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Minnesota announces Sports Pavilion will be renamed in honor of former AD

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

The University of Minnesota has announced that a sports facility on campus will be renamed after former athletic director Joel Maturi.

Minnesota’s Sports Pavilion will be renamed the Joel Maturi University Sports Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 2. A ceremony for the renaming will be open to the public.

Maturi is a Chisolm, Minn. native and served as the Gophers’ AD for 10 years from 2002 through 2012. Under his leadership, Minnesota won five national championships, three in women’s hockey, one in men’s hockey and one in wrestling. The Gophers also won 45 B1G or WCHA titles during that stretch, as well.

After learning of the honor, Maturi shared a few words with GopherSports.com

“I am thankful that the Honor’s Committee, President Kaler and the Board of Regents decided to recognize the ten-year transitional period of Gopher Athletics during which time I was blessed to be the Director of Athletics,” said Maturi. “This naming is a reflection of the talented and dedicated staff, coaches and athletes who lived the ‘We Are Minnesota’ way. I share this honor with them.”

The Sports Pavilion is home to Minnesota volleyball, wrestling and men’s and women’s gymnastics.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB