University of Arizona
As a public research university serving the diverse citizens of Arizona and beyond, the mission of the University of Arizona is to provide a comprehensive, high-quality education that engages our students in discovery through research and broad-based scholarship. We aim to empower our graduates to be leaders in solving complex societal programs. Whether in teaching, research, outreach or student engagement, access and quality are the defining attributes of the University of Arizona’s mission.
BOLD HISTORY THAT FUELS THE FUTURE
It was a bold move in 1885 to start a university in the middle of the desert. UA faculty and students have been on the cutting edge ever since.
RESEARCH THAT IMPROVES THE HUMAN CONDITION
From planetary science to medicine to the arts, UA research is changing the world. Being ranked #15 by the National Science Foundation doesn’t just make us great; it creates great opportunities for students. Our researchers teach. Students work alongside world-class professors to discover new knowledge and launch their own careers.
PRESTIGIOUS FACULTY
Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, members of esteemed national academies and world-renowned experts in dozens of disciplines, our faculty brings international attention to the University, and puts us in the ranks of the top public universities in the nation.
ENVIABLE ACADEMICS
The UA is a diverse and talented community. From astronomy to communication to entrepreneurship, our programs and our people are among the best in the country. We offer a rich and rewarding educational experience to all who choose to focus on excellence.
OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD
As the state’s land grant university, we honor our three-fold commitment to education, research and community service. UA faculty and students share their knowledge, their time and their resources throughout the state and around the world.
ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT BENEFITS ALL
The UA generates $530 million in research and gives the state an annual $2 billion boost. We partner with industry so that innovative ideas become thriving enterprises.
Academics
The University of Arizona offers a wide variety of academic programs, many of which are among the nation’s best. Students can choose from more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees through 20 colleges and 11 schools on three campuses.
DIVERSITY IN ACTION:
MANY PERSPECTIVES. ONE UNIVERSITY.
At the University of Arizona, diversity isn’t just about talk. It’s about action. We build accessible and welcoming environments that support success. We create opportunities for engagement across communities to increase our creativity, enhance our ability to think critically, and to fully realize our leadership potential. We inspire each other to raise previously unconsidered questions in our scholarship and develop new approaches to solving some of society’s most complex problems. We are able to provide our students skills that are crucial for today’s global marketplace, because we are one University enriched by many perspectives to achieve excellence in our teaching, research, and service.
Through this portal you will experience diversity in action at the UA. You will access a remarkable depth and breadth of diversity resources including services to support the academic success of first-generation, low-socioeconomic status, and underrepresented students; educational programs for social justice and inter-group dialogue; resources for faculty and staff to create inclusive workplaces and classrooms; diversity information for parents and alumni; and much more.
Diversity Statistics & Reports
UA faculty and staff have conducted critical research on diversity issues that enlighten our University community as well as other academicians across the nation. The reports, as well as the statistics and data that will be found in this section will illuminate the growth and current state of diversity at the UA.
DIVERSITY STATISTICS
The characteristics of an educational community including the demographic diversity of its faculty, staff, and students are an essential ingredient to leverage in service of delivering students the highest quality education possible. Learn about the demographic diversity of UA’s community.
Employee Diversity Data
Data on UA’s faculty and staff is available by race, gender, and rank among other variables.
Student Diversity Data
Access student enrollment data including enrollment trends for minority students, new freshman by ethnicity, new transfers by ethnicity, persistence, and graduation data.
University of Arizona Rankings
The University of Arizona (UA) is a premier, public research university. The National Science Foundation ranks the UA No. 24 in research and development expenditures among public and private universities and colleges and No. 16 among public universities and colleges.
U.S. News ranks the UA among America’s Best Colleges and the Princeton Review lists the UA as one of The Best 368 Colleges. Globally, the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranks the UA No. 77 in the world and No. 48 in the U.S. in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of Universities, ‘Top 500 Universities in the World.’
The University of Arizona is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), one of 62 leading public and private research universities in the United States and Canada and the only AAU member in Arizona. Membership in AAU is by invitation and is based on the high quality of programs of academic research and scholarship and undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, as well as general recognition that a university is outstanding by reason of the excellence of its research and education programs.
In areas as diverse as astronomy, medicine, optics, entrepreneurship and dance, UA faculty and programs are among the nation’s best.
The UA Leads the Way
Choosing which college to attend is a daunting decision, and as the costs associated with higher education escalate, that decision becomes even more critical.
The University of Arizona is a rarity: as one of the world’s top 100 universities and ranked among the top 20 public research universities nationwide, it remains accessible to – and engaged with – its students and its community.
