-be-completed Student-Athlete Performance Center in honor of Board Chair Stephen Smith and his wife, Denise. The decision, made during a special meeting on Friday, June 6, follows decades of the Smiths’ service and fundraising efforts for MTSU and its athletics programs.

The trustees unanimously approved the recommendation by President Sidney A. McPhee to add the Smiths’ names to the $66 million facility, located at the north end of Floyd Stadium. The center is expected to open before the football season this fall.

Vice Chair Christine Karbowiak Vanek presided over the meeting in Smith’s absence, as he recused himself from the deliberations. The university received a formal request in April from former Gov. Bill Haslam and former U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon urging that the center bear the Smiths’ name.

Recognized for their extensive contributions, the Smiths recently received the Blue Raider Impact Award. A former MTSU baseball player, Stephen Smith is also a member of the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame.

The Student-Athlete Performance Center will serve as the new home for Blue Raider Football, offering state-of-the-art athletic training, weightlifting, and nutrition facilities to benefit all MTSU student-athletes.