Cyclone Basketball Has a New Home

AMES, Iowa- The Iowa State Athletics Department unveiled its brand new men's and women's basketball practice facility, as both hoops programs spent time moving into the facility this week.

The 29,000 square-foot facility, located less than three miles from campus in west Ames, is without a doubt one of the finest of its kind nationally. Erected at a cost of $8 million, the facility offers all of the amenities a program needs to attract top recruits. But more importantly, the structure provides the current student-athletes and coaching staff an outstanding fully-equipped practice area to call home.

“For years we've had to bounce around from Hilton Coliseum, State Gym and the Forker Building, so just to have a one-stop shop where we can do everything we need to do from a basketball standpoint will be an incredible positive for us,” ISU head men's basketball coach Greg McDermott said. “Our players have an area where they can relax and a place that feels like home, but most importantly, they have a gym they can get into 24 hours a day, seven days a week to work on their game.”

“It's been 15 years for me to believe in a dream that this could happen,” ISU head women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly said. “It is a phenomenal place. It is truly a place our players and our staff can call home. I think our players and coaches can say they live, work and play in a place that is as good as any in the United States. I can't thank the people enough for doing what they did to make this possible. I have never seen our players speechless before, but they were when we took them in here for the very first time.”

Both men's and women's basketball programs have 24-hour access to their own regulation size court in addition to two smaller cross courts for a total of six baskets. Each side is decorated with giant murals depicting memorable moments in their respective program's history. Banners of NCAA Championship and conference title teams are also proudly displayed on the wall.

On the lower level of the facility, each team has its own team/lounge area with a 65-inch HD television, computer workstations with internet access, comfortable reclining chairs, pool table and kitchenette. Adjacent to the team lounges, both programs share a training center with four taping stations, two self-contained whirlpools, two televisions and five treatment tables to fully accommodate any rehabilitation or treatment demands.

The training center also includes a fully-equipped weight room with four lifting platforms, barbell rack (5-100 lbs) and the access to a treadmill and elliptical machine. Locker rooms for both teams are also found on the first floor.

The coaches' offices for the ISU men's and women's basketball programs are housed on the second floor of the facility. Included on the second floor is a balcony video deck overlooking each court, two video editing rooms and a theater room.

Each video room has four DirectTV HD/DVR satellite boxes with the ability to record eight different programs simultaneously. The coaches' offices are equipped with a television connected to the XOS video editing system, allowing each coach to review different game video in the privacy of their own office.

“My favorite part of the building is probably the televisions,” Fennelly added. “I think there are 33 televisions in here. Our lounge is fabulous. Our players have a place where they can go relax as a team and enjoy each other. That is where you build relationships that will last a lifetime.”

The theater room on the second floor will be utilized by both teams. The spacious room features 20 plush leather reclining swiveled chairs spaced out on leveled rows. A 120-inch projection screen is hooked up to the XOS video system with a theater-quality sound system for scouting opponent game video. The video screen also has connections to a Blueray DVD player, Playstation and Nintendo Wii.

The impact the new facility will have on recruiting for both Fennelly's and McDermott's programs can't be underscored.

“First of all, the promise that this place was going to be built was huge,” Fennelly said. “We have already brought kids on campus and they all think it is amazing. We have the best of everything at Iowa State from academics, Hilton Coliseum, the beautiful campus and the people. And now we have something that is very important to a basketball recruit in this facility. From the offices, the lounges, the beautiful locker room and a place they can play anytime they want, we have all the ingredients it takes to recruit the best student-athletes.”

“It (the facility) has already impacted recruiting,” McDermott said. “There is little doubt in my mind that a guy like Chris Colvin chooses Iowa State over some of the other choices he had because of the promise the new practice facility was going to be built. We already have had recruits come through here to take a look at it, and without exception, every one of them and their parents were extremely impressed with what we have added to our program.”

Click the links in the slideout tabs above for a photo gallery, a video tour of the facility and interviews with Fennelly and McDermott.