Coe College Athletics Release
Contact: Ryan Workman, Sports Information Director
E-mail: sid@coe.edu

Coe College plans new FieldTurf, Eby performance arena

Two of the most used athletic facilities at Coe College will soon receive significant upgrades. The renovations include a new performance arena for Eby Fieldhouse and all-weather FieldTurf for Clark Field.

Both indoor and outdoor athletic facilities are heavily utilized at Coe. Approximately four in 10 Coe students participate in varsity athletics and more than 90 percent are involved in intramurals. The Eby gymnasium is typically busy from early morning to late evening to accommodate the athletic and recreational needs of students. As well, all of Coe’s athletic fields are in high demand during the fall and spring athletic seasons.

Eby Fieldhouse

Moray L. Eby Memorial Fieldhouse, built in 1930 in honor of longtime Coe professor of physical education and coach Moray Eby, serves as the headquarters for Kohawk athletics. The current gymnasium floor and bleachers, which date back to the 1970s, will be replaced. When combined with new lighting and other amenities, the space will effectively become a new performance arena for Coe basketball, wrestling and volleyball. The gym will also continue to be used for varsity athletic practices, intramural athletics, and physical education classes.

Eby Fieldhouse also includes a state-of-the-art Fitness Center, a challenging rock climbing wall, and extensive athletic training facilities.

Clark Field
Clark Field is named in honor of the late K. Raymond Clark, a 1930 alumnus of Coe College who became the college’s preeminent benefactor, with total contributions to Coe in excess of $33.9 million. Since its original construction in 1989, the field has consisted of conventional natural grass. Beginning this fall, football games and soccer matches will be held on the new field, as well as athletic practices as needed.

FieldTurf, an all-weather surface used by over 40 NCAA teams, more than two dozen NFL franchises, and several major league baseball teams, is comprised of artificial grass and recycled tires. Unlike the old synthetic surfaces that were hard and similar to carpet, FieldTurf is among the new artificial surfaces which look and feel more like the traditional grass fields. FieldTurf uses a ground plastic and rubber base to mimic natural soil, and special plastic shafts are used to simulate soft blades of grass and eliminate rug burn. The result is a playing field that helps to maximize player performance and reduce injuries.

In addition, FieldTurf is environmentally-friendly and eliminates the maintenance costs of mowing and chemical treatment associated with natural grass fields. While first-generation artificial-turf fields became rough and deteriorated with age, FieldTurf has a long life with a surface that remains stable over time. FieldTurf is extremely durable and holds up well to ultraviolet light and all seasons of harsh Midwestern weather.

The Clark Field complex also includes a 2,200 seat stadium, an eight-lane all-weather 400-meter track, a softball diamond, and practice and intramural fields. It is adjacent to the modern Clark Racquet Center, featuring indoor and outdoor tennis courts, an indoor 200-meter track, and racquetball and squash courts.

Work on both projects will begin this spring, with the new Clark Field all-weather surface and the Eby Fieldhouse performance arena ready for use when students return to campus for fall semester in August. The total cost of the projects will be $1.3 million, with major funding provided by gifts from Coe alumni and friends of the college.

"We believe that these major enhancements demonstrate Coe's continuing commitment to provide top quality facilities for its student athletes," commented Director of Athletics John Chandler. "The new FieldTurf will provide a greatly enhanced and durable football and soccer surface that will stand up in all kinds of weather. We are equally enthused about the new Eby Fieldhouse performance arena, which will serve basketball players, volleyball players, wrestlers, other Coe students, and spectators. These major improvements will provide great benefits to Kohawk student athletes for decades to come."

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