Holland Hollow is ‘Next Level’ for OWLS Athletics

There’s a new and exciting venue that’s been added to The W’s intercollegiate athletics program. As you enter Hogarth Student Center’s main lobby and ascend the steps, where the Athletics Department is located, and turn to the right at the top of the staircase, there you will find Holland Hollow Student-Athlete Center.

Holland Hollow takes The W Athletics to a different level, both literally and figuratively.

As the name implies, it is a space created with studentathletes in mind — a place for the Owls to “roost,” if you will. It is the type of venue that very few NCAA Division III schools can say they have. With amenities conducive to a multitude of uses — from study tables to team meetings to recruiting and a place to lounge between classes — Holland Hollow provides it for the Owls.

“Our goal in designing Holland Hollow was to be good stewards of the donation dollars and make certain the venue could meet many, many needs expressed by both students and staff,” Director of Athletics Buddy Foster said. “Even the décor was intentional.”

Foster continued, “We believe that anything we can do that lets our student-athletes know that we are proud of them, stand behind them and support them is important. It is a room that is built for pride in the Blue.”

There are two distinct halves to Holland Hollow Student- Athlete Center. The first side features theater-style seating for 50 people, complete with a stage, backdrop, projection capabilities and a sound system, which is ideal for meetings and bringing in large groups of recruits.

The other half of the room provides a more individualized atmosphere, with workstations, tables with chairs, couches and a TV lounge area, and even a kitchenette. All of the furniture is adorned with the Owls Athletics branding, as well.

“Holland Hollow has been great so far because it’s more than just a place for athletes to study,” freshman volleyball player Layla Escobedo observed. “And it’s become an area that all the athletes go to socialize. It’s built such a great atmosphere between all the teams at the school.”

The room pays homage to each of The W’s 17 intercollegiate sports, with a framed jersey representation on the wall. Another wall is a reminder of the many accomplishments — both on the field and in the classroom — of Owls Athletics, including all-academic awards, all-conference honorees and community service hours amassed as a department, to name a few.

Since its dedication, Holland Hollow has already played host to one of the most significant events in the life of W athletics. On Monday, March 2, 2026, the Owls men’s basketball team — along with members of the campus community and local media — gathered together to witness the announcement of the University’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III national championship tournament.

“Being able to have a place to share that event was so special,” Men’s Basketball Coach Dean Burrows recalled. “In previous years, that would not have been possible. The team would have crammed into my office or gone into a classroom somewhere. But Holland Hollow made it possible to have our players not just have a comfortable environment to view the Selection Show, but see the genuine joy for them from others on campus on the official announcement, just by their physical presence with the players at the watch party.”

While there have been several recent upgrades and improvements for Owls Athletics, surely Holland Hollow is the most visible and large-scale to date. And it’s those steps upward that have The W Athletics family excited for the future.

Just ask fourth-year letterman and senior baseball standout, Matthew Windham.

“I love seeing athletics continue to grow and add to the overall perception of the program,” Windham, an all-academic athlete, reflected. “Holland Hollow gives us all someplace we can call our own. And it gives our department another way by which we can distinguish ourselves. And it shows student-athletes that the University, and its alumni, have our back to help us be successful in all areas.”

Holland Hollow Student-Athlete Center didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of two years of careful, intentional, meticulous planning. It all began when alumnae Sandy Holland, ’86, watched a collegiate sports special on TV showcasing a premiere division one women’s basketball facility. It raised one question, “What’s the possibility of an athletics room at The W?”

Alongside Becky Smith, ’83, the two have been long supporters of the university and athletics. Having learned from her father, a longtime faculty member at another university, Smith has always believed in giving back to your university. The powerhouse pair have provided scholarships, windscreens, a storage shed and even a mower. They would simply ask, “What do you need?”

This time was different. Seeing athletics return to the university had reinvigorated school pride for Holland. They wanted something specific. Something bigger. Something better. Something next level. They wanted to meet students where they are — academically, socially and personally.

They began working with their financial advisors and university leaders to explore how they could give back in a meaningful, lasting way.

“Everybody wants to give a scholarship,” Becky said. “And that’s important. But universities need so much more than that.”

What emerged was the idea for Holland Hollow Student-Athlete Center — a shared athletic and student space designed to serve not just one team, but all studentathletes, especially commuter athletes looking for a place to rest, study or connect between classes.

But the most important part of the project wasn’t the furniture or the technology.

“It wasn’t for me or about me,” Holland said. “It was about what the students needed.”

Rather than dictating how the space should look, Holland and Smith worked closely with coaches, administrators and staff to let those who would use the space shape it. They attribute the realization of their dream to the hard work and attention to detail of Marla Fisher, director of development.

“We just had the idea,” Smith said. “They built it into what actually works for them.”

When the paint was dry, the furniture in place and the ribbon cut, students filled the room. There was not an empty seat in Holland Hollow. All the Owls had come home to “roost.”

The two didn’t expect much fanfare or reaction for the grand opening event. But they were pleasantly surprised.

“I started crying when I saw the students in the room,” Smith said. “They were all piled up on the couch, on their phones, just hanging out — that’s exactly what we wanted.”

A bonus from the event: hugs from the baseball and soccer teams.

“I really believe it’s going to help with recruiting,” Holland said. “It shows students that The W cares about their full experience, not just what happens in the classroom.”

Simply, they just want to provide the same welcoming experience they had while on campus: a personalized and welcoming environment. Smith was an art major with biology minor, and Holland was a former student-athlete and sports fitness major.

Smith recalls her first tour of campus, “It far surpassed anything I imagined. Everything was wonderful.”

That same sense wonderment and care can now be found at Holland Hollow Student-Athlete Center. It is exactly what they want today’s students to experience.

Holland Hollow Student-Athlete Center represents more than just a new facility. It marks a defining moment for Owls Athletics. Foster emphasized the transformational investment, “This is the most significant donation to date since we have reintroduced athletics. Thanks to the generosity of Sandy Holland and Becky Smith, the new space will have a wide-ranging impact on our student-athletes.”