Centre honors Head Football Coach Andy Frye with naming of new stadium complex
Centre College announced Wednesday its campaign to name its new stadium complex after current head football coach Andy Frye.
The announcement was made during a celebratory event in Louisville and was met with a standing ovation from more than 150 Centre alumni, parents and friends of the football program in attendance.
“Andy Frye embodies everything that is right with college athletics,” Director of Athletics and Recreation Brad Fields ‘98 said. “His commitment to Centre College, and the passion he has for the true holistic development of the young men that come through the Centre Football program, is unparalleled.
“His success on the field speaks for itself, but it’s the genuine love he has for his players, truly mentoring them into the best versions of themselves, that makes him exceptional,” he continued. “Naming the stadium in honor of Andy, the last guy that would ever expect this, is a fitting recognition of a man that inspires so many.”
As Frye prepares for his 24th season as head football coach at Centre, his record speaks for itself: he’s the winningest coach in Centre Football’s storied history with more than 150 wins. He led Centre to the school’s first Southern Athletic Association (SAA) title and 16th conference championship overall in 2014, and another in 2018, showcasing those teams in the NCAA playoffs and the NCAA Sweet 16, respectively. He has coached eight All-Americans since 1998, more than 300 All-Conference winners, 23 D3football.com All-Region award-winners since 2005, and the 2020 SAA Man of the Year, Cal Lewellyn. In 2014, Frye was named the SAA Coach of the Year.
Centre President Milton C. Moreland said Frye is deserving of the stadium name for the impact he makes off the field, as well as on it.
“Coach Frye’s passion for student success embodies what we ask of our leaders at Centre College,” Moreland said. “A leader in the community, Coach Frye has devoted his life to creating opportunity and teaching the most valuable lessons to young people through sport.
“His success in preparing student-athletes for lives of purpose and meaningful impact beyond the football field—’pursuing excellence’ in their lives—is an extraordinary complement to his winning record on the scoreboard.”
Construction is well underway for the College’s Initiative for Wellness and Athletic Excellence (IWAE), and the new stadium complex is part of those state-of-the-art efforts.
Frye’s passion is reflected in the support that the project has received: with the help of key alumni leaders, the College has already identified $1.25 million toward the $2 million goal for the stadium complex.
Two football alumni, Anthony S. Kurlas ‘93 and John McCarthy ‘90, helped spearhead the naming initiative. Their efforts, combined with support from several loyal alumni donors and an anonymous matching gift of $1 million, have provided momentum for the College toward its $2 million goal of fully funding the stadium. The new complex will replace Farris Stadium, built in 1923.
“Andy’s service to Centre and the young men he’s coached and developed over the last three-plus decades has had an immeasurable positive impact on their lives—and his legacy needed to be honored,” Kurlas explained. “IWAE will help to better the lives of students and athletes for generations to come, which is all part of the ecosystem that makes the Centre Experience special.”
McCarthy agreed, stating that the honor for Frye is well-deserved.
“Andy Frye is an awesome person, mentor and coach,” he said. “For the last 30 years, he has honored the Centre football tradition of pursuing excellence in his players in all facets of life.
“I hope every player who enters the stadium feels his enthusiasm and passion for life.”
SO YOU KNOW
Centre is calling on all alumni and parents to help fund this special tribute to Coach Andy Frye and honor his legacy at the College with a permanently named space.
IWAE support is a direct investment in Centre’s distinctive co-curricular education that develops the leaders of tomorrow. The new state-of-the-art facilities feature a new baseball complex, a new stadium complex, a field house with a 200-meter indoor track and 70-yard turf, an aquatics center with an Olympic-size pool, a strength and performance center, and multi-purpose wellness, study and student development spaces.
Home to 25 varsity athletic teams, Centre Colonels compete successfully for conference and national titles, and the new facilities will serve to enhance those opportunities for participating and viewing. They will also benefit the nearly three-quarters of students who participate in intramural and club sports.
For more information on IWAE and how to support the naming of the new stadium complex in honor of Coach Andy Frye, contact aly.lilley@centre.edu or visit www.centre.edu/iwae.
