CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced a $500,000 gift from 1987 Gies College of Business graduate Steven Miller to advance the Ubben Basketball Complex expansion and renovation project.
"I've been a Fighting Illini sports fan since my freshman year in 1983, when the football team beat everyone else in the Big Ten and went to the Rose Bowl," Miller said. "This investment reflects my deep respect for Josh Whitman's visionary leadership on behalf of the student athletes at Illinois. I'm proud to support their excellence, on and off the court."
Miller is the co-founder of Origin Ventures, a Chicago-based venture capital firm. He is an active Illinois alum serving as a member of the Dean's Council for the Gies College of Business, where he earned his bachelor's degree in marketing. Miller has endowed several scholarships, an academic chair, and the Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership.
"This Ubben renovation has been a passion project for so many. Steven's love for the Fighting Illini, and in particular for Illinois basketball, prompted him to help with what we believe is a vital cog in the continued advancement of our athletic program," Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. "We are grateful to Steven and humbled that he would invest so meaningfully in Illinois Athletics. Through his generosity and the generosity of so many others, we are moving increasingly closer to our vision of life-changing opportunities for generations of Fighting Illini student-athletes."
The 22-year-old Ubben Basketball Complex will undergo a transformation that will more than double the square footage of the building. Improvements will benefit both the men's and women's programs and will include additional court space, state-of-the-art sports medicine facilities, an enhanced strength and conditioning area, study spaces, expanded staff offices, and modern student-athlete amenities in new locker rooms and team areas.
The Ubben renovation and expansion will add approximately 40,000 square feet to the existing structure, while remodeling large portions of the existing building. New coach's office space and entry lobby are included in the project. Two new half courts will be added to both the women's and men's current gym space, giving the two programs additional space to work on development while not disrupting full-court action. The project will feature a new strength and conditioning addition, significantly increase the size of the locker rooms and players lounges and include a state-of-the-art sports medicine area.
Groundbreaking on new construction is slated to begin in the spring of 2021.
"Steven is a life-long Illini fan and his generous support of the Ubben renovation is a reflection of his confidence in the University leadership and vision," Assistant Athletic Director for Development - Chicago Kathleen Knight said. "He believes the resources he provides, as well as others, are needed to advance our athletic programs and maintain our competitiveness as an elite program. Steven joins our many dedicated supporters in the Chicagoland area."
To date, Illinois has secured $22 million in commitments for the Ubben Basketball renovation and expansion project toward the $35 million goal.
The Miller gift is included in the DIA's $300 million fundraising goal, which is part of "With Illinois," the $2.25 billion University-wide fundraising campaign.
