BYU Announces Locker Room Renovation For Football Team

PROVO, Utah – Members of the BYU football program will have a new locker room at the Student Athlete Building.

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe announced a renovation to the SAB locker on Wednesday in a social media post.

It’s the first renovation to the locker room at the SAB since the building was established in 2004.

The locker room renovation is underway!! pic.twitter.com/s2wuAMeiD9

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 28, 2021

Funding for the renovations comes from the SAB maintenance endowment fund that was established prior to the facility’s construction, with interest earned on the endowment devoted to the ongoing maintenance and future improvements of the facility, according to a press release from BYU athletics.

“This project is possible because of the generosity of so many great Cougar fans who years ago contributed to the building of the Student Athlete Building and its endowment,” said Holmoe. “Cougar Nation’s tremendous support of BYU Athletics continues to bless the lives of our student-athletes.”

During the winter Holmoe said BYU was facing a $20 million shortfall. The athletic department raised $15 million up until February 14th. None of the funds gathered from those donations will go towards this renovation.

Construction on the new locker room begins this week and will be completed in the summer.

This renovation comes one year after members of the BYU football program made comments on social media about the lack of upgrades to their facilities while other venues and areas on campus were improved amidst the pandemic.

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake has made an emphasis in his program on enhancing the “player experience.” Sitake hired Billy Nixon to be the Executive Coordinator of Player Experience and Equipment Operations.

Nixon has been instrumental in listening to the athletes feedback on locker room, helmets, uniforms, etc. BYU will don new helmets and uniform combinations this fall that include a new navy helmet along with an all-Royal.

After the renovation was officially announced, Nixon tweeted, “Thanks @TomHolmoe and @byuathletics for making this happen. Excited to see the new locker room!! #GoCougs”

BYU’s Student Athlete Building is attached to the practice fields for the football program and kiddie corner to the Indoor Practice Facility. The shape and design of the original locker room was patterned after the Philadelphia Eagles locker.

Players cleared out their lockers at the SAB at the conclusion of the winter semester.

The old SAB locker room had wooden lockers with two TVs, pool tables, and couches. It’s a main place where teammates interact with one another throughout the year.

BYU did not make any announcement on renovations or upgrades to the locker room the Cougars use on game days at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.