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UPMC Events Center Opening
Robert Morris University celebrated the opening of the UPMC Events Center Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, by hosting the University of Pittsburgh in its first game at the new facility. University dignitaries, alumni, boosters and fans came together to commemorate years of planning and honor the latest addition to the RMU campus.
The 161,000-square foot multipurpose facility opened in May of 2019 and is home to the men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball programs and was funded entirely through donations and corporate sponsorships.
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FOUNDING PARTNERS
The founding partners consisting of Peoples Natural Gas, UPMC, Eat’n Park, Koppers, Pepsi, PNC Bank, PJ Dick and PGT Trucking were able to fund the UPMC Events Center, helping fuel the rising reputation of Robert Morris University. These Pittsburgh corporations have allowed RMU athletics to grow and reach new heights, and the founding partners have shown enormous generosity by helping support all our student-athletes and the mission of them having a firstclass experience both on and off the court at RMU.
Pictured L-R: Matt O’Brien (RMU), TJ Brown (RMU), Chris King (RMU), Luis Guzman (PGT Trucking), Brad Schmitt (Pepsi), Glenn Groninger (PNC Bank), Brett Pitcairn (PJ Dick), Dr. Christopher Howard (RMU), Jeff Broadhurst (Eat’n Park), Jim Hogan (Koppers), Morgan O’Brien (Peoples Natural Gas), Brian Hagen (UPMC), Matt Millet (RMU) A sold out crowd of 4,034 fans packed the UPMC Events Center to watch the Panthers knock off the Colonials, 71-57, in a game televised live nationally on ESPNU.
A viewing party was held on the lawn of the Nicholson Center and a postgame fireworks display took place at the conclusion of the game in front of Joe Walton Stadium.
PAT GALLAGHER HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH
The Robert Morris University Department of Athletics received its first head coaching announcement, courtesy of a gift to create the Pat Gallagher Head Men’s Basketball Coach.
The gift came from Patrick Gallagher, founder and CEO of PGT Trucking, Inc., a former member of the RMU Board of Trustees and longtime university donor.
“Robert Morris’ success in athletic competition is established on top coaching talent,” said Gallagher. “I am honored to donate to this organization and this program, as I recognize and value the integrity of the coaching leadership at RMU and hope to reinforce these values through the implementation of the head coaching endowment.”
Gallagher made the historic gift to Robert Morris as part of the university’s RMU 100: Ready To Rise comprehensive fundraising campaign, which was unveiled on the day the Colonials hosted Pitt at the UPMC Events Center.
Robert Morris honored one of the first teams to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament Feb. 29, 2020, by unveiling the Matt Furjanic, Jr., and the 1982- 83 Men’s Basketball Team Locker Room. Members of the team as well as Furjanic, one of the team’s early coaches, were honored with a ceremony outside the locker room that featured RMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris King and RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andrew Toole.
