Cal Poly Athletic Director Don Oberhelman has made a $250,000 donation alongside his wife to the John Madden Football Center ahead of his retirement, according to a news release from Cal Poly Athletics on Sept. 17.
The university broke ground on the $45 million project in 2023 and currently has $32.2 million raised for the project. The university is projecting the center will be completed by the end of 2025, according to their informational website.
“It’s my hope that our gift will inspire others in the Cal Poly community to give back in whatever way they can,” Oberhelman said in the release.
According to the department’s initial retirement announcement on June 9, Obherhelman was slated to stay on board as athletic director and retire at the end of the summer or when a new athletic director is appointed. The Cal Poly community is still awaiting the announcement of a new athletic director.
READ MORE: Cal Poly Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman announces retirement
The two-story Madden Center will include new training facilities, meeting rooms, offices and other spaces for Cal Poly’s football program.
The project had an original budget of $30 million but has been short of fundraising and dealt with delays since the university broke ground.
READ MORE: Construction problems create possible delay of John Madden Football Center
This donation comes as Oberhelman was paid $299,904 during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, according to Cal Poly Administration and Finance.
The donation will go towards the completion of the ongoing construction as Cal Poly football continues to move through the 2025 season.