PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers Athletics is set to move forward on the construction of the Fred Hill Training Complex, Director of Athletics Julie Hermann announced late Thursday. Named after Hall of Fame coach Fred Hill, the indoor facility will serve the needs of the RU baseball and softball programs.
An official groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the site Oct. 24, the morning of the Rutgers football game versus Ohio State.
"We are thrilled to be able to complete fundraising for this key building for baseball and softball," Hermann said. "We are so indebted to our supporters who made this possible. This is the first time in a while at Rutgers that we have been able to build a key training complex for our athletic teams."
"This facility is a game-changer," head baseball coach Joe Litterio said. "It is going to make a difference for us in a number of ways. We can now tell recruits we have this - it is no longer just a drawing. That makes an impression. Our team can now put in the work in a building dedicated to baseball and softball at any time. I want to thank the donors and alumni who helped make this possible. This is a very important project for us."
"It's really exciting that our donors got together and there is excitement around softball and baseball," head softball coach Jay Nelson said. "I think the more important aspect of this is our student welfare. We had to work around all the schedules in the RAC, not just basketball, but all the other teams that need an indoor space. The facility also puts us closer to being on an even par with the other programs in the Big Ten, but, more importantly, it shows to our recruits the commitment of our athletic department to the softball and baseball programs and to the rest of the Olympic sports."
The $3.3 million project - all privately raised - is expected to be located in the parking lot currently situated between Bainton Field and the RU Softball Complex. Spanning 22,500 square feet, it will be equipped with state-of-the-art pitching machines, numerous batting cages, bullpen mounds and a full turf infield. The construction timeline will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
With the baseball and softball programs beginning preseason practice in January, the teams will have a dedicated home to prepare for the upcoming season when the weather is not ideal to be outside. The Fred Hill Training Complex will allow for practices to be scheduled at times most conducive to student-athlete success - both on the field and in the classroom. It will additionally free up more time in the Bubble for other programs. The venue will also permit offseason camps and clinics, giving more opportunities to raise funds and elevate the programs within the amateur community.
Hill, who led the baseball program from 1984 to 2014, won 941 games during his tenure in Piscataway. The Scarlet Knights earned 11 NCAA Regional appearances, 12 regular season conference championships and eight conference tournament titles during the veteran mentor's watch. He was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January and will be added to the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame later this fall.
"Obviously when they get the complex done and it has my name in it I'm going to be very proud," Hill, won 1,089 games overall at the collegiate level, said. "I'm really excited about what it means to the two programs. It's a long time coming. I know what it will mean to baseball. It will mean they won't be at a disadvantage any more in the winter when they need to get work in. It's something Rutgers can be really proud of."
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates.
