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University of Houston Athletics
Tai Dillard Named Recruiting Coordinator
8/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON â€" Houston Cougar Women's Basketball assistant coach Tai Dillard has been granted the title of recruiting coordinator along with her assistant coach duties, Head Coach Ronald Hughey has announced.
"I'm excited about the new position and responsibilities as recruiting coordinator," Dillard said. "I'm looking forward to continuing to build here at the University of Houston and helping Coach Hughey, the staff and team reach the goals we have set. We are embarking on some exciting times, so it's truly an honor to help add to that."
In her time in Houston, Dillard has helped to bring in talent like forward Serithia Hawkins, who was voted unanimously to the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team last season, while also playing an integral role in welcoming five new Cougar signees to campus prior to the 2015 season, including ESPN Hoopgurlz Top-100 selection Natasha Mack.
"I am extremely excited for Tai as she embraces her new role of recruiting coordinator for our program," Hughey said. "Tai not only played in the Big 12 and the WNBA, but she has made coaching stops in the Pac-12 & SEC. She is energetic, a motivator and a teacher who has tremendous experience and an eye for talent, which will serve her well as she takes on this new role."
Dillard's promotion is the third move for the Cougars at assistant coach this offseason after announcing the hiring of Victoria Picott and Jamila Ganter earlier in the summer. Dillard is in her third season with the Cougars after previous stops at Ole Miss, USC and UTSA.
REGENTS APPROVE RENOVATIONS TO BASKETBALL ARENA
The University of Men's and Women's Basketball programs moved closer to a new competition home facility when school regents approved the start of the design process for the renovation of the Houston Basketball arena during its meeting Nov. 19.
Regents approved a project budget of up to $60 million with an anonymous donor pledging a $20 million gift to facilitate the arena's renovation.
Design work is scheduled to begin in March 2016 with construction starting one year later. Plans for the Cougars' home facility during the 2017-18 season have not been finalized and will be announced at a later date. The renovated facility is expected to be ready for game competition for the beginning of the 2018-19 season.
"This project has been long overdue, and we are grateful that Dr. Khator and our Board of Regents saw the need for this step with our basketball arena," Vice President for Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. "We look forward to starting the design process in the next few months and creating a facility that will provide the highest level of amenities to our fans and a significant home-court advantage for our Men's and Women's Basketball student-athletes."
Preliminary estimated capacity for the renovated arena will be reduced to 7,420 from its current seating bowl of 8,479. However, initial plans call for the court level to be raised three feet with fan seating moved closer to the court as part of an emphasis to improve the overall fan experience.
More than 2,000 premium seats will be developed to give fans the ultimate luxury seating options. That total includes a preliminary design of 1,750 club seats, 20 loge boxes with four seats in each, two open-air suites with 32 seats per unit and 90 courtside seats.
The arena's concourse level will be expanded to improve circulation with significant upgrades to the sound system, video board and arena seating.
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