Nov. 18, 2021

It’s more than just a locker room. It’s a commitment to the future.

On Aug. 3, the University of South Florida Bulls walked into the newly renovated football operations suite for the first time. Powered entirely by donors, the $3.3 million renovations have dramatically transformed the space into a vibrant, ultramodern facility with a jaw-dropping “wow” factor.

From the coaches’ offices and team meeting room to the players’ lounge and locker rooms, the much-needed overhaul left nothing untouched. The dated cherrywood cabinets, faded beige carpeting and bright florescent lighting have been stripped away and replaced with a modern palette of clean white lines, striking green USF branding and programmable LED backlit panels.

“If you look at our program history and think about where we started from working out of trailers to where we are now, this is the next step,” explained USF football head coach Jeff Scott. “Being able to offer our student-athletes access to state-of-the-art facilities is definitely the next step on our journey.”

Designed with culture-building in mind, the player’s lounge features a comfortable seating area, nutrition station, two big-screen TVs, video game consoles and even a pool and ping-pong table.

“We are all really excited about the new space,” said number 73 left tackle Donovan Jennings, a USF senior studying integrative public relations and advertising. “Having a fun and comfortable place to hang out after practice helps us build a better bond and create a stronger team.”

The renovation marks the first major football facilities upgrade in the 17 years since the Lee Roy Selmon Center was built. It represents a major step in securing USF Athletics’ competitive future against national programs with similarly upgraded facilities.

Recruiting the best and brightest student-athletes, coaches and staff is crucial to USF football and the Bulls’ other highly successful programs. The remodeled suite serves as a tangible and dramatic exclamation of the university’s commitment to student-athlete success and achieving at the highest level.

“This sends a great message that our best is ahead of us,” said Scott. “We are very proud of our 25-year history and everything that we’ve accomplished along the way. But this is a new day — and a new decade — we are stepping into. We want to make the next 25 years the best we can, and this is just an example of our unwavering commitment to that dream.”

A new era is on the horizon for USF Athletics thanks to our passionate supporters. On September 8, USF broke ground on the next step in our transformational journey – the Indoor Performance Facility.