… WITH QUALITY
Learn from Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning faculty in any of 20 colleges with over 160 degrees. The programs in physical and life sciences, business, management and social sciences are top ranked – and so is the environment. Once you visit the UA campus, you’ll understand why 350 days of sunshine and a small community make all the difference. After all, during your studies, the UA will be your home away from home. And with over 550 clubs and organizations offered, we guarantee you’ll find your place – a place where you’ll form lifelong friendships and bonds.
Read on for …
- University of Arizona Rankings
- Faculty Achievements
- Involvement with clubs and organizations
… THROUGH ACCESS
If your goal is a four-year degree, you simply can’t find an institution more committed to making this happen than the University of Arizona. We’re passionate about removing financial barriers, and are national leaders in making an investment in our students.
- Tuition information: Over $65 million distributed annually
- Student employment: 8,000 student jobs with quality experience
- Continuous support: retaining students to graduate
- Better learning experiences through a diverse campus
… AND DISCOVERY
Research at the University of Arizona is helping find cures for disease, enhancing border security, exploring deep space, leading the US toward energy independence, training the workforce of the future, improving the quality of education, and providing many benefits for the citizens of Arizona and the world. Fourteen of our graduate programs are among the top 20 in the nation, and these areas also provide plenty of space for undergraduates who are interested in getting their hands dirty.
- Research Highlights: the history of UA major discoveries
- Financial benefits of research: it pays to be on the forefront of science
- UA rankings in research fields: where we excel
Athletics & Recreation
Arizona Athletics is home to 500 student-athletes who compete in 19 sports. Over the years the UA’s student-athletes have won 18 national team championships and 37 Pac-10 conference team championships. Campus Recreation offers fitness classes and more, enhancing the health and well-being of UA students, faculty and staff.
Eddie Lynch Athletics Pavilion
Photo Gallery of Eddie Lynch Athletics Pavilion
Located at the North end of McKale Memorial Center the expansion gives Arizona Athletics a 36,000 square foot showpiece for its heritage and lower-level facilities for strength and conditioning, and medical treatment, unmatched in a collegiate setting. Legacy Lane leads from the curbside walks of the campus mall to the Eddie Lynch Athletics Pavilion Plaza. The project allows former student-athletes, supporters and friends to own a bit of history with custom-inscribed walkway tiles. The tiles cover the terrace and lead visitors to the doors of the Jim Click Hall of Champions.
Jim Click Hall of Champions
At nearly 10,000 square feet, with marble terrazzo flooring, glass walls and soaring bright ceilings the Hall of Champions creates a proud display area for more than 100 years of Arizona Athletics heritage and traditions, and the Sports Hall of Fame. The Click Hall of Champions is open to the public and features rotating exhibits of Olympians, Pro Players, Spirit, Women’s Athletics, and great moments in Arizona Athletics history. Photo Gallery of Jim Click Hall of Champions
The Bill Estes, Jr. Family Strength and Conditioning Center
This state of the art student-athlete only training center opened in the spring of 2002. The center covers 21,000 square feet and features a 50-yard 3 lane synthetic turf track, a 200 square foot sand pit for low-impact training, 20 multi-use racks, 22 full body circuit machines, six complete sets of free weights and 32 distinct machines for cardio workouts. The weights and facility are adorned with customized Arizona logos and is a showcase for Arizona Athletics. Photo Gallery of Bill Estes, Jr. Family Strength and Conditioning Center
The Kasser Sports Medicine Center
Adjacent to the Estes Family Strength and Conditioning Centers sits The Kasser Sports Medicine Center. This facility is home to the 12 Certified Athletic Trainers and team of physicians that support Arizona student-athletes as well as a full-time psychologist. A fully-staffed doctor’s office with full x-ray and casting equipment is contained within the center. The rehabilitation area houses a state of the art underwater treadmill and several other hydro-therapy modalities. Photo Gallery of Kasser Medical Treatment Center
Jerry Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium (Baseball)
The home of Arizona baseball is Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium. The park is located on the campus of the University of Arizona, adjacent to the McKale Center, home of the UA athletics department. Arizona started playing its games at the current location in 1967. Modernization of the facility was completed for the 1975 season. Originally called Wildcat Field, the park was officially dedicated Frank Sancet Field on April 19, 1986, in honor of Arizona’s longtime head coach. Sancet, who coached from 1950-72, posted an 831-283-8 (.744) mark at the helm of the Cats. He led Arizona to 16 postseason appearances in his 23 years, including nine College World Series trips. In January 2004, the facility was rededicated to two of collegiate baseball’s most highly regarded coaches, Sancet and Jerry Kindall. The former Wildcat skippers combined to win 1,691 games at UA, advance to 14 College World Series and win three national titles Over the years, major improvements have been made to the facility. In 1988, a $160,000 scoreboard, complete with a computerized message center was purchased through advertising contracts with Gatorade and The Arizona Daily Star. Two years later, teams were provided a little more comfort than in previous seasons when new dugouts were added. They were built back deeper into the stands and are equipped with storage rooms. In 1997, the press box was improved and nearly tripled in size. New fencing has been put in as well as astroturf in front of the dugouts. Groundskeeper Bo Vanture and his crew work year-round to keep the field in outstanding playing condition. Vanture has worked on the grounds crew at Arizona for 19 years and has been the Cats’ head groundskeeper since 1983. Vanture and former groundskeeper Jeff Wilcox were honored in 1994 as the American Baseball Coaches’ Association Groundskeepers of the Year.
The Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium outfield is Bermuda, while the infield is a Tif-Green. The infield consists of Stabilizer Red dirt, and Stabilizer Clay is used around home plate and on the mound. In the past year, a new irrigation system was installed for the infield grass and dirt. The grounds crews overseeds the field in November with a Perennial Rye, Arnold Palmer II, to prepare it for the season. The spacious playing field carries a distance of 360 feet down each foul line, 378 feet to the power alleys and 400 feet to center field. A 12-foot fence comes in to left and right center before giving way to a six-foot fence across the center field area. Eight poles of light provide a well-illuminated field for evening games. In 1995, Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium got its own “Green Monster” with the installation of a wall designed to block traffic lights during night games.
Future upgrades are planned for summer of 2003 including the addition of a shade screen over the grand stands, locker rooms and a clubhouse, and lawn seating. Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium has proven to be quite a home field advantage for the Cats, as Arizona has posted a 32-year mark of 820-343-3 (.705) in more than 1,100 games. UA has had just three losing records at Sancet Stadium and nearly reached perfection in 1974 with a 37-1 home campaign. The stadium has also been the site of four NCAA Regionals (1979, ’80, ’89 and ’92).
McKale Memorial Center
The opening of McKale Memorial Center in February of 1973 marked a new era in Wildcat basketball. After playing several games in front of crowds of a few thousand in Bear Down Gym to open the 1972-73 season, the team moved to McKale and literally filled the upscale arena overnight with crowds over 11,000 from the beginning.
Named after the late J.F. “Pop” McKale, athletic director and coach from 1914 to 1957, the facility is just part of a series of showcase athletic facilities located on the extreme eastern edge of campus. It is situated off the UA mall, adjacent to Arizona Stadium, baseball’s Sancet Field and the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center. McKale houses the offices for the entire athletic department and is currently undergoing a renovation that will add a state-of-the-art weight room and Hall of Champions to the north end of the building.
Following the Arizona State game on February 26, 2000, the University of Arizona athletic department honored head coach Lute Olson with a ceremony to name the McKale Center floor, “Lute Olson Court”. Then, during a memorial service in January of 2001 for Olson’s late wife, Bobbi, it was renamed, “Lute and Bobbi Olson Court” in recognition of the couple’s impact on the university and the city of Tucson. Olson has led seven teams to undefeated seasons at home, and Arizona has led the Pac-10 in attendance every year since 1984-85.
Part of the attraction for fans is the winning tradition that was quickly established in McKale. Arizona defeated WAC rival Wyoming, 87-69, in the first varsity event on Feb. 1, 1973, and went on to win 67 of the first 70 contests in McKale. Then, from 1987-1992, Arizona put together the tenth-best home court winning streak in NCAA history, winning 71 consecutive games in McKale and making tickets nearly impossible to find. By the time UCLA snapped the string on Jan. 11, 1992 with an 89-87 upset of the Cats, there was rarely an empty seat in McKale for any game.
That tradition keeps growing as Arizona teams continue to win games in front of sell-out crowds. UA has won 240 of its last 261 home games, including 200 of the last 213, and has an overall record of 352-65 in McKale, for a winning percentage of .846. Since the national championship season of 1996-97, Arizona has a record of 71-4 in McKale, with two of those losses coming during the 2000-01 campaign.
The seating capacity has fluctuated through the 27 years of the buildings existence. McKale opened in 1973 with a capacity of 13,658, but the installation of chair-back seating in 1984 reduced that figure to 13,316. Elimination of all bleacher seating dropped the level to 13,124 in 1986 before additional seats were added in the period from 1988 to 2000 that pushed capacity to its current 14,545. The largest crowd in McKale history was the 15,176 who watched Arizona face New Mexico on Jan. 14, 1976. The largest crowd in the Lute Olson era showed up for the 1997-98 home opener against Morgan State (14,672), the first home game after Arizona’s national championship run.
