KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Vice President/Director of Athletics
Dan Bartholomae and Western Michigan University Athletics announced today a
transformational renovation to the Bill Brown Football Alumni Center—an investment that will significantly elevate the daily training, recovery, and development experience for Bronco Football. Supported by a generous lead gift of $2.5 Million from David and Ronda Stafford, the project includes a complete remodel of the athletic training room, a fully reimagined weight room, and a redesigned entryway leading into the team locker room. Construction will begin immediately following the conclusion of the 2025 football season.
"Our football program is deeply indebted to the generosity of David and Ronda Stafford and the Stafford-Smith corporation," said Bartholomae. "In addition to providing the largest named gift in our history last year, they have followed back up with a transformational $2.5M gift that allows us to commence construction on two incredibly important amenities to our football program – our training room and our strength and conditioning room. And I can't think of better namesakes, donors and friends. The Stafford Family and Stafford-Smith embody what it means to be a Bronco – a CHAMPION that has found success in our community and gives back so generously to our football program."
The renovated weight room—made possible through the Stafford family's leadership gift—will be named the
Stafford-Smith Football Weight Room. The new performance space will be outfitted with top-of-the-line strength training equipment and will feature expanded functional training zones, integrated sport-science technology, and a fully optimized layout to maximize square footage. The upgraded design will significantly improve training efficiency while elevating the overall look, feel, and performance quality of the space.
"Western Michigan University and this football program changed the trajectory of my life. The lessons I learned here—the brotherhood, the accountability, the idea of always playing for the person next to you and around you—have stayed with me in every chapter since I left campus. I've been very fortunate in my life, and so much of that is because of the experience I had at Western, the coaches who pushed me, and the teammates who became family," said David Stafford. "That's why it's important for me to give back. This program gave me far more than I could ever return, but Ronda and I feel strongly about doing our part to make sure today's student-athletes have the same opportunities to grow, to work together, to lead, and to succeed. Investing in this project is personal to us, because we believe deeply in what Bronco Football stands for and the impact it has on young people. We're proud to support the next generation of Broncos and to help strengthen a place that will always mean so much to our family."
The athletic training room will be completely rebuilt to better support student-athlete health, wellness, and rehabilitation needs. Planned updates include:
- New hot and cold hydrotherapy systems which will be re-located to the locker room
- Modernized training tables and treatment stations
- Expanded evaluation, taping, and rehab areas
- Dedicated recovery zones for mobility and post-practice care
- Improved privacy, efficiency, and training-room layout
The project also includes a refreshed entryway into the team locker room that will create a modern, branded, high-impact arrival space for current student-athletes and recruits, as well as upgraded nutrition and recovery spaces.
"We are incredibly grateful to David and Ronda Stafford for their remarkable generosity and belief in Bronco Football. Their commitment is an investment directly into our student-athletes—into their ability to train, recover, and compete at the highest level," said Head Football Coach
Lance Taylor. "This project will elevate every part of the student-athlete experience and strengthen the foundation of our program for years to come. The Stafford's understand the brotherhood and the pride that come with being a Bronco, and their willingness to give back in such a meaningful way inspires all of us. We're honored to carry forward the legacy of those who helped build this program, and this gift will have an immediate and lasting impact on our team."
"To continue to improve on this project and expand the vision behind the Bill Brown Renovation project, continued support from our alumni base is crucial," said Bartholomae. "We are excited to provide naming opportunities to ensure everyone in the Bronco Brotherhood is represented in this facility, and we appreciate the generosity of our Bronco Family."
Additional philanthropic opportunities connected to the Bill Brown Football Alumni Center remodel—including naming spaces within the lobby entrance, training and weight rooms are available through the Bronco Athletic Fund. For those interested in naming opportunities, please contact
Gina Gonzales, Senior Associate Athletic Director of Advancement and Engagement at 269-387-8725 or
gina.gonzales@wmich.edu.
