University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baseball Coach John Jancuska wishes prospective student-athletes strictly examined potential playing time and the educational opportunity when making their college decision.
However, he admits that a rising number of prospective recruits are scrutinizing a university?s facilities before making their choice. That realization makes Jancuska even more excited about his university breaking ground on a $5 million renovation and addition project to its stadium locker room complex.
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“Especially when you are dealing with Division I athletes, kids are always talking about facilities and comparing them to other schools,” Jancuska said. “I wish that wasn?t the case, but that?s the reality in this free market.”
Scheduled to be completed by this spring, the renovation will provide locker rooms to all teams that use the stadium complex: men?s and women?s lacrosse, soccer, cross country and track and field, as well as the baseball and softball teams.
In addition, there will also be a new sports medicine complex, a large team meeting room, two coaches? locker rooms and an equipment room. The school will also construct an outdoor plaza at the west entrance of the facility.
As part of the project, the existing locker rooms will be gutted and refurbished, as will the building?s mechanical and electrical equipment, roof, insulation and exterior siding. The current site has 8,700 square feet with 3,200 additional square feet planned as part of the expansion process.
“The university has made a commitment to athletics and this is just the latest step to help us compete in the America East Conference,” said UMBC Senior Associate Athletic Director Gary Wohlstetter. “In the past our facilities were substandard and now that we will have this beautiful facility, it will only help in the recruiting wars.”
Jancuska said the upgrades will keep the school?s facilities competitive after other area schools such as Towson have upgraded their baseball facilities in recent years. Since 2005, UMBC has replaced the turf at UMBC Stadium and installed a new Bermuda grass surface at the school?s soccer stadium, which debuted last fall.
“It?s a really exciting time for our athletic department,” Jancuska said. “These renovations are going to give our new locker room a real clubhouse feel to it. Additions like these can turn into tie-breakers for recruits looking to choose between two schools.”
