Mount Mercy News

3 projects worth $49 million on the way

The next two years are scheduled to bring a phenomenal spurt of new sports facilities to the Metro area with massive projects planned at Coe College, Mount Mercy University and Prospect Meadows Ball Fields.

Coe has earmarked $20 million for its "Make Your Move" campaign to build a new performance arena on campus, along with a fitness center, new wrestling room and a bridge across College Drive to connect the new facilities to the Clark Racquet Center.

Mount Mercy plans to spend $15 million on its "Home Field Advantage" project to build a new stadium for soccer and track, a new baseball field and a new softball field on land next to campus.

Prospect Meadows has a price-tag of $14 million for a 17-field complex of eight regulation baseball fields, eight softball fields and one Miracle Field on land at the junction of Highway 13 and County Home Road just north of Marion.

All three projects are scheduled to break ground this year. Coe and Mount Mercy plan to get started this spring, while Prospect Meadows hopes to get started sometime in 2016 if the next phase of its fundraising falls into place.

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Mustangs plan to open facility in 2017

Mount Mercy University plans to break ground on the new $15 million Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex this spring and have the massive outdoor facility ready for competition in the spring of 2017.

The university revealed final plans for the complex during a Holiday Open House at the University Center on campus Thursday evening. The Mustangs have raised $12.5 million so far for the facility and are seeking an additional $2.5 million in gifts to reach their goal, Mount Mercy President Laurie Hamen announced to a gathering of alumni, faculty, students, staff and friends.

The new facility will feature a baseball field, softball field and a stadium for soccer and track, among other features. The softball stadium has been named Busse Field in honor of a donation from the Busse Family.

Hamen said a final decision on whether to begin a varsity football program will be made early in 2016. If Mount Mercy adds football, the stadium can be modified to hold practices and games.

An animated video of the Plaster Complex was played during the Holiday Open House, showing an overhead view of all three lighted fields, a walking and bike trail, locker rooms, concession stand and parking lots.

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Gavin seeks A.D. job at Mount Mercy

Paul Gavin has spent most of his adult life at Mount Mercy University as a successful student, athlete and coach. Now he's interested in becoming the school's new athletic director.

Gavin, 49, confirmed this week that he's one of four finalists to succeed Scot Reisinger as the athletic director at the NAIA school in northeast Cedar Rapids.

Gavin has been Mount Mercy's head basketball coach since 1992 and has compiled a 387-329 record, including three trips to the NAIA national tournament. The Mustangs finished 27-5 last year and reached the second round of the national tournament.

Gavin is also the head coach of the Mount Mercy men's golf team. He graduated from Mount Mercy in 1988.

Gavin declined comment about his reasons for seeking the athletic director's job, out of respect for the search process, but he's said in previous interviews that he loves Mount Mercy University and has greatly enjoyed his three decades at the school.

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Reisinger takes new job with Mustangs

Mount Mercy University has announced the appointment of Scot Reisinger, current director of athletics, as dean of adult programs.

Reisinger was the successful candidate following a national search and is assuming oversight of accelerated bachelor, online and graduate programs for the university. His efforts will promote continued quality and growth of these high-demand programs.

Reisinger will assume his new responsibilities Aug. 10. Larry Yoder, head softball coach, will serve as interim director of athletics from Aug. 10 until Nov. 1.

During that time, Mount Mercy will conduct a national search for Reisinger's successor. At the conclusion of the search process, Yoder will return to his full-time duties as head softball coach.

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