CCU Athletics Receives $2.5M Gift
The gift jump-starts $14M campaign to construct new softball, soccer, and track and field facilities in Lakewood
Colorado Christian University, the leading Christian liberal arts university in the Rocky Mountain Region, has received a $2.5 million gift dedicated to the construction of softball, soccer, and track and field facilities. The anonymous donation is the largest single gift in CCU Athletics history and serves as the lead gift in a $14 million capital campaign that will transform Cougar Athletics by providing a permanent home for seven teams and directly affecting nearly 180 student-athletes.
“At Colorado Christian University, student-athletes are competitive, character-filled, and committed to excellence,” said President-elect Eric Hogue. “We nurture the spiritual development of each student-athlete, instructing each one to lead Christ-centered lives on and off the courts and fields of competition, modeling high standards of academic and athletic excellence. This gift is an embodiment of CCU’s dedication to providing the best facilities and opportunities for Christian student-athletes to grow and excel on the field, in the classroom, and around the world.”
The athletics facilities capital campaign will transform approximately 11 acres of University-owned property at the corner of Alameda Avenue and Kipling Street in Lakewood.
“Success in both athletics and life takes hard work and personal discipline,” Hogue said. “At CCU, we believe that competition builds the skills needed to lead Christ-centered lives inside and outside the arenas of play. We keep score, so, it’s very appropriate to play to win!”
When complete, the new complex will feature a NCAA-standard women’s softball field, a regulation soccer pitch, a multi-sport practice field, a four-lane track, two locker rooms, public restrooms, and concessions spaces.
“Today marks a new chapter for Cougar Athletics,” said Brian Wall, CCU director of athletics. “Our student-athletes compete not only to be the best, but to bring glory to an audience of one, our Lord and Savior. This gift guarantees that Cougar student-athletes will have the resources to compete at the highest level.”
The new complex will allow Cougar student-athletes to build on a strong foundation that has been laid in recent seasons. The softball team, ranked No. 9 in the country, currently shares All-Star Park with the baseball team. The new complex will mark the first time the program has had its own dedicated space. Both men’s and women’s cross country teams and track and field teams have seen immense success in recent years with multiple All-America runners.
“This facility will begin to solidify the athletic program at CCU, which has been operating in various venues around Lakewood at which we couldn't have much access to or control,” said Jim McCormick, senior vice president, and vice president of student life for the College of Undergraduate Studies. “We have outstanding student-athletes who love the Lord and exhibit great sportsmanship — as witnessed by the nine years of winning the Sportsmanship Cup from our conference, including the last five years straight. It is time the quality of the facilities at CCU matches the incredible success our student athletes are having. This complex will get us down the road on a solid home for seven of our sports.”
The athletics facilities capital campaign is currently in its initial stages. To learn how you can get involved and become a vital partner in the future of Cougar Athletics and the facilities capital campaign, contact Amanda Grogan, senior director of major gifts, at agrogan@ccu.edu, 303-963-3330, or Brian Wall, director of athletics, at bwall@ccu.edu, 303-963-3187.