Building The New OKWU

Eagle Campus Expansion

“If you build it, they will come.”

It’s one of the all-time most famous lines in a sports movie, from Field of Dreams. And here at OKWU, it’s about to take on new meaning as we seek to build our own field of dreams: The Eagle Campus Expansion.

The project is a comprehensive plan to bolster our outdoor and indoor athletic facilities through a multi-leveled initiative. All told, we’re hoping to include championship-level turf fields, new softball and track and field complexes, a state-of-the-art field house, and an expansion to the Mueller Sports Center. These facilities will enrich and develop the lives of OKWU’s students, faculty, staff, and those in the community who utilize the spaces.

These plans address several needs that we have here at OKWU, both athletically and for the general student population. The turf fields will provide better drainage for our Silver Lake Road facilities, and the new complexes for softball and track and field will allow two major OKWU sports to finally be headquartered on our campus.

A Game-Changer

The new field house will provide flexible space for practice, training, and community events— opening up the existing Mueller Sports Center to serve the student body better. To top it off, the sports complex will be a welcoming front door to the university and the local community.

Simply put, this project is a game-changer—and not only for OKWU athletics. It’s for our whole community. Think about student recruiting and retention. 67% of students reported that their campus recreational facilities influenced their college decision, and 74% of students confirmed that campus recreational facilities influenced their decision to continue attending after their first year. *The Eagle Campus Expansion will allow OKWU’s recruitment efforts to remain competitive in the ever-changing world of higher education.

“It’s important that we invest in ALL students and help position our Athletic teams to compete at the highest level. This Expansion establishes OKWU for growth and enhances our commitment to every student’s success.”

But don’t just take it from me. Here’s Jamie Peterson, the head coach of our men’s soccer program, on the benefits of the Eagle Campus Expansion:

“This project would significantly enhance our student-athlete experience,” he said. “The impact will be felt for years to come and be a game-changer for OKWU’s student-athletes and coaches. It’s not only going to impact training and game facilities, but it will also drastically elevate our recruiting. I believe it’s going to be a rallying point for the entire community to support OKWU.”

And Cedric Muteshi, the head coach of our track and field program, shared, “This new facility will give our athletic program everything we need to operate efficiently on a daily basis.”

Team Goals

The expansion includes three stages. First, we’re working towards our Fields+Track Project, consisting of new facilities for soccer, baseball, softball, track & field, and cross-country, along with parking and lighting. The next two stages include the field house and expansion to the Mueller Sports Center. It’s a big step, but OKWU is ready to meet the challenge.

The Eagle Campus Expansion will enrich the lives of every person that encounters the people and spirit of OKWU.

In athletics, the name of the game is teamwork. And as a program, that’s something we take seriously. We’re one team, even in the 19 individual sports our program supports. By definition, a project like this has to be a team effort. We hope that you’ll consider joining Team OKWU on this, either through financial support or by spreading the word about this vision. If you’re interested in giving or learning more about the projects, visit our web page at okwu.edu/eaglecampus.

Thank you for sharing this dream. Together, we can make it a reality!