
| Facilities |
|
In addition, the complex includes a regulation-sized soccer field inside the new track that is used by the UH women's soccer team. The track was named to honor former UH track and field coach Tom Tellez who spent 22 seasons at Houston and coached 17 athletes who won 30 NCAA individual championships. Tellez also led his men's and women's teams to 13 Southwest Conference and Conference USA championships between 1977 and 1998. His most decorated pupil was Carl Lewis. UH honored Lewis by naming the complex as a momento of his illustrious career that included nine Olympic Gold Medals and five NCAA individual championships. The construction of the faciliity was made possible through the generous donations of Roy and Mary Cullen, Mike Baker, Lewis, John and Julie O'Quinn, Tellez, the Cullen Foundation and the Houston Athletics Foundation.
Funds to build the $29.1 million, 220,000-square foot facility were donated by alumni John and Rebecca Moores, who believed that Cougar student-athletes deserved a top-notch facility. Thanks to the Moores', everything in the facility is top-notch from the impressive Hall of Fame at the entrance of the building, to the 120-yard AstroTurf indoor practice field, which covers an indoor track, four indoor tennis courts, a hardwood basketball/volleyball court and two SportCourts, to the locker rooms for 13 Cougar athletics teams, to the 16,500-square foot weight room, to the state-of-the-art athletic training room, to the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) to the meeting rooms and athletics department offices. Here's a brief overview of a few of the facilities outstanding features. Sports Medicine Center The state-of-the-art area comes complete with 12 treatment and 12 taping tables, offices for the professional training staff and team physician, examination rooms, rehabilitation equipment and a hydrotherapy center which contains a sauna, whirlpools, a spa and a Swimex pool for rehabilitation. Strength & Conditioning Center The largest single weight room in college athletics contains free and machine weights designed to accommodate both the largest and smallest student-athletes. This area also houses stair machines, treadmills and exercise bikes. Auditorium A 200-seat multi-purpose room with video capability will be used as a team meeting room, academic meeting area and for special events. Batting Cages When the weather is bad, two 70-foot batting cages can be dropped from the ceiling for indoor hitting practice by the baseball and softball teams. Volleyball and Basketball Courts One permanent wood floor sits at one end of the indoor practice area for use as the primary practice court for the Cougar volleyball team. Two additional adjacent multipurpose surface areas can be used as a practice court for varsity volleyball and basketball practice if needed. Indoor Track and Tennis Courts The six-lane, NCAA competition track is made of Mondo, widely regarded as the fastest surface in the world. It features sprint lanes on both sides, jump runways on both sides and two high jump areas, one on each side. Also located beneath the turf, the four full-size tennis courts are available for both practice and competition. Indoor Practice Field The air-conditioned, 120-yard AstroTurf practice field retracts to reveal an indoor track, four indoor tennis courts, plus one hardwood and two multi-purpose surface practice courts. Video Production Laboratory The video area includes editing rooms with decks to dub tapes of practices and games, production rooms for highlight videos, extensive video storage units and a set for live interviews. Cougar Hall of Fame and Gift Shop Memorabilia of Houston's athletics highlights, including its most famous former athletes and best teams, is attractively displayed near the entrance of the facility. The Hall of Fame features a Hall of Honor wall. Next door, visitors can purchase their favorite UH clothing and gift items.
Cougar Village (Residential Camp Dorms)
Quick Facts
|