BROWNWOOD – November 25, 2025 – Construction will soon begin on a new $6 million Tennis Center for Howard Payne University Athletics with a lead gift of $4 million given by alumni Ronnie '83 and Teri '83 Andrews, of Houston.
The state-of-the-art facility was approved by the Board of Trustees this fall and will include a 3,300-square-foot clubhouse with locker rooms, a team room, a coach's office, a study room and outdoor-accessible restrooms; two additional tennis courts, for a total of eight courts; a covered observation area; additional stands for visitors; and expanded parking areas. The new facility will replace the current clubhouse located at 301 2nd Street by the McCulloch Athletic Center.
"The new Tennis Center at HPU will open the door to so many opportunities for our student-athletes and the entire HPU family," said Dr. Cory Hines, university president. "We are extremely grateful for the lead gift from the Andrews family and for the passion they have to support what God is doing here on our campus. We pray that others will join in support of this endeavor to enhance our commitment to athletics and the overall student experience."
The Andrews directed their gift to the tennis program to help strengthen the future of tennis at the university. The couple sees the value in competitive athletics as an avenue to teach, inspire and unite players both on and off the field.
"Ronnie and I are so pleased to be able to partner with HPU in this inaugural sports project," said Teri Andrews. "God willing, our hope is that it will be a catalyst for future expansion of the entire stable of HPU athletics, with the ultimate goal of enhancing and strengthening the identity of HPU as a vibrant, liberal arts destination."
HPU has men's and women's tennis teams who will practice and compete at the new facility. The center will provide opportunities to host tournaments, both NCAA events in the fall and spring, UIL tournaments and regionals, as well as Junior College Regional events.
"The construction of our new HPU Tennis Center is another major step in our commitment to making Howard Payne University a true destination for student-athletes," said Adam Bright, director of athletics.
"This project reflects our vision of providing best-in-class facilities where our athletes can compete at a championship level, while being surrounded by elite coaching, intentional mentorship, and a Christ-centered environment that shapes character and faith," Bright continued. "We aren't just building courts — we're building opportunities for young men and women to grow, excel, and become leaders who will impact the world and I am excited for this project to be a springboard for more facility projects in the near future."
With a central location in the Heartland of Texas, the new facilities provide easy accessibility for teams from all areas of the state to meet and compete.
The indoor space also offers study hall areas and a team meeting space that can be used by other athletic teams as the space provides another area for student-athletes to gather.
"We are incredibly grateful for the new tennis facility and what it means for our program and for HPU Athletics as a whole," said Josh Lopez, head tennis coach. "This investment elevates every part of the student-athlete experience—from training and competition to community engagement and pride in representing Howard Payne. It's a blessing that will strengthen our teams, inspire our athletes, and help us continue building a championship-level culture rooted in excellence, gratitude, and growth."
This initiative is part of more than $24 million that has been invested in HPU campus improvements in the last six years. Several projects for athletics have included renovations to the Brownwood Coliseum; new lights at Don Shepard Park and Citizens National Bank Soccer Field; and the construction of the Bob Carter Athletic Park for intramurals and the Woody and Miki Martin Sand Volleyball courts, for the new beach volleyball team.
