Groundbreaking Ceremony Held For New Center for Sports Performance

Paul DeCoursey, Director of Athletic Communication
8/28/2026

A private groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday (8/28) for the new Center for Sports Performance on the Iowa Central Community College Campus. 

"As Iowa Central continues to expand our ability to train future generations of workforce, this building is imperative to providing the needed space for healthcare related fields in the Applied Science & Technology Building," said Iowa Central President, Dr. Jesse Ulrich. "Additionally, it is long overdue to have a building that not only honors the Triton Football tradition, but also to have the adequate space and first-class facility for the future of the program. We are thankful for the continued support of our service region to provide a building to meet the academic and athletic needs of our student-athletes."

"Having a world class football program starts with a high-quality up-to-date sports performance complex," said Will Shupe, Triton Football Alumnus and son of legendary Triton Football Head Coach, Paul Shupe. "Iowa Central athletics focus on building leaders for the future. This complex will provide an environment to do just that. I'm proud to be an alumnus and committed to ensuring excellence continues."

The state-of-the-art, 24,000-square-foot facility will be the new home for Pre-Athletic Training classes, Athletic Training, Triton Football, and community meeting space. Located next to the turf practice field, the first floor of the Center for Sports Performance will feature a unique training room and locker rooms that reflect the Triton legacy. The second floor will house a team film room with stadium seating, a gathering space for athletes, and modern coaches' offices.

"As the head football coach at Iowa Central it's not just my job to win games on Saturday's but it's my job to prepare these young men for the challenges of life, well beyond their playing days. The new Center for Sports Performance gives us the space and tools to do exactly that," said Triton Football Head Coach, Colby Kratch. "Real growth doesn't happen under the bright lights or in front of a crowd; it happens when you dig, work when no one is watching, and you lay the foundation of what is to come. Today we are starting that foundation for the future of Iowa Central athletics."

The Center for Sports Performance is the first step in the transformation of the current space in the Applied Science & Technology Building used by Triton Football. Once Triton Football has relocated, that space will be renovated for additional space needed by our Health Science, Dental Hygiene, Plumbing Technology, and Heating and Air Conditioning Technology (HVAC) programs.

"A project of this scale doesn't happen through one person or one department. It happens because an entire community rallies around a shared vision. Thank you to our Board of Trustees, administration, faculty and staff, donors, alumni, and community partners who made this moment possible," said Athletic Director, Guy Horn. "Years from now, this building will represent more than brick and steel. It will stand as proof of what a community can accomplish when it commits fully to its students."

Completion of the Center for Sports Performance is scheduled for spring 2028.