Women’s soccer moves to new field
After six years of sharing the grass behind Mountain View and Valley View Towers with intramural and club sports, the women’s soccer team will be getting its own field.
The field has been made possible due to a donation from Logan local Jim Laub. He grew up in Cache Valley and graduated from Utah State University. Laub was on the univeristy’s Board of Trustees for eight years.
“We are glad to help out,” Laub said. “We believe that is important that the money stay here in Cache Valley.”
The field is being named after former USU Athletics director Chuck Bell and his wife, Gloria. Chuck Bell was the Athletics director when the women’s soccer team was added at USU.
“Bell also started the private funding for the Stan Laub indoor facility, put chair backs and lights in Romney Stadium and constructed the softball field,” current USU Athletics director Rance Pugmire said.
During Bell’s five years at Utah State there was also controversy over some of the things that took place during his administration.
“All reactions [about the name] I have received have been positive,” Pugmire said.
The allegations held against Bell were that of financial mismanagement. Bell was never found guilty of fraud.
Bell over-reimbursed the university the amount of money agreed upon. A year after accusations were made against Bell he left Logan and has taken a similar job at San Jose State University.
Naming athletic facilities goes through a long process.
“First the request goes to a naming committee, the committee recommends it to President [Kermit L.] Hall, then it goes to the Board of Trustees,” Jim MacMahon, vice president for University Advancement, said.
“The donor has to give 50 percent or more of the costs going towards the facility in order to have a say in the name,” MacMahon said. “In this case the donator gave the gift and later inquired the name.”
Lee H. Burke, secretary of USU Board of Trustees, said the board had no questions in whether or not the facility should be named after the Bells. If there are no questions or concerns, the name is then passed.
The Bells will be coming to USU in April to receive the honor and attend the actual dedication of the soccer field.
The date has not yet been decided upon.
Head coach of the women’s soccer team, Jen Kennedy Croft, will begin her second season at USU this fall when the field will open.
“We are all really excited,” Croft said. “It is a longer walk from campus [than the old field], but true fans will hang with us. As long as people find out the location they will come. We have good fans.”
The field is located just northeast of Romney Stadium and can be accessed off 1400 North.
Mike Strauss, Athletics media relations director, said the fans will watch the games from temporary bleachers or theycan sit on the grass hills.
“It is a beautiful location,” Croft said. “We have permission to practice on field once it dries, which could be in two days or in a month,” Croft said.
The field behind the towers will still be used for intramural and club sports.
“It will be nice not to fight for time,” Croft said.
During the past years the team has been practicing on the football practice fields.
“I’m sure the football team will be thrilled we have our own place,” Croft said.