Missouri Facilities - Mizzou Athletic Training Complex

Originally built in 1959, the facility replaced Rothwell Gymnasium as home to the football team's locker room. Back then, the building featured a football and baseball locker room, equipment room, small weight room, and even smaller training room.

The building originally was scheduled to open for the 1958 season, but construction delays caused the locker rooms not to be ready until spring football practice in 1959.

The first expansion occurred in 1979 when an 80-by-45 ft. weight room was built south of the original building. The football and baseball locker rooms were remodeled while adding locker rooms for women's teams.

In 1980, the facility was renamed the Dutton Brookfield Athletic Facility in honor of the former Jackson County Sports Authority chairman.

Woody Widenhofer took over as head coach in 1985 and soon after Missouri alum Tom Taylor donated $200,000 for a 7,500 sq. ft. expansion. It included a dining hall, lounge, and meeting rooms. Missouri coaches also moved out of the Hearnes Center and into the Tom Taylor Complex with the addition of 18 offices.

By the time the Tigers entered the 1990's, the weight room had become too small and outdated. Jane Yeckel donated $250,000 in memory of her late husband, Phil, to expand the weight room to 10,000 square feet. This allowed greater flexibility not only for football, but other sports as well. Also included in this expansion were 6 meeting rooms and a 136-seat auditorium.

The largest expansion, however, was still to come. Construction started in 1997 to add wings to the north and south sides of the complex. The north side included the Glenn McElroy Sports Medicine Center, a 9,000 sq. ft. area which significantly increased the size of the training room.

The south wing, meanwhile, expanded the academic needs of Missouri athletes. The Shelden Academic Resource Center added study areas, computer lab, and offices for academic advisers. Coaches offices, equipment room, and locker rooms were also expanded.

During the 2000 season, a 3,000 sq. ft. expansion added more space to the Yeckel Training Center. It also added office space for the strength and conditioning staff.

Then in 2005, the athletic department started a massive $16 million expansion of the Tom Taylor Complex, nearly doubling its size. The dining hall was moved into space formerly occupied by the Yeckel Training Center. Academic offices took over the old dining hall and coaches offices. Meanwhile, the coaches offices moved to the second floor of the east expansion. The strength and conditioning area was also moved to the new east wing.

No one knows when the next expansion of the Mizzou Athletic Training Complex will take place. But as the needs of the athletes and coaches change, so too will the building.

More information on the football facilities can be found in the Members Zone.
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