Annually, Gopher Athletics raises $13 million to support the 324.4 scholarships offered to Gopher student-athletes each year. Personal investment in scholarships is instrumental in ensuring the Gopher Athletics ability to cover the ever increasing cost of tuition and fees so that student-athletes can focus on excelling academically, athletically and socially. Support through the Gopher Women’s Athletics Scholarship Fund will assist with scholarships costs of the 12 women’s sports programs.

Contact Golden Gopher Fund to learn more ggf@umn.edu

Endowments are a lasting legacy of support for Gopher student-athletes. The initial investment is preserved as principal and the interest produced by this investment is used to support Gopher student- athlete scholarship costs, notably tuition assistance, textbooks, and room and board. Endowed scholarships are long-term investments in the University of Minnesota and our student-athletes. They provide essential financial support for students year after year, generation after Generation.

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Supporting a specific team is possible as every team in Gopher Athletics has an enhancement fund. Investment in a team’s enhancement fund allows coaches to go beyond their team’s most basic needs and put funds toward helping their student-athletes and programs grow and sustain championship-caliber performances

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Established in 1976, the Patty Berg Fund for Women’s Sports was established to honor one of golf’s greatest players and co-founding member of the LPGA. The Fund was established to provide educational and athletic opportunities to female athletes at the University of Minnesota. The funds go toward academic, athletic and professional development and or unique experiences that the department would not otherwise fund.

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The new performance center will be built in the Athletes Village footprint, which will allow for student-athletes to study, train, eat and recover all in one location. The facility will be constructed on the south side of the department's indoor football field where two sand volleyball courts are currently located.

Construction on the $15.5 million project is scheduled to start in March 2024 and be completed by January 2025. The Gophers will continue to use Maturi Pavilion for home meets during the competition season. "A state-of-the-art practice facility has been a goal of our program for the past 20 years and to see it come to fruition is truly an amazing milestone," said Head Coach Jenny Hansen. "We are so thankful to Mark Coyle and the leadership team here at Minnesota for the investment in our program, as well as the Board of Regents for approving the facility. This new facility is absolutely key for the progress of our program and the development of our student-athletes. I could not be more excited about the positive value it will add to our program."

"This is an exciting day for our gymnastics program," said Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. "It will be ideal for our student-athletes to have everything they need – academics, athletics, nutrition and athletic medicine – all in one spot at the world-class Athletes Village. I know Coach Hansen and her staff are excited to share this news with the team and with recruits and we look forward to supporting them during the process

3M Arena at Mariucci and Ridder Arena represent two of the most important athletic facilities in the State of Minnesota. We are the State of Hockey and we have the greatest fans in all of college hockey. We are embarking on a final renovation project which will enhance two very important areas. 

First, with 3M Arena at Mariucci, we will provide our men’s hockey fans with an upgraded game day experience with new modern concessions, loge and premium seating and social gathering spaces in the end zones. 

Second, we will provide our women’ hockey student-athletes with an upgraded team room and athletic sports medicine room along with enhancements to the Ridder Arena club room, lighting and press area. 

Now is the perfect time to renovate 3M Arena at Mariucci for our fans and Ridder Arena for our student-athletes. We must make these upgrades to take care of our fans and provide them with a world class game day experience – from seating, concessions and the ability to watch the game.

W.I.L.L. began as a partnership between University of Minnesota Athletics and Schwan’s Company in 2014 with 25 female student athletes from Soccer. The program has grown each year and now supports the personal development of approximately 300 female student-athletes representing all twelve women's programs (Soccer, Gymnastics, Hockey, Golf, Tennis, Cross Country, Track & Field, Rowing, Volleyball, Softball, Basketball and Swimming & Diving).

Mission
Empower student-athletes by aligning leadership-based skills training with mentor engagement to promote leadership awareness, aptitude, and development.

Vision
Foster a community of women invested in the personal and professional achievement of the next generation of leaders.

Learn more about W.I.L.L.

Thanks to University of Minnesota supporters, Barb and George Hagemann, women student athletes have an opportunity to shop for career clothing during their time in Gopher Athletics. Originally focused on the Women’s Basketball Team, the Hagemann initiated Suited for Success program has expanded to include all Gopher Women’s Athletics teams. Each academic year, up to $250 will be provided to women that have stepped up as leaders within Gopher Athletics. The women enjoy a coordinated shopping outing together including a personal shopper that assists with identifying clothing suitable for job interviews and professional situations. Award recipients are identified by Student-Athlete Development and Lindahl Academic Center staff as meeting at least two of the following criteria:

• Held a leadership position
• Fully engaged with W.I.L.L. programming
• Engaged with professional development opportunities such as but not limited to: B1G meetings, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Gopher leadership groups, Leadership U.
• Has a substantiated financial or situational need for career clothing (interviews, internship, media day, professional conference)
• Represented their team or the department at a speaking engagement, awards ceremony, meeting, etc.
• Utilizes L.I.N.K. resources and staff services (Leadership, Inclusion, Networking, Knowledge)
• Special consideration given to students with greater financial need or personal circumstance.

Based on current funding 20 women will be selected for the program in Fall 2023. The goal is to eventually provide the opportunity to all Gopher Women Student Athletes.

"Thanks to our donors, I was able to craft a professional look that not only reflected my personality and style, but I didn't have to worry about the price tag. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and thanks to the suited for success program I can feel like my best self in a business setting!"