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Scheduled to open in the summer of 2018, the Dr. Don Shondell Practice Center will be approximately 19,000 gross square feet, highlighted by a practice gymnasium containing two regulation-size courts that can be utilized by either basketball or volleyball.
"The Shondell Practice Center, combined with recent upgrades to Worthen Arena, will be showcase facilities for our volleyball and basketball teams," Director of Athletics Mark Sandy said. "Providing national-level facilities for individual skill sessions and team performance is essential to maximize the talents of our student-athletes. The generosity of our donors is making a dream come to life."
The practice center, which will be connected to Worthen Arena, will feature eight retractable basketball goals and a 25-foot high ceiling. Several other spaces will be a part of the Shondell Practice Center such as a training room for basic taping and treatment, two team meeting rooms and a study room featuring tiered seating.
"We are so excited to see the Dr. Don Shondell Practice Center become reality," women's basketball head coach Brady Sallee said. "I am so thankful to the Board of Trustees, administration, donors and supporters that have tirelessly worked to make this practice facility happen. The impact it will have on our program is priceless. From practice to player development to recruiting, the Shondell Practice Center will truly be a game changer."
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The exterior of the facility will consist primarily of brick masonry veneer. The brick will match Worthen Arena in both shape and color, with patterns forming recessed bands that will align with the recessed brick bands of the arena. Also in keeping with the arena, the new facility will feature a three-foot high precast concrete base. Breaking up the expanse of the brick exterior walls will be translucent window panels that will provide diffused natural light to the interior during the day and a soft lantern-like glow from exterior views at night.
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"I am very excited that the Shondell Practice Center construction continues to move forward," men's volleyball coach Joel Walton said. "The additional practice space will create better time slots for my team to practice, allowing fewer conflicts when our players are scheduling their classes. We are also excited to use this space for camps and clinics. The team room is going to be a great space for our pregame and post-match team meetings and an ideal place to review video. I am very excited that the space will honor Don Shondell and what he has meant to volleyball not only here at Ball State, but throughout the entire country."
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Dr. Don Shondell, a 1952 Ball State alumnus, has established a legacy almost unmatched by any other individual in college volleyball history. His career has been long and varied as a coach, professor and author. The founder of Ball State men's volleyball, Shondell formed the first club team at Ball State in 1960 and would spend the next four years working tirelessly overcoming opposition to make men's volleyball a varsity sport at Ball State. As head coach he accumulated a career record of 769-280-6 (.732), affording him the second highest number of wins in NCAA men's volleyball history. Winning 19 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) regular season titles and 12 MIVA Tournament titles in 34 seasons, the Hall of Fame Coach also holds the record for most career wins by a Ball State coach in any sport.