TUCSON, Ariz. The University of Arizona baseball program has received a $1 million pledge from an anonymous donor as part of a matching gift challenge. The pledge comes after the Wildcats completed their 17th all-time College World Series appearance as national runners-up with 49 wins, the programs most in 30 years.
This is an incredible time for our baseball program and we are excited to announce this tremendous gift, said Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. Coach Jay Johnson, his staff and the players accomplished so much this season, and the energy and support behind the program is at an all-time high.
This gift is a major difference-maker for our program, said Johnson. It reaffirms to me how great it is to coach at Arizona where people care so much about our program and especially the student-athletes.
The $1 million donation and additional matching gifts will directly benefit the baseball program, including renovations to Hi Corbett Field, fan amenities and other improvements for student-athletes. Arizona moved into the historic facility in 2012 and have since been one of the national leaders in attendance, including this season when the Wildcats led the Pac-12 with an average of 3,043 fans paced by a single-game high of 8,067 in May.