Clarksville, Ark.-University of the Ozarks will begin construction in October on a new $10.75 million athletic complex that will include new fields for baseball, softball and soccer, University officials announced this week.

Partial funding for the project was made possible through a $6.2 million gift announced earlier this summer from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Wilson of Tulsa, Okla. The University will fund-raise for the remainder of the project's cost.

The complex will be located where the current fields are and will include new turf fields on all three playing surfaces, new lighting and bleachers on all fields as well as new locker room, press box and bathroom facilities.     

"Student-athletes are an integral part of not only our campus community, but of the overall college experience at Ozarks," said Ozarks President Richard Dunsworth, J.D. "The Wilsons' amazing support, along with that of many others, is a caring affirmation of what these young women and men mean to the University."

Mammoth Sports Construction, LLC, based in Meriden, Kan., will build the complex, which is expected to take about a year to complete. The softball and baseball fields are expected to be completed by February, in time for both programs to play on the fields for the spring 2024 seasons. The soccer field will be ready for the men's and women's programs to compete on in fall of 2024.

"I was a student-athlete at a small college, so it means a lot to be able to stretch every dollar for them," said Mammoth Founder and CEO Jake Farrant. "Mammoth is changing the nature of the design/build process so departments and donors have complete peace of mind." 

The new softball and baseball complex will be named in honor of the Wilsons. The new baseball field will continue to be named Lonnie R. Qualls Field in honor of the late, long-time Ozarks baseball coach and alumnus.

The new sports complex represents the second phase of a concerted effort by the University to upgrade all its varsity and intramural athletics facilities. 

The news also comes on the heels of a recent announcement by the University that it will join the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, beginning competition in the SCAC in the 2024-25 school year. The upcoming 2023-24 season will be Ozarks' last in the American Southwest Conference. 

"What an exciting time for Ozarks athletics… new softball, baseball and soccer facilities just as we prepare to begin competition in a new athletic conference," said Athletic Director Jimmy Clark. "We are always proud to host our fellow competitors, but it will be especially exciting to have them on our campus next season and beyond. We feel like our new conference affiliation combined with the new complex will enhance the lives of our student-athletes."