BROWNWOOD, Texas – Howard Payne University Athletics is continuing to invest in the future of its student-athletes with the construction of new office spaces inside the Brownwood Coliseum.

With more than 450 student-athletes now calling Howard Payne home, the growth of Yellow Jacket Athletics is evident across campus and throughout the Brownwood community. The new office project will provide additional space for several HPU athletic programs housed inside the Coliseum, giving coaches and staff the resources they need to continue building first-class programs.

The project was made possible through the generosity of an HPU donor who recognized the importance of investing in the people and programs that make up Howard Payne Athletics.

"This is another example of what can happen when people believe in Howard Payne and believe in the future of our student-athletes," said HPU Director of Athletics Adam Bright. "We are incredibly grateful for the generosity that is making these new spaces possible. As our department continues to grow, we have to grow our infrastructure with it. Our coaches and staff need the space and resources to do their jobs at a high level, and ultimately that investment directly impacts our student-athletes."

The Coliseum office project is one piece of a much larger facilities and infrastructure push currently underway throughout HPU Athletics.

Recent projects include the groundbreaking of the new HPU Tennis Center, the completion of new football practice-field enhancements at the McCullough Athletic Center and the completion of Phase One of The Hive, HPU's new student-athlete center.

The Brownwood Coliseum itself has also undergone several upgrades in recent months. New sound and lighting systems were recently installed, with both making their debut during the opening weekend of HPU volleyball's 2026 home season. The Yellow Jackets opened the weekend by going 3-0 in front of their home crowd.

The new office spaces will add another layer of functionality to a facility that serves as an important home for HPU Athletics and the Brownwood community.

"Facilities & Infrastructure is one of the five pillars of our five-year strategic plan for Howard Payne Athletics," Bright said. "That focus is intentional. As our department and our student-athlete population continue to grow, we have to make sure our facilities and infrastructure grow with them. Our goal is to provide our student-athletes and coaches with the spaces and resources they need to build first-class programs and create a first-class experience."

The commitment to Facilities & Infrastructure is evident across Howard Payne Athletics, with projects ranging from new construction to improvements within existing facilities. The new Brownwood Coliseum office spaces add another piece to that ongoing effort while providing additional workspace for the programs housed in the facility.

"We're excited about the continued growth of Howard Payne Athletics," Bright said. "More than 450 student-athletes are part of our department, and there is tremendous momentum across our programs. These projects are about building the infrastructure that will allow us to continue that growth and position Howard Payne Athletics for the future."
That approach is already visible across the department.

The new Tennis Center will provide eight courts and a 3,300-square-foot clubhouse featuring locker rooms, a team room, coach's office and study space. The newly completed practice-field improvements provide additional high-quality training space for HPU's athletic programs, while Phase One of The Hive has created new meeting, study and recruiting space specifically designed around the student-athlete experience.

Together, those projects represent a continued commitment to providing the resources necessary for Howard Payne's growing number of student-athletes.

"We've got tremendous momentum right now and that's exciting," Bright said. "But we're not finished. This is about continuing to move forward and being intentional about building an athletic department that serves our student-athletes well and represents Howard Payne University with excellence. New facilities, improvements to existing facilities and people who are willing to invest in what we're building. That's exciting."

For Howard Payne Athletics, the work inside the Brownwood Coliseum is more than a construction project. It is another visible sign of a department continuing to build for the future.