R12E to a Championship Standard
11/1/2022 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Cougar Pride
Former Houston Basketball star David Marrs commits $2 million to Houston Rise
HOUSTON – When asked to reflect on what he considers to be the high point of Houston Men's Basketball, former Cougar standout David Marrs did not hesitate. His answer was clear and concise: "Now."
The response came as somewhat of a surprise, understanding that Marrs played for legendary coach Guy V. Lewis during a time when Houston soared to the pinnacle of the sport.
Nevertheless, the Cougars current run under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson has elevated Marrs' excitement for Houston Basketball to an unprecedented level. His excitement, in fact, motivated his decision to make a $2 million gift to the Houston Rise campaign to assist Sampson and the Cougars with the modernization of the Guy V. Lewis Development Facility.
"I played under one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. Coach Lewis prepared me for success on the court and in life. For that, I am eternally grateful," said Marrs, a Cougar standout from 1972-76. "My passion for Cougar Basketball, however, has never been higher than it is right now. We have the right coach, incredible momentum and are building a championship foundation to carry us into the Big 12 Conference. I am blessed and honored to be able to support this Rise campaign, Coach Sampson and Cougar Basketball in this meaningful way."
The transformational Houston Rise gift will fund significant upgrades to the Guy V. Lewis Center, with a specific emphasis on technology-based improvements along with enhancements to the facility's sports-performance capacities. The player locker room will also be modernized to reflect the Cougars' current trajectory as one of college basketball's elite programs.
"David embodies the qualities that truly define Cougar Basketball," Sampson said. "He was a great player, student, and role model who used his experience as a student-athlete as a foundation for the success he has achieved personally and professionally. Most importantly, David is a friend who believes in what we are building and understands that championship resources are essential to championship performances. We are so grateful for his leadership, vision and commitment to Cougar Basketball and the lifelong success of our student-athletes."
Since its construction in 2017, the Guy V. Lewis Center has supported historic success for Houston Men's and Women's Basketball. Combined with the Fertitta Center, the Guy V. Lewis Center provides the Cougars second to none facilities to recruit and support exceptional student-athletes. With a focus on sustained excellence, Houston Athletics has elevated a modernization of the Guy V. Lewis Center as a pillar of the Houston Rise campaign.
"The Marrs family's ability to give back, with David being a University of Houston graduate and former letterwinner, and the significance of the gift is substantial," Houston Vice President for Athletics Chris Pezman said. "It helps move us along and keep basketball relevant.
"One of the important things we've set out to do is engage in small-to-intermediate level projects, so we don't get to the point where we have to re-do a whole building at once. With the profile of our basketball program being one of the top programs in the country, it's important with what we're competing against that we continue to invest in meaningful ways that move the needle for our coaches and student-athletes. This is a huge gift that helps us do that."
To join Houston Rise and prepare our Cougars to compete for championships in the Big 12 Conference CLICK HERE.
The response came as somewhat of a surprise, understanding that Marrs played for legendary coach Guy V. Lewis during a time when Houston soared to the pinnacle of the sport.
Nevertheless, the Cougars current run under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson has elevated Marrs' excitement for Houston Basketball to an unprecedented level. His excitement, in fact, motivated his decision to make a $2 million gift to the Houston Rise campaign to assist Sampson and the Cougars with the modernization of the Guy V. Lewis Development Facility.
"I played under one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. Coach Lewis prepared me for success on the court and in life. For that, I am eternally grateful," said Marrs, a Cougar standout from 1972-76. "My passion for Cougar Basketball, however, has never been higher than it is right now. We have the right coach, incredible momentum and are building a championship foundation to carry us into the Big 12 Conference. I am blessed and honored to be able to support this Rise campaign, Coach Sampson and Cougar Basketball in this meaningful way."
The transformational Houston Rise gift will fund significant upgrades to the Guy V. Lewis Center, with a specific emphasis on technology-based improvements along with enhancements to the facility's sports-performance capacities. The player locker room will also be modernized to reflect the Cougars' current trajectory as one of college basketball's elite programs.
"David embodies the qualities that truly define Cougar Basketball," Sampson said. "He was a great player, student, and role model who used his experience as a student-athlete as a foundation for the success he has achieved personally and professionally. Most importantly, David is a friend who believes in what we are building and understands that championship resources are essential to championship performances. We are so grateful for his leadership, vision and commitment to Cougar Basketball and the lifelong success of our student-athletes."
Since its construction in 2017, the Guy V. Lewis Center has supported historic success for Houston Men's and Women's Basketball. Combined with the Fertitta Center, the Guy V. Lewis Center provides the Cougars second to none facilities to recruit and support exceptional student-athletes. With a focus on sustained excellence, Houston Athletics has elevated a modernization of the Guy V. Lewis Center as a pillar of the Houston Rise campaign.
"The Marrs family's ability to give back, with David being a University of Houston graduate and former letterwinner, and the significance of the gift is substantial," Houston Vice President for Athletics Chris Pezman said. "It helps move us along and keep basketball relevant.
"One of the important things we've set out to do is engage in small-to-intermediate level projects, so we don't get to the point where we have to re-do a whole building at once. With the profile of our basketball program being one of the top programs in the country, it's important with what we're competing against that we continue to invest in meaningful ways that move the needle for our coaches and student-athletes. This is a huge gift that helps us do that."
To join Houston Rise and prepare our Cougars to compete for championships in the Big 12 Conference CLICK HERE.
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