The WKU Board of Regents met through Zoom for a six-minute special meeting Wednesday to approve the naming of the WKU Football Complex after the late Harold and Juanita Koon.
The Football Complex sits by the west side of Houchens-Smith Stadium and “houses the Hilltoppers’ locker room, weight room, training room, coaches’ offices, football operations and meeting rooms” according to a press release sent by WKU Athletics following the meeting.
The regents approved the name, “Harold and Juanita Koon Football Complex,” to honor the Koon family and the Koon Family Foundation’s “philanthropic support” to athletics over the years. The naming of the Football Complex does not change the name of Houchens-Smith Stadium and Feix Field.
Vice Chair Jan West said Harold and Juanita Koon were long-time residents of Bowling Green, avid Hilltopper fans and provided more than $13 million to WKU athletics over many years.
“They’re just phenomenal people,” Athletic Director Todd Stewart said. “In the 13 years I’ve been the Athletic Director, there’s not an individual or a corporation that’s done more for WKU Athletics than the Koon family has.”
The Koon family will be recognized at WKU’s game against Toledo Saturday according to the press release.
“The Koon family will be recognized and the name unveiled during Saturday’s football game. Since all namings of this nature must be approved by the Board of Regents, and since there was not a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board prior to Saturday’s planned recognition, a special called meeting was necessary to enable the Board to take action prior to Saturday,” Jace Lux, university spokesperson, said of why the meeting was called on Wednesday.
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