A $25 million gift to transform the Reid Athletic Center has Colgate coaches smiling and dreaming of what a modern facility will do for their teams.

Ganiyat Adeduntan, head women's basketball coach, said she was ecstatic and grateful when she learned of the donation. She described the project as a "game changer" for Colgate on the court and when recruiting for talent.

"I believe it's going to help recruiting from day one," said Adeduntan, who is part of a new coaching regime that's rebuilding the women's basketball program.

"It's something that inspires me to continue to work hard and will help our student-athletes excel," she said of the donation.

Volleyball Head Coach Ryan Baker said he was shocked when the news arrived in early February of the massive donation.

"I have been here for 16 years," Baker said. "A lot of people have talked about how badly we needed a building. To see it happening, to know it's happening, I'm elated."

Colgate volleyball has finished with a winning record in five of the last six seasons. In 2021, the team went 18-10, won a Patriot League championship, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. 

Baker said modern facilities have become more essential than ever for drawing recruits. 

"As we try to continue to raise the expectations of our program and push our program to the new level, I think this will entice a whole other recruit we have not been able to get," Baker said.

A major part of the Reid transformation will be the construction of a new arena, which will serve as the home for the basketball and volleyball programs. For decades both programs have used Cotterell Court for practices and games.

Reid's southern wing, a facility known as Starr Rink, will be demolished, and the new arena will take its place. The rink, built in 1959 along with the entire Reid complex, was used for Colgate's hockey until the Class of 1965 Arena opened in 2016.

Afterward, Starr Rink was converted into a makeshift hardwood court, serving as another option for practices.

But as Colgate Athletics expanded over the years, the need for a larger facility became greater. Reid was designed when Colgate was an all-male university with 1,500 students.

Today, enrollment has more than doubled, while Colgate's Division I program has swelled to 25 varsity teams.

The renovations are the result of a gift from Trustee Emeritus Chase Carey '76, his wife, Wendy, and their children Steve '12 and Tara '13. 

Matt Langel, head men's basketball coach, praised the Carey family for the enormous gift.

"To have the Carey family, who has already done so much for Colgate University, choose to give a gift of this magnitude speaks to how special a place Colgate is and how deeply they care about making it the very best it can be," Langel said.  

The project will include locker rooms for basketball and volleyball programs, along with softball, field hockey, golf and tennis. Visitor locker rooms are also part of the plan.

In addition, the project includes new sport office suits, lounges for athletes, and facilities where teams could review film and prepare for their next opponents. The football program will receive its own suite.

Colgate's sports medicine facilities will be overhauled as part of the upgrades. The changes involve expanding the health and performance center and merging it with the campus fitness center, which is located across the street.

Leslie Cowen, Colgate's director of sports medicine, said bigger facilities will greatly improve the department's ability to rehab student-athletes. 

"We are really excited about having more space to take care of the student-athletes and to have all the resources to make sure they get back on the field safely," Cowen said. "For us, it's a real chance to get some great enhancements and updates."

The student-athletes are also thrilled about the project, even if they may not be here to see it.

"When people walk in here, they are going to be wowed by what they see at Colgate," said Alexa Brodie '23, a guard on the women's basketball team.

"Any athlete will reiterate what I have to say, and that's thank you to the people who donated," she said. "None of this would happen without them. It's going to affect present players, future players, future alumni. It's a huge attraction that will bring in really good players."

Zach Light '22, a guard on the men's basketball team, said a renovated Reid will transform Colgate basketball.

"Even though I won't be here to see it, I think it's incredible for the university and incredible for the people who are coming in," he said. "I think it's going to change the way Colgate basketball operates."