UC Santa Barbara’s baseball diamond will get a lot more sparkly in the coming seasons.
The university’s athletic department announced on Monday that it has received a “visionary $15 million gift to support facilities construction and revitalization which include upgrades at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.”
The anonymous gift is the largest ever received by Gaucho Athletics.
“We are deeply grateful to our incredibly generous donor for this transformative gift to UCSB baseball, which marks a monumental step forward in supporting the future of our baseball program,” Chancellor Henry Yang said.
“This tremendous investment in the construction and revitalization of our baseball facilities will not only enhance the experience for our student-athletes but also elevate our ability to compete at the highest levels.”
Baseball has become one of UCSB’s most successful sports since Andrew Checketts was hired as head coach in 2012. Since then, the program has won more conference games than any other Big West Conference school and earned seven NCAA Tournament bids.
“This gift provides a special opportunity for us to support student-athlete development and create an exceptional environment for the community,” said Kelly Barsky, UCSB’s Arnhold Director of Athletics.
“The historical and current success of UCSB baseball is a testament to the visionary leadership of coach Checketts and everyone involved with the program.”
The Gauchos are coming off a 44-14 season in which Uyesaka Stadium played host to one of the NCAA’s 16 Regionals.
UCSB has had 67 players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft during Checketts’ tenure. They’ve included two first-round picks — pitchers Dillon Tate in 2015 and Michael McGreevy in 2021 — and future American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber in 2016.
“Talented student-athletes have come to UC Santa Barbara and worked hard to build the program to this level,” Checketts said. “Player development has been a hallmark of the program and has led to historic success on the field and in the MLB Draft.
“It’s validating to see the hard work of the student-athletes and our staff recognized by this gift. For new players, it’s an exciting opportunity to develop in a first-class environment.”
Tate and Bieber were two of the team’s starting pitchers in 2015 when the inadequacies of Uyesaka Stadium forced the Gauchos to play host to the NCAA Regionals 175 miles away at a minor league stadium in Lake Elsinore.
Prior donations have incrementally improved Uyesaka Stadium since its construction in 1994.
The upgrades have included the construction of both the clubhouse and the Bob Brontsema Player Development facility, field-level seating, backstop netting, stadium lighting and a new grass playing surface which was installed last season.
The $1.6 million project to install lights, completed in 2020, allowed UCSB to play host to last year’s regional. Rentals and temporary equipment, however, were also necessary.
“This $15 million should really give us a better foundation and solidify the infrastructure of some of the things that we’ve been short on,” Checketts said. “I think it has the chance of being really, really nice.
“We really haven’t gotten into all the weeds of it yet, but we’ll be able to get going with the planning phase now that the gift has gone through all of the processes.”
A master plan to remodel both the baseball and softball facilities was priced at $40 million when it was conceived in 2019.
Phase one includes a video board that would replace the antiquated scoreboard beyond the left-field fence. Money left over from the $2.8 million turf project will allow UCSB to jump-start that project during the next few months.
“We’re hoping that we can get going on it during the season and have it up at some point,” Checketts said.
Phase two includes the seating, bathrooms, concessions and fan amenities behind home plate.
“We’d like to tie that in with softball and have some shared, joint use in terms of the bathrooms and concessions in that back area between the two ballparks,” Checketts said.
The improvements in phase three would include an expansion of the clubhouse.
“We’ve been working hard at this for a long time, and this gift is validating,” Checketts said. “It’s humbling to have this level of support for our student-athletes and program.
“I am personally grateful, and I know that our players and everyone within our program share my gratitude.”
Other recent enhancements of UCSB’s athletic infrastructure have included the $5.23 million Arnhold Tennis Center; the $2.6 million reconstruction of Pauley Track; a major renovation of the Thunderdome which included a new video board, main floor, practice court, chair-back seating and locker rooms; and renovations at Harder Soccer Stadium.
“Transformative gifts like this build connection, and we hope others are inspired to take part,” Barsky said of the most recent donation. “Philanthropic support for all sports is integral to furthering our mission.
“Our 20 programs unite our community and bring people together, and this gift will elevate them all.”