Renovations Take Saint Joseph’s Athletics to New Heights
Thanks to the generosity of longtime supporter James M. Maguire, BA ’58, student-athletes on Hawk Hill will soon have the tools to take their game to the next level.
It is not a stretch to say that a well-managed Division I athletics program can play a transformational role for individual student-athletes, the campus community and the entire University. Saint Joseph’s has fully embraced this, making college athletics a living and breathing part of the total SJU experience. The ongoing renovation of the newly named Maguire Athletic Center will take that integration to an elite level, thanks to the generous support of James M. Maguire, BA ‘58.
The plan for the re-envisioned Maguire Athletics Center will amplify the experience of every student-athlete on Hawk Hill by providing first-class facilities that support both their physical and mental well-being. To accomplish this, renovation efforts are targeted at improving three main categories: student-athlete community, performance and training, and fan experience.
A critical component of this effort is a reimagined entry vestibule to the Maguire Athletic Center. This new hub of student activity will improve circulation and provide lounge areas, a nutrition counter and healthy snack offerings powered by Aramark. Locker rooms and lounges will also be updated to provide additional vital gathering spaces that build community and culture among teams.
Performance and training updates will include a world-class basketball training facility, dedicated erg room for rowing, an upgraded golf team room and flexible training space for use by the track programs. Additional performance-related features will include an updated weight room and sports medicine suite, and wellness space for all student-athletes.
At the center of the renovations surrounding performance and training will be the massive multi-purpose indoor practice field. When an internal audit was done of existing facilities, it became clear that the pool in the athletic center was duplicative and occupied space that could be better utilized. This new turf field, being installed over top of the now concrete-filled pool, will provide both lacrosse and soccer programs with ample room for practice and training, while also providing supplemental practice space for baseball, softball and additional programs.
The expansive and modernized basketball training facility will provide Saint Joseph’s men’s and women’s basketball programs with dedicated training facilities. This includes two full-sized courts, dedicated strength training areas and rehab space all accessible 24/7 and exclusively for men’s and women’s basketball. These facilities will be among the best in the Atlantic 10 and beyond, which will allow SJU to continue the tradition of attracting and retaining exceptional basketball players.
“I am a strong believer in the student-athlete experience and this facility will not only provide a competitive edge for our basketball programs, but it will also improve the experience for all of our student-athletes,” says Maguire of his lead gift, which has spurred others to give generously.
To date, $27 million has been raised in support of this vision. Though fundraising continues, this infusion of funds is allowing Saint Joseph’s to reimagine and improve the facilities offered to student-athletes in a way that embodies the spirit of cura personalis — care for the whole person — while simultaneously ensuring the brand of competitive excellence that has become synonymous with Hawk Hill.