MONTEVALLO – Over the past several years the University of Montevallo's athletic programs have seen significant growth leading to greater opportunities for student-athletes to compete in a wide variety of sports.  Montevallo currently fields 21 NCAA teams and has more than 450 student-athletes.  As the Montevallo Department of Athletics has grown so too has the need for adequate training and workout space.  Traditionally the UM student athletes used the workout facility in the McChesney Student Activity Center that is open to all UM students and employees, which led to crowding and space management issues.  To alleviate this issue the UM Department of Athletics is working to transform the Old Gym facility into a strength and conditioning center for UM's student athletes.
 
"A lot of time and effort has been put into this weight room and conditioning project over the past four years and this summer it has become a reality," said Director of Athletics Mark Richard.   "Thank you to President Stewart for his support of Athletics and the UM student-athletes.  It is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to get stronger and faster as we compete in the Gulf South Conference.  Also, thank you to the 50 donors to-date who have contributed to the weight room.  We will continue to add new equipment as we go."
 
The building will also serve Montevallo's graduate program in exercise and nutrition science.  Having been severely underused in the past, by turning the building into a strength and conditioning center Old Gym will be used every day of the academic school year.
 
"Really excited to work with UM student-athletes in such a great facility," remarked Department of Exercise and Nutrition Science Chair Dr. Shawn Mitchell.  "This is a Division I level facility on a Division II campus, I think it will be great for recruiting and will offer assistance to our graduate programs.  With a new strength coach, coaches now have the chance to work with someone who is trained in the area of technique and resistance training to be able to help their teams succeed."
 
The Old Gym is a large, historic facility that has been serving Montevallo students since the 1930's.  In 1935, Alabama College administrators received funding from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration executive order to construct a multi-purpose building for both the federal government and the college. The agreement allowed the federal government to place a small airport on campus to service Shelby County while Alabama College would be able to use the facility and runway areas for physical education activities.
 
Construction began on March 23, 1935, with the total cost of the project set at $16,209.08. Shortly before construction was completed, the federal government decided to move the airport to another location and decommissioned the project. School administrators decided to renovate the hangar space and install a multifunctional wood floor and faculty offices. It is the building originally designed and built to serve as a small airport/hangar. When the building was almost complete, the airport was moved to another location. They decommissioned the building and gave it to the school, then UM renovated it for a gymnasium.
 
This building, originally named The Field House, was completed in 1938 and was the home for the Health and Physical Education Department, known today as the Exercise and Nutrition Science Department.
The Field House was renovated again in 1967, after Myrick Hall opened, to include additional faculty offices, a weight room and a dance studio.
 
The University is currently raising funds for the renovations to transform the Old Gym to a strength and conditioning center and serve the exercise and nutrition science program.
 
The current goal is to receive 100 gifts of $250 and donors will receive recognition on the Old Gym Wall.   To date, the Athletics Department has had 50 donors commit to the strength and conditioning center. To give click the following DONATION link or go to montevallofalcons.com and select the GIVE tab.