Since its initial construction at a cost of $8.1 million in 1973, McKale Center has undergone numerous face lifts to keep up with the times. Sophisticated computerized message boards spanning the upper deck on both sides of the court, along with padded press row and officials’ tables with computer-drive scoreboards were added in the early 1990s. The 1992 season saw the installation of four huge video replay screens in each corner of the arena. At the conclusion of the 1997-98 campaign, a state-of-the-art playing surface replaced the old floor that had been in place since 1983.
The 2001-2002 season saw new changes as well. A new four-sided scoreboard with video replay screens was installed and hung from the center of the arena, ensuring that once again it meets the standard as one of the finest facilities in the country.
McKale’s reputation has attracted several major national sports events. It was the site for the NCAA Wrestling West Regionals in 1974 and 1980, and hosted the NCAA Wrestling Championships in 1976. More recently, McKale was a site for NCAA first and second round basketball action in 1979, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1997 and 2000. In addition, the USA Basketball Team trained in the arena prior to capturing the 1986 World Championships, and Arizona played host to the second Pac-10 Conference tournament in 1988.
The facility is 428 feet long, 339 feet wide and 77 feet from the floor to parapet, and houses the entire off-field operations of the University’s athletic department, as well as an exercise sciences lab and a suite of 20-plus office labs for the Optical Sciences department. With three levels that consist of equipment rooms, a training and rehabilitation center, locker rooms, storage areas, ticket operations, academic services, computer lab facilities and administrative offices, McKale Center is the primary gathering place for all of UA athletics.
Arizona Stadium (Football)
An historic stadium that sits in the heart of the city, Arizona Stadium stands as a testament to the history and continuing tradition of Arizona football. Built in 1928 with only 7,000 seats located on the west side between the end zones, the stadium has grown into a 56,000+ seat facility that combines old style charm with modern conveniences. It’s quite simply a great place to play and watch a game.
From the end zone bleachers to the upper-deck stands, every seat features an uncluttered view of the playing surface, and more than half the seats provide sweeping vistas of the nearby Santa Catalina Mountains, as well as the campus and city skyline. The pre-game buildup leading up to most home games can be spent enjoying a tailgate or Fan Fiesta, then taking seats for a desert sunset behind the west façade of the stadium before welcoming the cooler evenings and Pac-10 game action.
The playing surface itself was renewed in recent years, with hybrid Bermuda grass for a natural surface that is resilient and fast. The majority of the stadium grass was resodded again in 2009 making the natural surface a top feature of Arizona Football.
Most games at Arizona Stadium have turned in favor of the Wildcats. Since playing and winning their first game on Oct. 12, 1929 (35-0 vs. California Tech), Arizona football teams have played 468 games in the stadium hovering around a 65% winning percentage. The team has never failed to win at least one home game in a season and has gone undefeated nine times, the last time coming with a 6-0 record in 1993.
Part of that success is due to the fans in the stands, with UA enjoying steady fan support through the years, notably in the past three seasons with plus-50,000averages.
Big games draw big crowds at Arizona Stadium, especially if it’s a showdown with UA’s in-state rival. A stadium record crowd of 59,920 witnessed the Arizona-Arizona State game on Nov. 23, 1996. Four other sellout crowds in 1994 were close to that record – 58,817 (UCLA), 58,810 (Arizona State), 58,534 (Colorado State) and 58,374 (California). The highest average attendance for a season was the 56,612 per game who saw the Cats play in 1994. The 2006 average was second-best at 55,798, with four capacity crowds.
Arizona’s winning tradition is on display in the “Ring of Fame” installed prior to the 1998 season along the facade of the Stadium Skyboxes on the west side of the stadium. The 420-foot- long structure honors former football players who have either been named to All-America teams, national players of the year or players who have been national statistical leaders, and it displays each of the bowl games in which the Wildcats have appeared.
At the same time, other additions were made to display the pride of the University and the city for Wildcat football. On the east outside wall of the stadium stands lettering which proudly spells out “Home of the Wildcats” glows red at night, making it noticeable from one of the main streets of the city a few blocks away. Several areas of the stadium were also given new coats of red and blue paint, and flags representing each Pac-10 school were mounted above the north end zone bleachers.
As Arizona football has grown, so have the facilities surrounding it. In 1989, a $6.3 million structure housing the media, skyboxes and loge seating was added to accommodate increased interest in the football program. The four-story skybox put Arizona Stadium in first-class company, with a first level of 319 loge seats, second level of 13 suites, a third level with a President’s Box and 10 suites and the media center on the fourth level.
