Upping the Ante: Texas A&M-Kingsville invests in football locker room renovations
There was already excitement surrounding the Texas A&M-Kingsville football program following a season that saw the Javelinas win seven games, crack the Top 25 in national polls and upend a ranked foe for the first time in years.
As the 1-0 Javelinas prepare to embark on the home part of the 2023 schedule, beginning Saturday with nationally ranked West Georgia in Kingsville, there is another reason the program is excited for kickoff at Javelina Stadium — the newly modernized and enlarged locker room facility.
The school spent north of $2 million dollars to renovate the locker room at Javelina Stadium, a move which at its core, was about functionality.
Texas A&M-Kingsville Executive Director of Athletics Steve Roach and school president Robert H. Vela Jr. recognized that the locker room was in need of an overhaul.
"It wasn't only the aesthetics, and its use as a recruiting tool, but the functionality," Roach said. "It wasn't functional anymore with lack of space, lack of facilities for 125 young men. It came down to general use and trying to provide an experience for our guys which was top notch.
"We also need to show people this is important to us and we want to continue to move our program forward."
The facility grew from roughly 1,800 to now 2,500 square feet and now houses 125 lockers (up from 90), expanded restrooms and showers. The work was completed just as fall practices started in Kingsville.
Javelina defensive back Amos Coleman III, coming off an All-American season, said the improvements take the locker room beyond what is typically seen in the Lone Star Conference.
"For us being D-II guys, a lot of people at this level don't get to experience facilities like these and a locker room upgrade that is really first class," Coleman said. "This is a special place for us."
The department took over spaces that were previously used for public restrooms and concessions to create the expanded space, creating a new concession area in the process.
The facility also now has modernized player lockers, which Roach said balances modern amenities that players expect while still respecting the deep-rooted tradition of A&M-Kingsville football.
"It is still the same structure, although it looks different, but it is still the Javelina football locker room that all the greats here in the past walked through," Roach said. "But now it has new lockers, we've opened up the space and has athletic flooring."
Roach said the timing was right as the team was coming off a successful season and Vela committed to keeping the positive momentum with Javelina football moving forward.
"With Dr. Vela coming in and coach Salinas getting this program back to a bowl game, and showing the first real promise we've had in years, it all came together perfectly," Roach said. "With what Mike has done as a whole with the program ... and the energy of our new president, if feels like everything is coming together and putting us in position to be successful."
Salinas said the effort shows the commitment the school is placing on continuing to move the program forward.
"We are excited as a program for this renovation," Salinas said "I think it shows the commitment and support we have from our university and community, which means a lot to us. It really is a great upgrade for us as a program as we strive toward giving our student-athletes the best experience possible."
More: Orlando Salinas named full-time softball coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas A&M-Kingsville football upgrades locker room at Javelina Stadium
