HUNTSVILLE - With the upcoming move to Conference USA starting in July of 2023, Director of Athletics Bobby Williams has been meeting with internal and external stakeholders to provide updates on the current state of the athletic department as well as to give some insight on the future of Bearkat athletics. 
 
The attached master plan was developed in 2016, and it provides the Department a useful springboard to plan for future facility projects, acknowledging new opportunities due to changing conference affiliations, current trends and expectations in competition and fan experiences. 
 
"We have been talking a lot about master planning and the direction we have been going with our facilities," Williams said. "We're releasing the 2016 planning document to keep our students, alumni, fans and stakeholders up to date with our thinking. We've made some progress already. We want to serve all our student athletes, and we have already made improvements in several sports. Some of our priorities have changed, and this really has become a working document. We will release more information as our plans evolve."
 
In the BSN Xtra podcast, Williams addressed some of the recent projects that have been completed and how the start date for future projects has changed, first with the move to the Western Athletic Conference and then to Conference USA.  
 
"This document never been adopted as an official plan and hasn't gone to the Board of Regents for approval," he said. "It is an internal document to help guide our future construction projects and keep us moving forward. At the same time, we have the flexibility to reassess and make changes as needed when the situation changes." 
 
In the last 15 years, Williams has overseen the completion of Don Sanders Stadium, the Bearkat Softball Complex and indoor hitting facility, Ron Randleman Strength and Fitness Center, major renovations to Johnson Coliseum and the Ron Mafrige Fieldhouse. The construction of the Michael McIver Golf Training Center and the Robert and Erin Steele Golf Facility has been a key factor in some the most successful seasons in the history of the men's and women's golf programs. 
 
During that time, the department opened the Woodforest Bank Athletic Center, which includes academic services for student athletes as well has a 500-square foot TV and audio studio and control room for the Bearkat Sports Network's ESPN Productions. In addition, the department has made multi-million investments into four video boards. 
 
The Department of Athletics offers 17 sports and takes a phased approach to facilities improvements, which affords the flexibility needed as the program transitions to Conference USA.