Facilities: The University of Missouri, Kansas City, recently dedicated its Dutton Brookfield Strength and Conditioning Center in the Swinney Recreation Center. "We have achieved one of our key goals in the completion of the Dutton Brookfield Strength and Conditioning Center for our student-athletes," said UMKC Director of Athletics Bob Thomas. "This allows our young men and women more opportunities to compete at the highest level, focuses on their health, safety and welfare and enhances our ongoing goal to be champions." In addition to the most up-to-date strength and conditioning equipment available, the Dutton Brookfield Strength and Conditioning Center also includes a practice range for the UMKC rifle team ... East Tennessee State University also conducted a dedication ceremony for its new Warren-Greene Golf Center. Officials also honored the achievements of three men who have made significant contributions to the school's golf program. The facility was named in honor of head coach Fred Warren and William B. Greene, chair of the board for Carter County Bank in Elizabethton. Also, a hall of fame room inside the Warren-Greene facility was named in honor of former golf coach Hal Morrison, who led the golf team for 25 years. Supported through private contributions, the center will provide a place for the East Tennessee State men's and women's golf teams to polish their skills. The exterior practice area was designed by world-renowned golf architect Tom Fazio. On a 14-acre site, it will include six target greens, two bent-grass greens (one for putting and one for short-game work), two tee areas, and four bunkers. The accompanying 3,000-square-foot, two-story building, designed by Ken Ross Architects of Johnson City, will contain coaches' offices, meeting rooms, players' lounge, two indoor hitting bays, and an observation deck. Estimated cost for the center is $2.4 million.

Sports sponsorship: The University of Texas at San Antonio will add women's golf and women's soccer to boost its varsity offerings to 16 NCAA Division I athletics teams beginning in the 2005-06 sports season. "In our minds the addition of both women's soccer and golf is accommodating to the interests of our citizens locally and in the state of Texas," said Texas-San Antonio Athletics Director Lynn Hickey. "The move will allow us to compete in all but one sport currently offered by the Southland Conference and it makes us more equitable in the number of scholarships we will be offering to female student-athletes in comparison to our overall campus population." Texas-San Antonio, which now will sponsor nine sports for women and seven for men, last added sports in 1991 when baseball and softball were added to the mix. The addition of women's golf and soccer for the 2005-06 sports season will allow the school to compete immediately for Southland championships in both sports. Soccer will compete against seven other Southland schools, while golf will play against five others. Hickey said the search for the women's golf coach has begun, while the women's soccer head coaching position won't be filled until after December.

Milestones: Pennsylvania State University women's volleyball coach Russ Rose became only the sixth coach in Division I history to reach the 800-win mark with a September 3 win over Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick. Rose joins Andy Banachowski (active at the University of California, Los Angeles), Elaine Michaelis (retired from Brigham Young University), Mick Haley (active at the University of Southern California), Dave Shoji (active at the University of Hawaii, Manoa) and Marilyn Nolen (retired from Saint Louis University) on the list of coaches to eclipse the 800-win plateau. Rose is a six-time Big Ten Conference coach of the year and has led his teams to seven Big Ten championships in 12 seasons. Rose has led Penn State to 23 consecutive NCAA tournaments, one of only four schools in the country to accomplish the feat.

Miscellaneous: Bradley University will donate half of all ticket sales for the October 8 men's soccer game against Creighton University to the American Cancer Society as part of its inaugural "Goals for Life" promotion. In addition, ninth-year Bradley head coach Jim DeRose has pledged 50 cents for every fan over the 1,500 threshold to attend the game and he is challenging individuals and businesses to make similar pledges. Bradley's players and Creighton head coach Bob Warming already have made their pledges. Warming will match DeRose's pledge, while the Braves have agreed to make a team contribution of $250 if the crowd exceeds 1,500. "It is fitting that the promotion is being held in conjunction with our game against Creighton," said DeRose. "There is a lot of mutual respect between our two programs and we both recognize the importance of giving back to our communities. I am excited that Bob (Warming) has agreed to join us in supporting a great cause." As of October 5, more than 1,200 tickets already had been sold. The game marks the second time the Bradley athletics department has helped raise funds to support cancer research. During the 2003-04 regular-season home finale at Robertson Field House, the Bradley women's basketball team sponsored the "Hoops for the Cure" promotion, with proceeds benefitting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. In addition to donating half of the ticket sales for the March 6 game against Indiana State University, Bradley head coach Paula Buscher and 18 other individuals each pledged $25 for every Bradley three-point basket during the game. The Braves responded by tying the single-game school record with 13 three-pointers in the 97-83 victory against the Sycamores, helping to generate a $7,000 contribution to the Komen Foundation.

-- Compiled by Gary T. Brown