The Colorado State head coaching vacancy just got a little more enticing.
After years of wrangling with officials over the possibility of building an on-campus stadium, the Colorado State Board of Governors finally approved the move.BREAKING: Board of Governors approves a multi-function, on-campus stadium http://t.co/5euZLcArDc #CSUStadium pic.twitter.com/f1p1wFam2m
— CSU Rams (@CSUAthletics) December 5, 2014
The decision comes six days after Colorado State University’s president Tony Frank recommended the school build a new stadium instead of refurbishing Hughes Stadium, according to the Associated Press.
Frank reportedly estimated the new stadium would cost between $195 to $220 million.
Hughes Stadium has served as Colorado State’s football facility since 1968. It’s located four miles west of the school’s main campus. But the school estimates it requires millions of dollars in renovations.
After a 10-2 season, Colorado State saw renewed interest in the program. Head coach Jim McElwain subsequently left the team to accept the same position with the Florida Gators, but he built a program that is now far more enticing than the one he initially took over in 2012.
McElwain’s departure may have also had an effect on the Board’s decision. The school plans on raising the money through donations to help build the new stadium. It already built a nice nest egg by agreeing with Florida to the largest contract buyout in college football history. Florida also agreed to a $2 million guarantee game.
An improving program and a new stadium could help lure another top-level candidate like the school previously did when McElwain was initially hired.