Facilities: Construction is underway on a new four-story building inside Santa Clara University's Leavey Center, the school's 25-year-old sports complex. The 43,000 square foot addition began in April and is scheduled for completion in April 2002. The project involves demolition of the east end upper bleachers and approximately 13,000 square feet of existing space. The addition will include new upper-level bleachers, concession stands, weight room and an academic center for athletes. The interior building shell and east upper bleachers are scheduled for completion by late December, before the Cable Car Classic men's and women's basketball tournaments. Once completed, the Leavey Center will be the home for the staff and coaches for each of the university's 17 intercollegiate sports. "Once construction is completed, the Leavey Center will be a showcase for our sports programs, and we are excited about the first-class atmosphere the facility will provide for our student-athletes and fans," said Santa Clara Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick.

Atlantic Sun Conference. The change in name and logo represents the focal point of an overall branding and identity program for the Atlantic Sun. "Our conference has evolved dramatically over the past 10 years and we felt the timing was appropriate for this change," said Commissioner Bill Bibb. The league also announced that it will add Gardner-Webb University as a full member, effective September 2002. Gardner-Webb, which will begin competition in the Atlantic Sun in 2002-03, fields teams in each of the league's 15 championship sports. Under NCAA rules, Gardner-Webb's men's basketball team will not be eligible for league postseason play or the conference's automatic bid to the Division I Men's Basketball Championship until the 2004-05 season. Other Atlantic Sun schools are Belmont University, Camp bell University, the University of Central Florida, Florida Atlantic University, Georgia State University, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville University, Mercer University; Samford University, Stetson University and Troy State University ... Also regarding Gardner-Webb, the school will become an associate member of the Big South Conference in football, effective with the 2002 season, the first year of the Big South's newly formed football conference. By adding Gardner-Webb, the Big South is within one of the six members needed to fulfill the minimum for an automatic bid to the Division I-AA Football Championship. "One of our primary objectives as we make the transition to NCAA Division I is to secure conference affiliation for all of our sports. Membership in the Big South helps us to accomplish this goal in football," said Gardner-Webb Director of Athletics Chuck Burch. The Big South will enter the 2002 football season with three current members, Charleston Southern University, Elon University and Liberty University. Coastal Carolina University, which is adding football as a varsity sport, would become the fourth member in 2003. Gardner-Webb will bring the total to five. "Hopefully, we will be able to expand football membership and develop lasting rivalries with fellow football-playing members of the Big South," Burch said. Gardner-Webb's football program was 7-4 in 2000, its first season after making the transition to Division I-AA.

-- Compiled by Gary T. Brown