The media center is the third press box to service the media at Arizona Stadium. The increased exposure as the program moved into the Pacific-10 Conference outgrew the first two structures. It features 103 seats for the working press, three radio booths, three network television booths, coaching and administrative booths, a statistical operations booth and other operations and VIP areas.
The Scholarship Suite/Media Center addition was designed by Anderson, DeBartolo, Pan Inc., with the Sundt Corp. of Tucson as general contractor. The most challenging part of the project required building four 100,000-pound cantilever sections from which the structure is suspended. Constructing the cantilevers required a complex slip-forming operation taking place more than 100 feet in the air. The result is a structure that hangs over the existing stadium but does not touch it.
As Arizona football grew, so did the facilities surrounding it. In 1989, a $6.3 million structure housing the media, skyboxes and loge seating was added to accommodate increased interest in the football program. The four-story skybox put Arizona Stadium in first-class company, with a first level of 319 loge seats, second level of 13 suites, a third level with a President’s Box and 10 suites and the media center on the fourth level. Two other features of the stadium are notable – UA’s renowned Tree Ring Research Lab on the west side and the Steward Telescope Laboratory on the east side – two of the nation’s most ventured research facilities.
The media center is the third press box to service the media at Arizona Stadium. The increased exposure as the program moved into the Pacific-10 Conference outgrew the first two structures. It features 103 seats for the working press, four radio booths, two network television booths, coaching and administrative booths, a statistical operations booth and other operations and VIP areas.
The Scholarship Suite/Media Center addition was designed by Anderson, DeBartolo, Pan Inc., with the Sundt Corp. of Tucson as general contractor. The most challenging part of the project required building four 100,000-pound cantilever sections from which the structure is suspended. Constructing the cantilevers required a complex slip-forming operation taking place more than 100 feet in the air. The result is a structure that hangs over the existing stadium but does not touch it.
The project was financed by the UA Foundation through double tax-exempt bonds under the Arizona Municipal Financing Program. Leases from Scholarship Suites and loge seats will fund the retirement of the bonds and in the future provide scholarships for athletes and the general student body.
Each of the scholarship suites includes 12 theatre-type seats with the opportunity to purchase six additional tickets to each individual suite. They are equipped with closed-circuit television and an audio choice of crowd, public address or radio broadcast feeds.
The individual suites lease for $24,500 per season with a five-year commitment. The individual loge seats range from $1,200 per year to $1,850 per year, depending on location.
Since the addition of that structure, the stadium has seen other improvements as well. New concession and rest room facilities were added at ground level on the northwest and northeast corners of the stadium, and a renovated and enlarged Stadium Club was completed in 1990. A new sound system was added in twice in the past decade, and the stadium boasts a brand new scoreboard project which was installed in 1999 and since updated.
These modern accoutrements are only the latest in a long line of additions made to the stadium throughout its 72-year history. In 1938, seats were added between the 25-yard lines on the east side to boost capacity to 10,000. Nine years later, the end zones were filled, and in 1950, the horseshoe at the south end was completed, giving the facility a capacity of 22,671 seats.
That’s the way it remained until 1965 when expansion on the west side provided 10,000 new seats, along with an 80-foot, multi-level press box. The two-tier addition to the east stands, adding 17,000 seats in 1976, was selected as one of six outstanding architectural projects in the Rocky Mountain States for 1977 by the AIA and presented to Finical and Dombrowski, Architects and Engineers of Tucson. Finally, permanent north-end bleacher seating for 4,500 was added in 1988 and can be expanded in the future.
Arizona National
Arizona National is a desert facility designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The course is situated in the foothills of Tucson’s Santa Catalina Mountains, and its diverse 6,776-yard, par 71 layout provides classic golf in the desert challenges as well as some of the most spectacular scenery of any golf facility in the Southwest. The endless beauty of a panoramic mountain vista scene, forest of giant saguaros, nine natural springs, spectacular city views, and magnificent desert vegetation makes Arizona national an unparalleled golf experience.
At Arizona National the beauty doesn’t stop on the golf course. The state-of-the-art facility is equipped with all of the necessary amenities needed to perfect the Arizona golfer’s experience. A learning and performance center, and a restaurant with indoor and lake-view patio dining add to the experience of Wildcat golf.
An exceptional practice facility is also one of the features included. It is located on the south end of the driving range and is strictly for the Arizona golf teams. It includes a range, practice putting greens and a chipping green. The team also has access to the teaching center that is equipped with the latest video equipment.
According to Golf World magazines, Arizona National “is what desert golf should be.” Similarly, GolfMagazine’s Brian McCallen said of the facility, “it may be one of the best desert courses ever built.”
