In conjunction with a 20^th-coaching-anniversary celebration for football coach Mike Ayers, Wofford announced that its athletics endowment campaign, begun 18 months ago in anticipation of Ayers’ milestone, has raised $6.7 million.

In addition to the amount raised to date, Wofford President Benjamin Dunlap announced a $1.5 million leadership challenge, calling for an additional $3 million for the endowment, including the Mike Ayers Endowed Scholarship Fund.

The celebration honoring the career of this remarkable man was a very special evening,” said athletics director Richard Johnson. “For those of us who know Mike, the best way to honor him is to provide him with endowed scholarships and facilities to take the program to the next level.”

The school also announced that two donors had each pledged $1 million each for athletics facilities. Joe Taylor, a Wofford alumnus and South Carolina’s secretary of commerce, committed his donation to the Joe E. Taylor Athletic Center, which will feature a 7,000-square-foot strength and conditioning facility and athletics department offices.

Jerry Richardson, owner of the Carolina panthers and a Wofford graduate, made his donation for enhancements to the Richardson Physical Activities Building.

The announcements totaled $13.2 million in committed and potential funds for the Wofford athletics department.