Photo Galleries:
Phase I(completed)
Phase II, Week 1
Phase II, Week 2
Phase II, Week 3
Phase II, Week 4
Phase II, Week 5
Phase II, Week 6
Phase II, Week 7
Most of the Penn Football coaching staff has temporarily moved out of their home in the Jack LeFort, Sr. W’48 Football Office Complex in Weightman Hall, and their office space is now buzzing with the activity of construction. Phase Two of the state-of-the-art renovationsis now underway, scheduled to coincide with the time when most members of the varsity squad are off campus, challenging themselves through their summer internships (and summer workouts).
The LeFort Football Office Complex was launched in the fall of 2005 through a generous gift by Robert “Jack” LeFort, Jr. C’76, son of long-time friend and supporter of the program Jack LeFort, Sr., W’48. Phase One of the project, completed at the end of August 2006, renovated the main lounge, as well as the Offensive and Defensive Coordinator’s offices. The new lounge space showcases a timeline of Penn Football history and various football memorabilia. Phase One has created a decided advantage for Penn in the highly competitive recruiting process. Penn’s coaches are now able to communicate much of Penn Football’s storied history through a simple tour around the LeFort Complex and its view overlooking Franklin Field.
The generosity of more alumni and friends of the program is now paving the way for the Office Complex initiative to move into its second key phase. Phase Two of the initiative will upgrade and modernize the office space of nine more coaches and support staff, in addition to the offensive staff conference room and the new “Head Coaches’ Conference Room”. The renovations of the coaches’ individual offices are being funded through the leadership gifts of a few longtime Penn Football supporters: Jack Ayers C’53, Harrison “Goose” Clement W’65, Bill Constantine C’66, Doug Kantner C’89, John I. Leonard W’36, Rick Rockwell W’64, and Sally and Lee Stetson GEd’71. These commitments have allowed Penn to begin the Phase Two renovations this summer with a completion goal of September 1st.
The Head Coaches’ Conference Room will serve the program as the defensive and full staff meeting space. This new space will contain the portrait of each Penn Football head coach since the official charter of the Ivy League. It is being funded entirely by the letterwinners of the last fifty years, who have thus far pledged amounts varying from $25 to $25,000 to sponsor their coach’s portrait in the room. This grassroots drive is well underway and has already encouraged participation from more than 70 letterwinners. The loyalty and dedication of these generous supporters has helped Penn Football to give our coaches a first-rate setting commensurate to a first-rate program. We thank them for their thoughtful investment.
Do you want to be part of the team helping to renovate the Football Offices? Naming opportunities are still available, and we still need help funding the head coaches’ portraits in the Head Coaches’ Conference Room. If you would like more information or are interested in donating, please contact Don Snyder in the Penn Athletics Development Office at (215) 746-0020 or snyderdg@upenn.edu.
We plan to keep track of the construction progress with regular photo updates. Please check back throughout the summer to follow the transformation as it unfolds. Thank you again for your continued interest in Penn Football.