On June 12, 2002 I.R.I Golf Group CEO Jeff Silverstein announced the purchase of The Raven Golf Course at Sabino Springs and an enhanced partnership with Arizona Athletics. As part of the deal, the facility was renamed Arizona National Golf Club at Sabino Springs. As part of the Arizona National facility, I.R.I Golf Group completed a multi-million dollar capital improvement project, including a clubhouse renovation, practice facility and a Wildcat Wall of Fame.
The course is host to the several tournaments through the collegiate season including the men’s PING/Arizona Intercollegiate and past women’s Wildcats Invitational home events.
- Rated #5 in the world for customer service by Golf Digest in May of 1998
- Top 10 Best New Courses-Golf Digest
- Top 10 Best New Places to Play-Golf Magazine
- Top 5 Courses in Arizona-Arizona Republic
- #18 Hole at Raven Golf Club-Best Finishing Hole in Arizona-Golf Shop Operations Magazine
- “Arizona National may be one of the best desert courses ever built.”-Brian McCallen, Golf Magazine
Murphey Field at Mulcahy Soccer Stadium
• Driving Directions
After two seasons as a tenant, the University of Arizona soccer team became a home owner in 1996. The Wildcats’ newest team spent its first two years of existence playing games at Pima Community College.
However, that nomad existence ended on Sept. 15, 1996, as the Wildcats hosted the University of San Francisco on their own field. The Cats fell to the Lady Dons, 2-0, in a hard-fought contest, but the match marked another successful step for the young Arizona soccer program. The UA’s first victory at Murphey Field was a 2-0 shutout of Wyoming on Sept. 30, 1996, and the Wildcats finished their first year in the facility with a 1-6-1 mark on their home field. In twelve seasons at Mulchay Stadium, the Wildcats have a 48-54-7 record. The Wildcats have developed a steady following in Tucson, as is evidenced by the growing number of fans which show up at Mulcahy Stadium for home matches.
In 2006, Arizona hosted the defending national champion Portland Pilots. This game was televised on Fox Sports Net, the first and only game at Mulcahy Stadium to be televised. Arizona fell to the Pilots 2-0 in a hard-fought battle
Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium is located at the corner of Plumer Avenue and 15th Street, adjacent to Drachman Track. In the off-season, the field is shared with the Department of Campus Recreation for intramural and other student activities. However, once practice begins in the fall, fencing is installed in order to ensure the facility is maintained at a level befitting a major intercollegiate soccer program.
The grading and sodding of the field and installation of lights for night play was made possible by the generous assistance of Tucson’s Murphey Foundation. A fieldhouse for soccer and track was completed in August 2007, and includes a concession area, changing area, training area, ticket office, official’s area, permanent public restrooms, and new signage
Mary Roby Gymnastics Training Center (Gymnastics)
The Gymnastics Training Facility, opened in 1994, and expanded in 2008, is one of the nation’s premiere training centers, boasting the following features:
- A large tumbling/vaulting pit with the pit area located at the end of the floor exercise diagonal.
- Stratum/Palmer floor exercise system with adjacent 40-foot rod tumbling strip.
- Three uneven bar stations: one regular set with official mats, one set over a resi-pit and a single rail over a loose foam pit (with over-head spotting belts).
- Six balance beams, including a high beam over a raised platform for working difficult skills and another for working various dismounts located next to the pit.
- A variety of springboards, safety mats and a reflex vaulting horse.
- Forty-foot Tumbl-Trak (trampoline tumbling apparatus).
- In-floor trampoline with Aussie string bed.
- All gymnastics apparatus are manufactured by American Athletic Inc., which produces the same equipment used at the NCAA Championships.
- Fully carpeted gym floor area.
- Biomechanic analysis equipment in the workout facility.
Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium
Already one of the premier venues in college softball, Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium seems to get better every year.
In the last few years the Wildcats have made a number of changes, particularly beyond the outfield fence that appeal to teams and fans alike. In 2006, UA debuted a state-of-the-art videoboard and new scoreboard beyond the right field fence. In between innings, the Wildcat faithful now enjoy highlights from years past and present, as well as music videos. During the game, Arizona’s batters have personalized video introductions, and movie clips provide entertainment during breaks in the action. The NCAA featured public service messages as a national test model in 2006 NCAA regional and super regional action.
Hillenbrand Stadium’s batting cages
Also in 2006, covered batting cages were erected to allow UA to work on hitting in any weather conditions. Adjacent to the batting cages, permanent bleachers were installed to expand the Hillenbrand Stadium’s capacity to 2,956 and offer a majestic view of Tucson’s desert sunsets. In November 2006, ground broke on a new clubhouse that features a players’ lounge and an area for the Wildcats to review game film. In addition to UA’s team room, an umpire’s room and training room were erected for the 2007 campaign. Ultimately, head coach Mike Candrea says that the main theme for the clubhouse is to celebrate Arizona’s tradition.
