In past years, the Illinois baseball program sure appreciated the hospitality of the football program as they extended the use of the Irwin Indoor Football Practice Facility when it was too cold to practice outdoors.
Now, Illinois baseball has a training home they can call their own.
On Thursday, Coach Dan Hartleb and Athletic Director Josh Whitman were happy to show off the new training facilities for baseball to the media. The Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center is a full 23,500 square-feet and includes a full infield and batting tunnels.
The plan for the Atkins Baseball Training Center was officially announced four years ago in 2018 and ground was broken for construction in spring 2021 (photos of that here). Now, it looks like they have completed the Center on schedule.
Of course, much of financing of the Atkins Center came from the Atkins themselves. Susan Atkins gifted $3 million on behalf of herself and her husband Clint who passed in 2011.
When AD Josh Whitman spoke on Thursday, he mentioned that over fifty former Illinois baseball players contributed to Atkins Center gift fund.
Coach Dan Hartleb referred to the new training center as a “state-of-the-art facility”.
23,970 sq ft Indoor Training Center
1,750 sq ft recruiting lounge
Full-sized diamond
Four batting cages
Four bullpen throwing lanes
The Atkins Baseball Training Center is located just to the west of Illinois Field. If you have been to a ballgame, I’m sure you have seen it as it was being built. I’m sure it will be a lot more convenient for our boys.
Many thanks to everyone who made this project happen! It was a dream that started years ago and Coach Hartleb says the players are now beginning to use it!