EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is featured in the Fall 2025 edition of The Tartan magazine. Read more from The Tartan at alma.edu/tartan.
Andrus Family Field House officially opens with ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Alma College is poised to take its athletic programs to the next level with the construction of the Andrus Family Field House — a state-of-the-art building that matches in amenities what student-athletes, coaches and fans have provided for years in dedication and excitement.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in April, drawing faculty, staff, alumni, friends, members of the public, and the Board of Trustees to celebrate a major milestone in the college’s athletic future.
“My family and I are grateful to be a part of the field house and look forward to seeing how this benefits future generations of Alma College Scots,” said the facility’s namesake, Larry Andrus ’72. Andrus is an emeriti member of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Scots Hall of Fame.
“The mentorship and guidance that I received from coaches like Bill Klenk and Denny Stolz was instrumental to my development as a person and a professional. We didn’t have facilities like this back when I was in school, though. It’s my hope that with a state-of the-art field house in which to perform, our student-athletes will reach the peak of their development at Alma College.”
Larry Andrus ’72 is pictured at the April ribbon-cutting of the Andrus Family Field House.
The field house, located on Charles Avenue, west of the college, was completed in January 2025 after roughly a year of construction. The 78,080-square-foot facility includes a regulation indoor track, infield turf with lines for seven different sports, dedicated jump areas and an LED videoboard. Also included are drop-down batting cages, locker room space for four teams and a visiting team locker room. Alma College is now one of only three schools in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association to have its own indoor track and field facility.
The building also houses office space for members of the Alma College coaching staff and a team meeting room, as well as satellite weight training and athletic training spaces. Along with Klenk Park and Scotland Yard, the new facility comprises the Greg Hatcher Athletics Campus.
“I’ve said for many years that when I’m going to make a hire at my firm, I’m looking for applicants who have leadership experience. These are the employees that I can truly count on — and oftentimes, it’s those who are former student-athletes who end up being the most successful,” said Hatcher, a member of the Class of ’83 and Scots Hall of Fame. “In that way, I think that what this facility does is help create graduates who leave Alma College and are ready for the real world.”
In addition to serving a practice space for its athletic teams, the field house will benefit the Kiltie Marching Band and host summer camps for local community groups.
“This field house is so much more than just a building,” said Kiana Verdugo-Maday, interim director of athletics. “This incredible facility represents years of vision, planning, and hard work, and it would not have been possible without the generosity of so many donors, board members, and champions of our mission. We’re grateful to everyone who played a role in making this dream a reality.”
