UCM breaks ground on Diamond Sports Development Facility
Published 8:30 pm Friday, October 16, 2026
WARRENSBURG — Three to four years ago, Central Missouri baseball head coach Kyle Crookes went to UCM Athletics Hall of Fame baseball coach and Board of Governors member Stu Rogers with an idea.
The concept: build an indoor facility to help improve player development for both Mules baseball and Jennies softball. Sam Collins of Collins | Webb Architecture eventually entered the picture and began the design process.
“We kind of sat down, and looked a little bit,” Rogers said. “I brought Sam and Crookesy together. It has gone through a lot of iterations. Sam almost quit on us one time, like, ‘this is never going to happen.’ But we kept it going.”
The conceptualization grew into the groundbreaking of the Diamond Sports Development Facility on Friday, Oct. 16.
The 19,000-square-foot building, tagged at $6.3 million, sits beyond the left field fence at Crane Stadium. Haren Companies will serve as the general contractor, with a projected completion date of next fall.
The building will include a full indoor turf infield with retractable hitting and pitching lanes, an integrated sports medicine suite, a technology lab and performance suite and a pro-style alumni locker room and lounge.
The technology lab and performance suite will help track swing kinematics, spin rates, release points and velocity metrics, creating individualized development plans for student-athletes.
“We were sitting in a room all together; we had talked to Sam,” Crookes said. “Sam came up with some initial drawings, and we were putting our heads together trying to figure out how we were going to make this thing go. We were told, ‘This is not going to happen, this is never gonna happen.’ I think that is the greatest thing that we can say about Mules and Jennies that are here. Given an obstacle, we will find our way over or through.”
UCM Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Howdeshell compared the development of the project to the likes of a baseball or softball team.
“A lot of people say baseball and softball are games of failure,” Howdeshell said. “They test your patience, force you to overcome adversity and demand resilience. In those games, as our coaches and student-athletes, no success is defined by a single swing or individual. It takes contributions from every position on the field and belief in the tough innings and dedicated work from everyone in the dugout and behind the scene. Bringing this 19,000-square-foot Diamond Sports Development Facility from a dream to today’s groundbreaking has taken the same patience, grit and team effort.”
The new building will replace the current barn that includes indoor batting cages and bullpens.
According to UCMAthletics.com, it was added in fall 2004.
“If you look over my left shoulder, there’s an old building,” Rogers said. “If you really walk in it, you will kind of see it’s dilapidated, got some holes in the floor, the cold wind comes in, there’s no air conditioning. That’s why we’re doing this. So the Jennies softball players and the Mules baseball players have a better place to train, develop and become better athletes.”
Jennies softball coach Susan Anderson, heading into her 20th season at the helm, said the facility will allow her program to have the opportunity to train year-round and better improve defensive skill sets early in the year.
The new indoor facility will complement the program’s newly fully turfed field, which also grows the team’s abilities through the entirety of the year.
“We start our season at the very beginning of February, sometimes the end of January, depending on when February 1st ends,” Anderson said. “As we know what the Missouri weather can give us, regardless of what the Missouri weather is, we actually have a place where we can go and train and develop and continue to do things defensively and offensively.”
Jennies junior infielder Anna Lee Kulka thanked project supporters for helping bring the project to life.
“It is truly such a blessing to be a part of these programs,” Kulka said. “We are thankful for everything that has brought us to this exact moment. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, so we give all the glory to God and want to thank everyone who has made the advancements possible.”
Crookes, who has led the Mules to five NCAA Division II Central Region titles – including the last three, said the new building will open doors for both the baseball and softball programs.
“We sit here today, and we’re excited about the opportunity to break ground on the facility,” Crookes said. “I’m also excited about the opportunity to do that and work with the people like Susan, her team and obviously our players standing here too. Most of the time in the morning when we’re here on this field, our guys are in a different attire, or doing something different. I think they’re excited about what this facility will bring to them. Let’s not forget, it’s about work. It’s about the work we’re gonna do within this facility to grow our people, grow our players and make them better. That’s what it’s all about.”
Mules junior infielder Cole Kreisel stated the new building will help Mules athletes continue to grow upon the standards of the baseball program – following the mission statement to maximize the ability and talents of every player on the field, in a classroom and in life.
“The facility is a tremendous step forward in helping us live out that mission,” Kreisel said. “This facility will help us maintain the winning standard and success that comes with being a Mule. We will continue adding trophies to the tradition of this program, and with a world-class facility like this, we will have a place to celebrate next year’s super regionals wins at night, not only on the field, but also in this facility. The boys know what I mean.”
The University of Central Missouri Board of Governors approved the project during its June 18 board meeting.
The project, anticipated to be completed by next fall, is being paid for through university funds and donor support. UCM Athletics indicates the lead gift is anonymous. It also includes contributions from Stu & Teera Rogers, Mark & Shea Allen, Gary & DeAnn Abram, Kevin & Jeanette Prenger, Adam & Molly Maddox and Aaron & Julie Christensen.
The school also credits UCM baseball and softball’s alumni base for its support.
“Thank you for your generosity,” University of Central Missouri President Roger Best said. “Thank you for your support for not only our coaching staff, but for our student-athletes we have now. Certainly, this facility that we see behind us in drawing will help us develop that student-athlete and develop those skill sets. Certainly, it will help us recruit the next generation of Mules and Jennies for baseball or softball. For me personally, it’s a little more than that. It’s our ability and our way to express appreciation for not just our coaching staff, but our student-athletes.”
Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.
