FAU to announce largest gift in school history Tuesday

President+John+Kelly+speaks+to+a+crowd+during+a+TED+X+event+in+on+FAUs+Boca+Raton+campus+in+May+2014.+Photo+by+Mohammed+F.+Emran

President John Kelly speaks to a crowd during a TED X event in on FAU’s Boca Raton campus in May 2014. Photo by Mohammed F. Emran

The FAU Media Relations Department announced via tweet this morning that the schoolwill be announcing the largest gift in the history of the university.

At 3 p.m. on Dec. 2, school President John Kelly will make the announcement to media members in the interview room of the FAU football stadium, according to a press release from the Media Relations Department.

Lisa Metcalf, the school’s Director of Media Relations, tweeted about the gift this morning.

Director of Athletics Pat Chun and head football coach Charlie Partridge will be available for questions. FAU Owl Access reported in August that FAU Athletics looked into raising funds for an on-campus football facility and that Partridge was already using the proposed building as a tool to lure recruits in.

In August 2013, Saturday Down South compiled a gallery of indoor practice facilities for several teams. Nearly every premiere football program in this country has an indoor practice facility or is in the process of preparing one.

Before they became FAU employees, both Chun and Partridge worked at schools that had indoor practice facilities for the football team.

Partridge worked as the defensive line coach at the University of Arkansas, and Chun worked within the athletic department at Ohio State University as executive associate athletics director for external relations. The addition of a new practice facility could be what FAU needs to put some life into the football program.

Partridge guided the team through a 3-9 season in his first year at the helm. A 31-28 loss to Old Dominion University brought the Owls’ second season in Conference USA to a close on Nov. 29.

Check upressonline.com for updates after tomorrow’s press conference.