Hillenbrand Stadium Videoboard
“Our goal in constructing the team room is to capture the history of Arizona softball,” Candrea says. “It will allow us to remember the past and remind our student-athletes of the heritage they share.”
Beginning this year, fans’ ears will be pleased to hear Hillenbrand’s new sound system that projects clear and balanced sound throughout the stadium.
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Whether they come out to the tune of 3,541 for an exhibition pitting Team USA against Arizona, or for a Wildcats’ regular-season game, the Arizona fans have proved themselves as some of the best in the country.
Last year, Hillenbrand Stadium’s overall attendance passed the 500,000 mark, and since 2000 UA has drawn at least 32,000 fans per year.
Arizona’s 13th best crowd in school history.
One reason for the stadium’s appeal obviously is the Cats’ typical home success – victories. UA has played to a 469-39 record at home. That’s 92 victories in every 100 games. In 2002, UCLA snapped a remarkable 70-game home field winning streak the Cats had built, which remains the national record.
That fan support underscores the attraction of UA softball and its home field, named in honor of the late Rita Hillenbrand, sister of the late Wildcat benefactor William G. Hillenbrand and his wife, Doby (Delores D.). The couple financed the stadium and initial landscaping project, and the Hillenbrand family has continued to contribute funds to support Arizona softball and Wildcat athletics.
The family has provided tremendous support for a number of UA athletic programs through gifts to develop and support the UA’s aquatic center, the baseball stadium and Arizona’s football program. Another focal point in daily Wildcat athletics is the John W. Hillenbrand Meeting Center, named in memory of Bill’s late father. That facility gave the athletics department a main auditorium, a half dozen classrooms and meeting rooms, and various office spaces used for the athletics department’s mentoring programs and its Commitment to Athletes’ Total Success (C.A.T.S.) program.
The NCAA has found the facility to be a quality site for postseason play as well, with The University of Arizona playing host to NCAA Regionals in 14 of the stadium’s 16 years of existence. Regional (FSN) and national (ESPN, CSTV) television networks have also found the Wildcats and the stadium to be attractive to their audiences for a number of broadcasts since the facility was built for the 1993 season, including over 20 nationally televised contests in the last four years. All games attract a solid contingent of fans, area television and print reporters.
Hillenbrand Stadium and its success in helping bring Division I collegiate softball into increased national focus made it a national model in the early 1990s for dynamic softball programs. As on-campus college softball facilities go, it had elite status for several years until it engendered considerable copying. Today, major universities around the country are putting their teams in facilities with style and substance.
But Hillenbrand maintains one special feature, which makes it second to none — the infield, outfield and foul territories provide a
top playing surface. Tucson’s climate and round-the-year maintenance keep the facility in game-ready condition more than 300 days per year. Aside from the .923 home winning percentage, Arizona and visiting teams alike enjoy the facility for its playing surface. In 2004, the infield was rebuilt with new clay and soil composition.
The University of Arizona softball program moved into the facility for the 1993 season and went out and proved it was equal to the trappings by winning consecutive NCAA championships and leading the nation in attendance in 1994 and 1995. UA added another back-to-back NCAA title splurge in 1996 and 1997, a sixth title in 2001, and the most recent back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007. The outfield fence is festooned with those and other championship banners. UA also has won 10 Pac-10 titles since moving into Hillenbrand Stadium. The Cats also led the nation in attendance for three years from 2000-2002. Arizona has led the nation in attendance since 2006, when it brought home a seventh national championship.
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llenbrand Aquatic Center
Photo Gallery of Hillenbrand Aquatic Center
For years, the Arizona Wildcats have had a national caliber swimming program. Now they have a fully functional facility that complements Arizona’s success. Thanks to an original generous contribution made by local businessman William G. Hillenbrand, what was once commonly known as McKale Pool became the William G. and Dolores D. Hillenbrand Aquatic Center upon its dedication in May of 1989. Twenty-years later, the center reached its full potential with the addition of the Kasser Family Pool, which serves as a first class diving center, training pool, and water polo facility.
In May 1988, the 3-phase comprehensive renovation project for the McKale Pool began with the creation of the main front entrance, enclosed locker rooms, and front offices. Above the entry, the main grandstand, with a striking navy canopy, provides shaded seating for 600 fans. A catwalk provides access to three sides of the pool at the grandstand level and increases the total capacity of the main pool to over 1,000 spectators and is a great viewing angle for short and long-course competitions. The light towers allow for early morning training, as well as evening events, and give the center tremendous flexibility.
