Competitive Advantage: Olsen Athletics Performance Center

DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton Board of Trustees has approved the naming of UD athletics' new 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art training facility the "Olsen Athletics Performance Center." 

A generous commitment from Dr. Thomas Olsen and Ms. Mary H. Boosalis allowed for the renovation of the former Reichard Hall, which is located on the east side of the Frericks Center and is adjacent to Baujan Field.

As medical professionals who have supported UD athletics for over 15 years, Dr. Olsen and Ms. Boosalis have always focused on the development of UD student-athletes. The husband and wife recognize the value of creating opportunities to win championships for all Flyer men's and women's athletics teams.  

The project will positively impact all 17 of UD's sports programs and specifically men's and women's basketball. This renovation will allow all of the University's nearly 450 student-athletes to train, practice and study within a 500-foot radius.

"We are very grateful for the support Tom and Mary have provided for our student-athletes, over the years," UD Vice President and Director of Athletics Tim Wabler said.   "We're extremely happy to be able to publicly recognize them with the naming of the Olsen Athletics Performance Center.  Across the board, our athletics program has never been more successful, and their continued support is a big reason why.

"The Olsen Performance Center will put all of our training facilities under one roof, and will help provide our teams to reach even greater heights in the future."  

Dr. Tom Olsen is a physician with Dermatologists of Southwest Ohio, Inc.  Dr. Olsen is a Board Certified Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist. He is certified by the American Board of Dermatology, and is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology.  He is a member of 11 medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, Ohio Dermatological Association and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

Mary Boosalis was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Premier Health in 2011.  In January 2006, Boosalis marked her spot in Miami Valley Hospital lore, becoming the first woman to be named President and Chief Executive Officer in its 115-year history.  She is known for her work renewing the MVH campus during her MVH tenure and in particular initiating the MVH south campus master plan. She has worked many years alongside UD and the city of Dayton in developing the Brown Street corridor.  Premier Health is the largest healthcare system in Southwest Ohio.  She has served on the University of Dayton's Board of Trustees since July of 2009.

The Olsen Athletics Performance Center will be a 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art performance center, focusing on student-athlete strength and conditioning development as well as nutrition.  The 1,800-square-foot basketball weight room at the Donoher Center will be relocated to this facility, which will be just steps away from other major athletic facilities on campus — Baujan Field, the Frericks Center and the Cronin Center. Construction of the Olsen Athletics Performance Center is scheduled to begin in July 2014, and it will become operational in December. 

"The value that we put in training our players can't be measured, it's so vital to our success. Not only will we be training in one of the finest facilities in the nation, but also our players now will benefit from training, studying and living all about 500 feet from one another," said Archie Miller, head coach of the Dayton men's basketball team.

This is the latest of many investments the University has made in its athletics facilities.  In addition to the construction of the Olsen Athletics Performance Center, Riggs Academic Center and the Cronin Center, the on-campus home for every Flyer team has been either newly constructed or renovated in the last 15 years — Baujan Field (soccer), Frericks Center (volleyball), Graul Tennis Complex (tennis), UD Softball Stadium (softball), Woerner Field at Time Warner Cable Stadium (baseball) and University of Dayton Arena (basketball). More than 85 percent of the funding has come from private donations and corporate support.

"This gives us the training facility we need to take our nationally-ranked program to the highest level. We already have the greatest fans. We have the greatest arena. We have one of the greatest meeting and film facilities with the addition of the Cronin Center last year. Upgrading our performance facilities to the best place we can train gives our athletes everything they need to succeed, and they should expect to be the best as well. Our administration has made a huge commitment of excellence to our programs," said UD women's basketball coach Jim Jabir.