The newest renderings for the new indoor practice facility, baseball clubhouse/stadium and soccer field are here. These changes and improvements bring to light WSU athletic’s changes as a whole, and how far they have come in just the last few years.
A prime example of the change would be Cougar football, which has improved more in that two years than in the last decade. With the team’s win over Utah comes bowl eligibility, something that hasn’t been achieved by the Cougs in a while. The Leach era has brought in an established winning mentality and newfound confidence in these players and this program. Bill Moos has been very vocal about his confidence in Mike Leach to help the team reach a new level of success. When Leach’s contract was extended through the 2018 season, Moos said in a press release,
"“Mike Leach has done a fabulous job in his short time at Washington State. Extending his contract through the 2018 season will ensure a bright future for Cougar football.”"
But football isn’t the only team making a statement in WSU athletics.
WSU soccer finished 21st in the country according to NCAA standings, and second in the PAC-12. The team was defeated in the first round of the NCAA tournament based on penalty kicks in overtime, and battled until the finish. Washington State senior forward, Micaela Castain, and WSU soccer head coach Keidane McAlpine were named Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year and Coach of Year. The team also received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for 2012-13, having a team GPA of 3.23.
Another sport in Cougar athletics is making a comeback. Cougar volleyball has recently beat two ranked teams, USC ranked fifth in the nation and Cal ranked 28th in the nation. The team is currently ranked 11th in the PAC-12 standing, but with these recent wins against ranked opponents it’s clear that WSU is determined to keep battling and make their presence known in this conference.
These new changes are a symbol of the new era of WSU athletics and what it can become in just a short a short amount of time. I look forward to the future of this university and it’s athletic triumphs.
Tell us what you think of these renderings and your vision on the future of Cougar athletics in the comments! Also, for more on these projects, visit Cougar Athletic Fund.
Football Operations Building
Indoor Practice Facility
Baseball Clubhouse
Soccer Facility/Field