The Board of Regents, State of Iowa today approved the University of Iowa’s requests to name the Iowa football program’s operations building the Richard O. Jacobson Football Operations Building and the combined Jacobson Football Operations Building and the indoor practice facility the Stew and LeNore Hansen Football Performance Center in recognition of their financial gifts to support the construction of the new facilities at the UI.
Members of the UI Foundation’s Presidents Club, the Hansens are loyal contributors to the UI and have been season ticket holders for more than 25 years. In addition to their extraordinary gift of $8 million to the Iowa Football Legacy Campaign, the Hansens made a very generous gift to the recently-completed Carver-Hawkeye Arena Enhancement Campaign.
“The friendship we have developed with Stew and LeNore has been very special to Kirk, me, and many staff members within the athletics department,” said UI Director of Athletics Gary Barta. “To be able to name these new facilities after the Hansens is extremely gratifying and will have a powerful and lasting impact on the football program.”
“We are honored to become a part of the University of Iowa campus through the Stew and LeNore Hansen Football Performance Center,” said Stew Hansen. “This ‘state-of-the-art’ facility will greatly enhance the already well-established football program and provide extraordinary benefits for the Hawkeyes both now and in the future.”
Jacobson is the chairman emeritus of the Jacobson Companies, an ardent supporter of the UI, the UI Henry B. Tippie School of Business, and the UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. In 1995, Jacobson made a substantial gift for the construction of the Jacobson Athletic Building. In 2007, he contributed $3 million to the Tippie School of Business to establish the Richard O. Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship. In 2000, the UI Alumni Association presented him with a Distinguished Alumni Award.
“For more than 40 years, Dick has been a loyal and generous friend of the Iowa Hawkeyes,” said Barta. “He and Bruce Rastetter were the first two individuals to provide leadership and vision on this project that will help ensure that our football program continues to have state-of-the-art training facilities.”
“I am extremely proud to be an Iowan, and I have a deep appreciation and admiration for our state. This state has been very good to me. I enjoy giving back to the place where I grew up.” said Jacobson. “I also have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to support all of our Regent institutions. I believe strongly in what they do and how they do it.”
The Richard O. Jacobson Football Operations Building is currently under construction with completion expected in late summer. The 76,000-square foot facility will help guarantee an exceptional experience for the student-athletes who participate in Iowa’s football program. It will include an exhibit space dedicated to the history and success of the Hawkeyes, a room which will honor Iowa’s consensus All-Americans that also will serve as a location for team activities, hospitality, and special events, a strength and conditioning area, team locker rooms, team meeting rooms, state-of-the-art technology for training, coaching, and recruiting, office space for the coaching and support staffs, an equipment room, and athletic training rooms.
The Jacobson Football Operations Building will be attached to the indoor practice facility which rests immediately south of the Ron and Margaret Kenyon Outdoor Practice Facility.
When completed, the Stew and LeNore Hansen Football Performance Center will contain all aspects of the Iowa football program—including team areas, coaching and meeting areas, and indoor practice field—will be physically connected and easily accessed. With its close proximity to Kinnick Stadium, the Stew and LeNore Hansen Football Performance Center—inclusive of the Richard O. Jacobson Football Operations Building —will complete one of the most comprehensive football training and competition venues in all of college football.
About the University of Iowa Foundation
The UI Foundation’s mission is to advance the UI and fulfill the aspirations of those it serves. The university’s dedicated contributors fund a broad array of needs, from student scholarships, breakthrough research and life-changing health care to innovative facilities, community outreach and global education.
The UI and UI Foundation are conducting a historic comprehensive $1.7 billion fundraising campaign, For Iowa. Forever More: The Campaign for the University of Iowa, which will secure the UI’s status as a world-class institution for future generations.
The UI Foundation is the preferred channel for private contributions that benefit all areas of the University of Iowa. For more information about the foundation and the campaign, visit the foundation website.