Physical Education Teacher Education
Facilities
Pictured on the left is the impressive WVU Coliseum, located at the intersection of Patteson Dr. & Jerry West Blvd. The Coliseum is just minutes away from both the Evansdale and Main Campus of WVU. The Coliseum is home to the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and WVU athletics. Now 30 years old, yet still impressive in its initial visual impact, stunning in its spacious yet simplistic structure and versatile in its myriad uses, the WVU Coliseum is one of the nation's supreme showcases for college basketball. Whether it is during the day, when the sun shines down on the massive structure, or at night, when its golden lights make it an evening showcase, the Coliseum stands as one of the most striking facilities on the WVU campus and played a major role in the expansion of the area known as the Evansdale Campus.
The 14,000 seat, domed arena has been the home of the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and Mountaineer Athletics for more than a quarter of a century, but its many uses include commencement, concerts, conferences, floor shows and a host of educational and athletic events. The Coliseum floor is truly an all purpose location which is used for PE classes, basketball games, volleyball games, gymnastics and wrestling matches, graduation, concerts and lectures. If necessary it can even be divided in four individual lecture halls at one time. Even with 14,000 fans cheering the Mountaineers on, classes can still be held in the building with no interruptions. The Coliseum ranks second only to the Mountainlair (WVU's student union building) in everyday activity. The Coliseum has hosted conference basketball tournament championships, NCAA basketball and gymnastics regionals as well as many other tournament events.
Built in 1970 at a cost of $10.4 million, the Coliseum serves as the home of the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and much of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Nearly 100 offices, 13 lecture and seminar rooms, a dance studio, 2 computer labs, racquetball and squash courts, conference rooms and the Jerry West Mountaineer Room are included in the structure's 10.5 million cubic feet of space. It is also the home competition site for Mountaineer men's basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and volleyball teams. Eleven other varsity sports use the facility as their training and equipment headquarters as well.
In addition to its academic and athletic priorities the Coliseum serves as a hub for community-based activities through the Lifetime Activities Program. This a community-based, service-oriented program operated by the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. Offering a variety of children's classes which include: gymnastics (beginning through advanced), learn to swim, swim lessons, martial arts, dance, the Choosy Kids Club, and KinderSkills.
The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Computer Lab is located on the Second level between the Blue and Gold Gates. It is a convenient resource for our students. Sherry Binion coordinates the operation of this state of the art computer lab that provides our students access to new Dell computers, which host the full compliment of Microsoft Professional software, high-speed Internet access, scanning technology, and a variety of statistical packages. This lab is slated to become the coliseum's first high tech classroom with future renovations to include the addition of a projection display and smart whiteboard.
Additional facilities of the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences include the Shell Building which houses coaches offices, the Natatorium where the swimming and diving wells are located, a rifle range, indoor track, multipurpose sports area, weight training room, martial arts room. Room 102 Shell Building is where Doug Satterfield and staff manage the PE Equipment Cage, located at the base of the Green gate staircase. Here students have access to a plethora of PE & Audio Visual Equipment, including anything you would need to play or teach: Tennis, Golf, Soccer, Football, Softball, Baseball, Hockey, 
Badminton, Volleyball, Racquetball, Archery and many more athletic activities. Here is also where our students also have access to 1,000 locker units, towel & laundry service, and various dressing rooms located adjacent to the playing floor. It is added accessories like these that make the building so special to our students and community, making it able to host an endless array of events. Outdoor areas including the baseball & soccer stadium, tennis courts, archery range, soccer and field hockey fields, and outdoor track flank the building.
Other staff offices, which are not pictured, are located downtown in Stansbury Hall, Elizabeth Moore Hall; and the Mountainlair.
More about the Coliseum...
In 1971, the WVU Coliseum received a major architectural design award from the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Concrete Institute for being the "Outstanding Concrete Structure of the Year." An Action-cushion Floating Panel hardwood floor is the latest addition to the venerable facility, keeping the 30-year-old arena contemporary in architecture and amenities for the new millennium. That refurbishment only enhances the Mountaineer experience in one of the premiere arenas in the country. A state of the art Daktronics, Inc., scoreboard was installed in 1995 replacing the Coliseum's original 25-year-old scoreboard. The new scoreboard was part of a $1.6 million project to renovate several scoreboards on the WVU campus. The new board, which features a giant, full-color message center, expanded score and statistics panels and rotating advertisements, equals the scoreboards of other prominent universities such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State. At the WVU Coliseum, all 14,000 blue theater-type seats in the main arena allow for comfortable viewing of any event. The ribbed, rafterless roof and modern architectural design give a clear, unobstructed view of the playing floor from every seat. Central ventilation units provide climate-controlled comfort in all types of weather. The Coliseum sound system is so intricate that four lectures can be heard simultaneously without conflict; in fact, classes are often held while 14,000 cheering fans are watching a basketball game.
When the WVU Coliseum does fill up with more than 14,000 screaming fans, it becomes an arena unsurpassed in enthusiasm and electricity. The Mountaineers respond to this great home court by making it a very unwelcome place for their opponents. West Virginia University is known for its first class academic and athletic facilities, first made with the construction of the Coliseum in 1970 and strengthened since in a wide array of structures that meet the demand of a thriving major college program. Extensively used by the University and the Morgantown Community outstanding academic and athletic facilities are now a such an important tradition here at WVU. It is a tradition that values providing the highest quality academic & athletic experiences possible within both the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and Intercollegiate Athletics!
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Updated 10/27/08 sb