Campaign Oregon - University of Oregon

Effort to Strengthen Connection between Academics and Athletics Draws Full Participation

A new Coaches’ Fund to support University of Oregon Libraries has drawn 100 percent participation from UO head athletic coaches in its first year and will benefit all students.

The annual fund will be used to build library collections and keep up with changing technology. The fund is part of an ongoing effort by the athletic department and UO Libraries, which both serve the entire campus and the broader community, to build bridges between academics and athletics.

“It’s incredible,” said Philip H. Knight Dean of Libraries Deb Carver of the coaches’ contributions. “Their response was immediate. Apparently, we struck a positive chord. My sense was that they’d been interested in giving to the academic side of the university for a long time but didn’t know the best avenue.”

Coaches and athletic administrators made personal gifts totaling $25,000, which was matched by Dave Petrone, a 1966 graduate and longtime supporter of both athletics and academics at the university, and his wife, Nancy.

“A great library is really at the heart of any great university and we are fortunate to have such a tremendous resource in the Knight Library,” said Vin Lananna, associate athletic director and director of men’s and women’s track. “I’m pleased to participate in the Coaches’ Library Fund to support an exciting future for our library and our university.”