The wiring, technology and replastered/retiled deck and pool as well as brand new timing system, video board, records board, starting blocks, and audio system were part of the Kasser Family Pool addition. The old diving well, equipped with turn targets to add perspective for swimmers, and lanes for training and warm-ups, is now used extensively on competition dates.
In 2007, construction of the Kasser Family Pool began and in August of 2008 the state of the art diving well was completed. The Kasser Family Pool is 25 meters x 33 meters, with a consistent depth of 17′. Containing 1.1 million gallons of water, the pool is able to be split into two sections so both diving and swimming can take place simultaneously. The 10 meter platform is currently the only one in operation in Southern Arizona. In addition to the 10 meter, the facility has platforms at the 7.5 and 5 meter levels as well as spring boards at 1 and 3 meters. The facility boasts a sparger system that is state of the art and serves as a safety feature for student athletes. In addition, a spa sits alongside the tower staircase to keep divers warm and loose as they await their turn in the diving rotation. Kasser Family Pool features fixed grandstands that can seat in excess of 600 fans, each of whom will have a direct sight line to a new full color LED/Video board on which current meet information is displayed. The facility is poised to host large national and international diving competitions in the years to come as well as women’s water polo, projected to start play in 2011.
LaNelle Robson Tennis Center
When the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center was dedicated in 1991, it instantly joined the ranks of the nation’s finest on-campus tennis facilities. The complex features 17 regulation size courts, a center-court grandstand, lights, team rooms, a permanent canopy over the stands, a concession area, a pro shop and restrooms.
The president of the LaNelle Robson Foundation, Edward J. Robson, established the foundation in memory of his late wife LaNelle. In honor of LaNelle’s love of Wildcat tennis, Edward donated the canopy that hangs over the center court grandstands.
In the past couple of years, several improvements have been made to the complex. Former Arizona men’s tennis player David Mehl and his family funded the installation of the stadium scoreboard in honor of Mehl’s brother, George, a former men’s tennis player. The scoreboard has the capability of displaying the scores of singles and doubles matches. In addition, a public address system was set up to help enhance the atmosphere at the Robson Tennis Center.
In the continuing effort to enhance the experience of the student-athlete, the Lesher Room recently underwent a renovation. The facility serves as a team room that can accommodate team meetings, video analysis and special events.
On Jan. 21, 2000, the Arizona women’s tennis program celebrated its 100th victory at the complex, defeating New Mexico, 7-2. As the Robson Tennis Center enters its 17th season as the home of UA tennis, the Wildcats have continued to maintain a formidable home court advantage. The women’s tennis squad has amassed a 161-95 record at the stadium, a winning percentage of over 62 percent.
During homecoming of 2006, renovations to the Robson Tennis Center were completed. Changes to the site included a resurfacing of the courts and installing drainage. Also, one of the singles courts was turned into a regular sized court, giving the tennis center 11 full-sized courts. Dividers were removed between courts one and two between courts three, four and five, to get a more open feel, and the fences were repainted. An awning was added between courts two and three, and there was a landscaped area between the front and back areas added to the tennis center as well.
Roy P. Drachman Track and Field Stadium
The 2009 season marked the 29th year that the University of Arizona track and field program has called Roy P. Drachman Stadium home. In 1981, the Wildcats moved from Arizona Stadium to the location at 15th Street and Plummer Avenue.
The facility first took the name of Rincon Vista Stadium. However, thanks to generous donations that allowed the facility to be upgraded, the Arizona Athletics Department renamed the Wildcats’ home the Roy P. Drachman Track and Field Stadium.
Considered one of the fastest and most functionally designed complexes in the country, the stadium has played host to several outstanding track and field meets. The list includes the 2003, 1995 and 1985 Pac-10 Championships, the 1987 TAC Junior and Intermediate Championships, the 1983 WCAA Championships and the annual Arizona Jim Click Invitational and Willie Williams Classic, as well as several other events throughout the year.
The stadium was completely overhauled during the fall of 2006 and is now a state-of-the-art facility with a nine-lane Tartan track and the latest design in field event competition areas. The high jump apron has been expanded and all the runways were resurfaced with a Tartan surface. The entire facility is now hard-wired with a flawless Hy-Tek electronic timing system which produces accurate electronic times.
In 1989, a computerized scoreboard was installed at the southeast corner of the track. Its features include a timing clock, message board and capabilities to generate updated team and individual results.
The seating capacity of Drachman Stadium is over 5,000. The largest crowd to attend an event at the complex was a standing-room only crowd estimated at more than 6,000 people at the 1998 Tucson Elite Classic.